Easylok Hubs

TallPaul · Post by **TallPaul** » Wed Feb 17, 2021 8:36 pm

My M38A1 came with Easylok front hubs. They are set in the free position. Do I need to manually set them in the lock position to get any kind of 4 wheel drive? In other words, transferring from 2W to 4W high, should the jeep move or would I hurt anything? I would think I absolutely need to set them to lock position to go from 4W High to 4W Low.

OKCM38CDN · Post by **OKCM38CDN** » Wed Feb 17, 2021 9:45 pm

Using the locking hubs, just locks the hubs in to the drive system making the jeep capable of 4WD. The transfer case determines 4WD or 2WD; High or Low.

In most D18 transfer cases 2WD LOW front wheel drive is locked out by the way the locks are installed in the shifter of the transfer case. Given that the positions of the shifters determine gear.

All the Lockouts do is reduce wear and tear on the front axles and drive train.

Hope this helps...

Post by **wesk** » Wed Feb 17, 2021 9:47 pm

Haven't heard of any front locking hub called Easylok. If they are a simple manual locking hub then when set in free position you do not get 4WD no matter where you put the transfer case selector. They must be in lock for 4WD.

Is Easylok a brand name or model name. Post a photo of the hub.

Xamon · Post by **Xamon** » Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:13 am

There are a few people who do parades that set their gears to 4 low but leave the front unlocked so they can go slow enough.
Basically you will have all the gear spinning under power but the axles will not engage to the hubs unless you lock them so now power at the wheels.
Assuming your hubs are working correctly and in decent shape there should be no harm either way.

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Thu Feb 18, 2021 10:38 am

Plenty of EasyLok hub photos and information here:

http://www.ewillys.com/?s=easylok

Post by **wesk** » Thu Feb 18, 2021 11:31 am

I googled Easylok hubs and this link you listed never came up!

1979 EasyLok Hub Brochure
March 8, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features • TAGS: Hubs.
3
A big thanks to Jim for finding this brochure in old box of files, then sending it my way gratis. It shows the EasyLok Hub, manufactured by the Mechanex Corp, a devision of Tenneco, out of Englewood, Colorado. You can learn a little more about the EasyLok hub’ s history in this post.

Mechanex Corp patented another hub in 1978, but I don’t recognize the hub.

Looks like they were a mid 70's to mid 80's produced no-name unit that occasionally adopted an odd relationship with better know hubs. Their main issue appeared to be quality and the rapid deterioration of the plastic parts.

http://www.ewillys.com/2019/03/08/1979- ... -brochure/

http://www.ewillys.com/2018/08/29/bestl ... ylok-hubs/

davem201m38 · Post by **davem201m38** » Fri Feb 19, 2021 9:06 am

I don’t know if I do right, but I engage the free wheel hubs regularly just to make sure lubricant is getting spun everywhere and nothing dries out.

Post by **wesk** » Fri Feb 19, 2021 10:54 am

You are correct David.

rgmutchler · Post by **rgmutchler** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 8:41 am

I looked at the links for the easylok hubs. They look very much like the hubs that came from the factory on my '77 CJ7. They were not very good hubs and came apart internally within a few years.