Thread: KAM diff lockers

Originally Posted by ashtrans

Hi any feed back on TJM Pro Locker, ex Macnamara design. Regards Ian Ashcroft

Hi Ian, doubt you will get any feedback on here as the Prolocker is/was only available for toyota and nissan diffs. McNamara apparently kept the rights for the Rover/sals and a couple of others.

It was widely reported on the forums that TJM suspended production while they sorted some manufacturing (QC) issues. I am not sure if they have started making them again.

Some info here:
[ame=http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/showthread.php't=34131]Pro Locker or ARB Locker ? - Patrol 4x4 - Nissan Patrol Forum[/ame]

Hi thanks for the feedback, Macnamara told us that 'all' manufacture including Rover was sold to TJM? but it appears they have not yet started production on the Rover version. We have just watched a video from ARB warning about 'fake' lockers if want to see it its on 'youtube' or I can send you a link. We have had two ARB (genuine) 1 RD56, 1 RD128 split in half at the crown wheel flange!!, do you have any reports of this. Regards Ian Ashcroft

Originally Posted by ashtrans

Hi thanks for the feedback, Macnamara told us that 'all' manufacture including Rover was sold to TJM? but it appears they have not yet started production on the Rover version. We have just watched a video from ARB warning about 'fake' lockers if want to see it its on 'youtube' or I can send you a link. We have had two ARB (genuine) 1 RD56, 1 RD128 split in half at the crown wheel flange!!, do you have any reports of this. Regards Ian Ashcroft

Thanks for the info from jacmac - interesting to know.

Do you mean the bolts have failed or the case has split??? There have been quite a few instances of the case bolts failing, and or coming loose, and the locker falling in half.
Plenty of info here (may need to register to view?): Outer Limits 4x4 Board :: Log in dbongard on that forum is an ARB development engineer.

Likewise on the chinese ARB copies, there is info here - apparently they are copies of older designs which are out of patent. There are plenty of people happy to run the risk for the reduced price. Someone on the site below even organised a group buy...
Outer Limits 4x4 Board :: Log in
Outer Limits 4x4 Board :: Log in

Righty Ho - Hi All

Names Nige - and I am in charge of Sales globally at KAM Diffs here in the sunny UK

Was pointed at this post by a Australian Customer, have had a read and in many ways there is much truth in it, plus some misunderstandings, and so I'll try to do me best to add some facts and clarity whilst I have a moment or 2 at work.

Many may be suprised to know that we are a much bigger concern than many know, on the Santana mentioned above these have a rover series type derivative front axle and a Dana type rear unit, we did indeed supply locking diffs to them - actually in 3 years 5,100 units and 10,200 half shafts (heavy duty) and have an exellent repuation within that company, our diffs have been about for some considerable time, now, and have evolved and contuinue to do so, were always trying new products and improvements, currently we have just launched our new "Aerospace Grade" Half shafts which are even stronger than our Heavy Duty ones but are only a little bit more £s wise, less than you'd expect.

Les Richmond is indeed one of our Dealers, and yours in Australia, and he has been placing bigger and bigger orders with us recently, and is a nice guy to deal with too, which for you is good news (I'm just grumpy )

Right, gluing rings on - yes and no is the answer, yes they are sort of glued (we still use this word even though when we make an order with the specialist compnay that makes it and we stupidly said we wnated some more glue had ourselves "educated" with a long technical rant ending with its not ******** glue OK ?)......So, this glue sticks "a tad better" than Evostick sort of stuff people might be thinking it is ... :LOL:, in fact its used in military applications to stick bom,b blast plates on, also glues hold Airplanes together, and Helicopters etc,... so it should sort a ring on a Land Rover Out ! .

We weld here as there is no issue legality wise as with you ???, but I seem to rememebr MacNamara Units need a axle mod - how do you get around with that ? . Anyway gluing is a possiblity,... me - I just love to weld

One thing I and the others here do not do is 'knock' other peoples products, ...frankly options with alternatives means choices for you all, and there is not one "Best" unit out there as they all have pros and cons dependant on the individuals point a view.

