Mayflower Free-wheeling hub problems.

[Aaron IIA]

When I was driving my IIA down in the sand dunes a few weekends ago, I encountered a strange problem. This was the first off road trip since fitting second hand Mayflower Free-wheeling hubs. It was encountered when under heavy load, when the front axle was engaged (both high and low range), such as when climbing a sand dune, or driving in heavy sand.

The problem presented as a momentary loss of drive, then a click that was felt through the drive line and into the gearstick, and then drive resumed. The heavier the load, the more frequent the problem, up to about four times a second, when I would back off the power and abandon the dune crossing attempt. I know it is not a rear differential or gearbox problem, as it did not occur in two wheel drive, even under the heaviest of load. The problem did not occur with standard drive flanges.

Today I pulled out the front axles and front differential, all of which are serviceable.

My question is, has anybody esle experienced problems with Mayflower free-wheeling hubs dis-engaging and re-engaging under high load?

These are the hubs with a four sided cam plate activating four keyways. In locked mode, the keys are spring loaded into their keyways. As these are not brand new, it is possible that the keyways have a minute rounded shoulder, and the keys may be slightly tapered?

Thus is it heard of for these hubs to pop out of lock, presenting as the loss of power, followed by the clunk as they re-engage?

[Phoenix]

Mmm, I had that problem with my warn free wheeling hubs at the beach a few years ago as well. In the end I think I found that the splines were slipping as they had no grease on them at all. However the condition of my hubs is questionable, and I may replace them with normal flanges soon.

I never did find out for sure what was causing the clunk and lack of drive for sure, as I said, I suspected it was lack of lubrication or worn splines, but I haven't been to the beach or managed to get it to do it again since.

[pk.hoarder]

Our IIA has Power-Lock FW hubs. On rocky ground, one or both of them disengages, sometimes you feel it but often you don't know until your next steep climb/descent.

It can be really hard to re-engage them after they have slipped out, much jiggling and driving back and forth.

The car hardly ever goes on the road now so I am considering taking the FWHs out and putting standard ones back in.

Cheers