Ox Locker installed

[N2rock]

Easily the most expensive mod I've done to date:

Ox locker- $900
Locker cable (125")- $140
diff overhaul kit (bearings/races/bolts)- $200
River Raider shifter mounting bracket- $50
Labor- $200 + 6 Red Bull energy drinks
Machine shop (details below)- two cases of Bud Light

According to Ox, the only other JK version out there is on River Raider's 2dr. So I guess that makes me the guinea pig for the 4dr's

No need to go into details on the assembly and install of the Ox as the Ox instructions are pretty straight forward click here for Ox Instructions- warning, large pdf file!

there is only one problem with the Ox instructions: on page #3, step #6- It appears that you simply screw the cable end into the cover. However you can only screw the cable so far before it disappears into the shift fork. Once the cable is in there, you have no way to hold on to it in order to screw it in further. And at that point, it is only about 1/2 way from where it needs to be. Took quite some time to figure out that you have to remove 2 c-clips that are holding the fork, then unscrew the fork assembly from the diff cover. Once all of that is removed, you can then screw the cable the remainder of the way that is necessary.

Rear opened up and getting ready to start working




Introducing the Ox to my ring gear




Then the BIG problem hit. Some '07 models D44's have 1/2" ring gear bolts. instead of 7/16" ring gear bolts. Well of course Murphy's Law- mine has the 1/2" bolts, and the Ox holes were made for 7/16" bolts. I thought my day was shot right there. There is no way possible a drill press is going to drill larger holes in that Ox- that steel is seriously hardened. Lucky for me, there is a machine shop right behind RockRash4x4's shop, and a couple guys were there working on stuff. George talked to them and they helped us out. Did I mention that the steel is hardened? It took them 3 HOURS and they destroyed 2 endmill bits (I think that's what those bits are called??) drilling out the holes for me. Payment was 2 cases of beer- can't beat that!

I won't bore you with the details of routing the cable. Anyone that is interested in seeing the cable run, I will post a reply with clickable thumbnails:

Cable routed, and shifter mounted- notice the RockRash4x4 custom touch- he powder coated the shifter nob black, but left the knurled portion of the nob un-coated (I love the look). He also powder coated the shifter plate (where the X and O are), then grinded off the powder coating leaving just the X and O in black- a really nice touch IMHO.







Finished - I can't wait to try it out!











And while RockRash was busy with the technical stuff, I was busy with the non-technical: I painted my jerry can holders black, painted the jerry cans olive drab, and painted my muffler high-temp black

[N2rock]

thumbnails for cable routing pictures

[Mr.RonGilbert]

It's official.... you suck!

My OX is going to have to stay out in the pasture for a little while longer, I have to put a new set of rubber on the freakin camper and buy a $700 set of ramps... soon though...soon.

Nice job on the install Geo.

[Riverkid]

Badass install thread. How does it work?

[Mudinyeri]

Nice writeup. I'm considering OX lockers. How smoothly does the cable shifter operate?

[Paul08Wrangler]

WOW, for that kind of money, you could have bought a WHOLE New Rubi Diff from cali, with electric lockers tooooo....

[N2rock]

Originally Posted by Paul08Wrangler

WOW, for that kind of money, you could have bought a WHOLE New Rubi Diff from cali, with electric lockers tooooo....

Yeah- Except YOU never told me about that deal! I found out from George about it after it was already too late!!!

[N2rock]

Originally Posted by Mudinyeri

Nice writeup. I'm considering OX lockers. How smoothly does the cable shifter operate?

Very smooth.

[Paul08Wrangler]

Originally Posted by N2rock

Yeah- Except YOU never told me about that deal! I found out from George about it after it was already too late!!!

Didn't know that the Ox was that much either. Besides you didn't ask

[SDMF]

I'd only be worried about knocking the cable off. But I have a habit of backing up into boulders and smashing my shocks.

[RDM Offroad]

Looks pretty good! What length cable did you end up using?

***Edit***

Read the OP again, I see it now.

$900 for the locker and $140 for the cable seems pretty steep.

[N2rock]

Originally Posted by SDMF

I'd only be worried about knocking the cable off. But I have a habit of backing up into boulders and smashing my shocks.

I hear ya.

I asked Ox about breaking the cable. Was told that the locker by default goes open. So if the cable happened to get pinched while locked, simply cutting the cable will unlock. Was also told there is a way to lock it with a busted cable. I'm not sure how, and have asked them for details.

[terrahawk]

Originally Posted by N2rock

Was also told there is a way to lock it with a busted cable. I'm not sure how, and have asked them for details.

Just strap Hunter under there and make him hold the cable!

