Free Wheeling Hubs

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JohnnyP

New Member
Posts
63
Hi
I've seen some free wheeling hubs for sales on the internet. Would it be worth getting them for my SIII? what's the benefit of using them. Also is it worth changing my carb to a Weber.:confused:
 
Hi
I've seen some free wheeling hubs for sales on the internet. Would it be worth getting them for my SIII? what's the benefit of using them. Also is it worth changing my carb to a Weber.:confused:
Freewheeling hubs allow the front wheels to spin on their own without turning the diff over.

Personally see little point in them, ok they might make the steering slightly lighter, but maybe not by much. And in theory they should improve mpg, but we are talking tiny amounts tbh.

From observation and reading I'm lead to believe most freewheeling hubs for Series Landy's leak continually. And I've witnessed many times people getting stuck off road as they had forgotten to jump out of the vehicle and lock them.

If you do lots of road miles they might be worth considering, but if not, then I'd probably say no.
 
Dunno about swapping carb for a Weber, opinion seems to be the Webber gives marginally better economy but the Zenith gives more go. I suspect replacing the carb with a new one of either sort (or overhauling the one you've got) will give you a noticeable improvement.
 
Never really had any trouble with them on the old 2a, made it an easier drive for my mum.Couldnt say I remember whether the mpg was any better though.Dad swore by them.I just swore AT them.
 
Freewheel hubs stick out - I broke one off on a rock sticking out of a roadside verge. Went back to plain drive members after that.
 
Freewheeling hubs allow the front wheels to spin on their own without turning the diff over.

Personally see little point in them, ok they might make the steering slightly lighter, but maybe not by much. And in theory they should improve mpg, but we are talking tiny amounts tbh.

From observation and reading I'm lead to believe most freewheeling hubs for Series Landy's leak continually. And I've witnessed many times people getting stuck off road as they had forgotten to jump out of the vehicle and lock them.

If you do lots of road miles they might be worth considering, but if not, then I'd probably say no.


Here in the states some do and some don't. Mine came from the factory with them, why should you put power through the transfer case when you don't need it? Just lock them in when you need to thats what i like.

It also reduces wear and strain in the whole drive system. I've got high mileage on mine 300k with out lockers and one with 180k with lockers and never did anything to the trans,difflock other than change the fluids ever 50k miles:D

It's just a matter of choice
 
Had Power Train FW hubs on my SI and SII and there was quite a fuel saving, especially as both of them had Solex carbs, and I was able to tune the engines for power and economy.

During the fuel rationing I was even able to run them both on paraffin ... and no, it didn't burn out either the pistons or the valve seats!

The SIII was diesel and as I was off-road amost of the time I didn't bother with the FW hubs.

The choice is, as they say, at the end of the day, yours.

OSD
 
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Freewheeling hubs allow the front wheels to spin on their own without turning the diff over.

Personally see little point in them, ok they might make the steering slightly lighter, but maybe not by much. And in theory they should improve mpg, but we are talking tiny amounts tbh.

From observation and reading I'm lead to believe most freewheeling hubs for Series Landy's leak continually. And I've witnessed many times people getting stuck off road as they had forgotten to jump out of the vehicle and lock them.

If you do lots of road miles they might be worth considering, but if not, then I'd probably say no.

Love to know how you come to the conclusion that they leak :confused::confused: never come across this...

Here's my experience..........

My 1st Landy had free-wheelers I never bothered to use them........I'm on and off road fairly often and a lazy git to boot and dont like getting out :eek:

BUT.....one day towing a load on the motorway....struggling.....top speed 50mph.
Pulled into services and thought I might as well disengage the hubs.

For the rest of the journey my speed was more like 55mph.....thats 10% which in my book is a helluva lot.

Now I use them all the time........bought and fitted to my 109 happy that my engine is saved that bit of effort EVERY MOMENT I am on tarmac. And when I turn off the road I get out and engage the hubs......I'd rather put myself to that bit of effort because the pay-off is i go a bit faster....or a bit further.....with less effort EVERYTIME I drive.

If I was often driving through and over rocks I dont think I'd bother with them.

Thats wot I fink anyway :)
 
quote "During the fuel rationing I was even able to run them both on paraffin ... and no, it didn't burn out either the pistons or the valve seats!"

the diesel engine,yes,obviously,but the petrol ? TVO style ?
 
they arent worth it ,more to fail and when hubs engaged so drive shafts dont turn ,top swivel gets no lube

I love how definitive you are :p

I assume you mean when dis-engaged..............then yes lube is an issue. I believe the recommendation is to engage hubs periodically.......mine are 3 or 4 times a week so I'm not overly concerned.

And yes its something else to go wrong but they aren't exactly complicated and the manual versions have a reputation for being pretty robust and reliable......never tried the auto's though I know the word is less favourable.
 
i suppose its a ,why add something unless everything else is sorted for benefit ,i get alot of people who ask and want to spend money on them but wont fix basic vehicle ,they manage with worn steering box which is easy relative cheap fix ,and more mpg savings could probably be made putting vehicle right if only one bit at a time
 
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