For example - the welded on ring on a KAM unit is a disadvantage to some, as its hassle, OK<....maybe it is,.... but the other side of the coin is that with the ring and 8mm bolt on cover you now don't need a diff guard, have better clearance as nothing added to the casing to protect / hand down, and if you get water in the casing, removing the cover means easy to clean yo etc, its all down to your point a view and choice, but our diffs do exactly what it says on the tin, they work.

We also do other things which people view differently, 1st agree with me, that if you try hard enough NOTHING is unbreakable - so with heavy off roading get thing a tad wrong and things can break, and some of them our damned expensive, so we have a "Fuse" shaft, which goes between the drive member and the CV and is tunable to break at a load you wish / we advise £30 shaft vs blown ARB ? (yes ARBs are good but I have grenaded one in my past not there fault mine ) had I had a KAM fuseable axle the stub at £30 would have popped, and the spare fitted in 10 mins and I'd be off again, ....

Hey Ho, but you can also by Dave at Ashcrofts rather nice CV unit, its all down to choice, we do HD or aerospace shfats for axle to cv inner, Aerospace CVs and then stub fuse units, and you can still chose the Locker of you choice, as the shafts will fit, your call. We are also working on a Toyota locker due out soon, now in production, w do a range of Crown wheels ratios, solid 4 pin LT230 transfer box cross shafts, and combo lockers, these are either a Locker, or a LSD AND Locker, LSDs on fast driving help stability, then lock up as and when you need full lockers, we do LSD fronts and rears with Lock options, and all electric 12v or 24v flick of switch, no compressor needed, its all down to choice.

However, we are happy to help answer diffs / axle type querys for any members here, on any products if we can FOC, and also here we are all nutters real enthusiasts who live LRs - me ? Heres a piccie of my baby were not Desk jockeys

4.5 JED (John Eales Guru Rover V8 Race Engine Builder) V8 running Full Megasquirt MS1 V3 029v MS SnE, Twin Lockers, HD SHafts, Twin PTO driven Hydro winches (14,000 / 12,000lbs in cab controls) Truck Cab CDS Cage, Challenge front Wings, Home made winch bumpers front and Rear, homemade modified suspension + 5 Travel Shocks all around, On Board PC (for off road sat nav, engine diagnostics, on road sat nav) Stazwork Double Internal Beadlocking rims with Simex JT2s, and a few other tweaks too

So, hope the above is useful, and as I said any help on anything diff - ask !

Nige

Cant say anything about the KAM Difflockers, as we have a pair of McNamara ones but we use the KAM CV's with the fused link in our comp Rangie and it beats changing a CV joint. An added bonus is and you can still drive on them whilst they are broken with no risk of destroying your swivel housing, or your steering locking up as you might with bits of a CV floating around.

Ben

Team Shellian Navi

The KAM diff lock and design is far from the best.
Sorry Nige.

For now I will stick with my ARBs and aftermarket axles.

Bonjour Mr Grimace

Thats Ok, Shame you feel that way about our Diff Locks but can't win everyone, theres no way I want to get into a typical internet arguement, and respect your views, even though it sort of makes us feel ..who knows what you may think in the future, as we have some new ideas close to production ....

I did wonder though where your views came from, it is true that whilst we have been making lockers for some near 20 years they have changed significantly in terms of design and operation, esp around the lock system, the earlier ones esp as they required our shafts etc and had a locking sliding dog arrnagement, where the current ones don't and can be used with anyones shafts or ours.

I've had ARBs meself, and um, blown 1 apart (being very very silly ) and had the plastic cage break inside, cheap to fix but a gaint PITA to do, but as you say they are good bits of kit, and have a strong following, again without wishing to start an argument or diss anyone I have heard strnage mixed reports on ARBs new locking arrangement which has changed since the RD56 type I've had ? - any reports of imnfo ? genuinely curious, and would like 1st hand info most I have is "a mate in the pub, whos brothers auntys sister dog was walked by a mate who mate races and he said..." sort of "Not 1st hand"

Anyway, got to go, work calls..... (and a custard Donut)

Nige

Nige

Mate, you seem a OK sort coming on here and making your point all nice Like but i have a better idea, how about sending over a couple of you lockie things and axels cv etc Oh and that bit for the CL, ill chuck it in the Isuzu ( i will not charge for fitting cos u seem like an ok guy)
then head up the flinders and see if i can break any thing, that should quieten down the slagers for ya

see im a nice guy as well

regards

your Mate