[SDMF]

Originally Posted by N2rock

I hear ya.

I asked Ox about breaking the cable. Was told that the locker by default goes open. So if the cable happened to get pinched while locked, simply cutting the cable will unlock. Was also told there is a way to lock it with a busted cable. I'm not sure how, and have asked them for details.

That's good to know. Hopefully you don't have to find out, that cable will get expensive really quick it you have to keep replacing it.

[N2rock]

Originally Posted by SDMF

That's good to know. Hopefully you don't have to find out, that cable will get expensive really quick it you have to keep replacing it.

no doubt

I figure the odds would be about the same as breaking an air line with an ARB. Though the air line would be less expensive to replace. But the flip-side is that the OX could still be locked/unlocked even with a broken cable.

[SDMF]

Originally Posted by N2rock

no doubt

I figure the odds would be about the same as breaking an air line with an ARB. Though the air line would be less expensive to replace. But the flip-side is that the OX could still be locked/unlocked even with a broken cable.

Very true, broken air line, leaky air lines...nothing is ever trouble free.

[redneckhouston]

Originally Posted by N2rock

I hear ya.

I asked Ox about breaking the cable. Was told that the locker by default goes open. So if the cable happened to get pinched while locked, simply cutting the cable will unlock. Was also told there is a way to lock it with a busted cable. I'm not sure how, and have asked them for details.

a 1/4-28 bolt about 4inches long with a stack of washers could be threaded in from the outside of the cover to engage the shift fork and lock it up

[Mudinyeri]

The OX really isn't that expensive when you compare it to an ARB and consider that you need an air source of some type for the ARB. Two OX cables roughly equal the cost of the Power Tank Jet Pack.

[N2rock]

Originally Posted by Mudinyeri

The OX really isn't that expensive when you compare it to an ARB and consider that you need an air source of some type for the ARB. Two OX cables roughly equal the cost of the Power Tank Jet Pack.

Yeah I considered the two system just about even in price. Until I found out that the OX does not include new bearings, races and bolts. And the ARB does. The Superior Gears overhaul kit cost me $200. So you need to add that into the equation.

Now if I had had to pay for the machine shop time to drill out the holes, that would've easily been another $100 or more.

[RDM Offroad]

The cool thing with the OX is that you can now choose the actuating method. Manual with the cable, air solenoid, or an electric actuator.

[N2rock]

Originally Posted by redneckhouston

a 1/4-28 bolt about 4inches long with a stack of washers could be threaded in from the outside of the cover to engage the shift fork and lock it up

OK- here's what Ox told me about it- it is one run-on sentence so I'm having trouble deciphering what he says. See if you can make sense of this:

Purchase a 5/8-18 set screw drill and tap a 1/4-28 for a long bolt when you thread in the 1/4-28 it will push in the fork use a 1/4-28 jam nut to keep it locked in

Sounds like he's saying the same as you, but I'm not following the "Purchase a 5/8-18 set screw drill and tap..." part of it.

[Matt]

the "5/8 set screw" is kind of like a diff cover fill plug.
That threads into the OX cover, drill and tap a hole in it for the 1/4" bolt to thread into. Use the 1/4" nut as a jamb nut to keep the 1/4" bolt from backing out of the 5/8" plug.


Do You know if they changed the cable type at all over the years?
A friend of Mine installed OX's in His TJ when they first came out. He had a lot of problems with the cables stretching and not engauging the locker. He adjusted them over and over and they never stayed adjusted. Eventually He switched to ARB's.
I hope they changed some stuff and You dont have any problems!!

[N2rock]

Originally Posted by Matt

the "5/8 set screw" is kind of like a diff cover fill plug.
That threads into the OX cover, drill and tap a hole in it for the 1/4" bolt to thread into. Use the 1/4" nut as a jamb nut to keep the 1/4" bolt from backing out of the 5/8" plug.

Ah! Now it makes sense! Thanks. Now I just need to get Redneckhouston to build me the "emergency locker"

Originally Posted by Matt

Do You know if they changed the cable type at all over the years?
A friend of Mine installed OX's in His TJ when they first came out. He had a lot of problems with the cables stretching and not engauging the locker. He adjusted them over and over and they never stayed adjusted. Eventually He switched to ARB's.
I hope they changed some stuff and You dont have any problems!!

They changed the shifter- this website discusses the new shifter and how it cures the old adjustment issue: http://demon4x4.com/Tech/oxs.htm

[Matt]

Good to hear!!
I figured they would have changed something by now.

[Big Chris]

Any updates on how the Locker is holding up? I am getting ready to install mine.