Locking Hubs query ?

My Landrover series 3 pickup has locking hubs. On the drivers side I can twist it easy but the left is locked with paint I think. Anyway I did not know they were on the car until an hour ago. Anyway I have been using it in low and high ratio 4wd as well as 2wd and its been fine. Can alnyone explain when I should use these twisty things on the wheels ?
I researched it but now I am lost in understanding. Flickr: Marsden Si's Photostream

Hi,
If you search this in "Search this thread" and put in "locking hubs" there is a good thread which should help you.
Basically hubs not locked only 2wd either in high or low box. Hubs locked four wheel drive in high and low box.
Advice is not to use on tarmac it can cause expensive problems

i beleive you have fairys which did not comes as stamdard. due to the poor performane of the lanby. with the hubs turn to the 2 x 2 position they let the front axle spin freely with out turn the front diff. if they are land rover fairys you can by repair packs.

Ranger: Do you know somewhere that have the service kits in stock?

if he does i want first pick been looking for ages

Lock them in when the gearbox is in 4 wheel drive. It's OK to leave them locked in when in 2 wheel drive on the road, but to achieve the fuel saving benefit, they should be unlocked when in 2 wheel drive.

hmm. i dont no of hand, my garage got them from a male order up north!

sorry i cant be more help!

Thanks Guys. I managed to turn it in the end (I was turning wrong way lol)

Every locking hub I have found to date work like this.

When facing the wheel.

Turn clock wise to lock

Clock to lock...

Turn anticlockwise to unlock.

Anticlock to unlock...

These devices connect or disconnect (Lock or unlock) the drive shafts from the wheel hub.

When locked.
Your landrover will perform exactly the same as a std series land rover that does not have free wheeling hubs fitted. Tech terms, you will push the prop shaft, diff and half shafts around when your gearbox is in 2 wheel drive.
You will drive these same items when your main gearbox is in 4 wheel drive and thus driving your front wheels.

When unlocked.
Your landrover will perform a little better on the road and save a little fuel. Tech terms, you have disconnected the prop shaft, diff and half shafts. They now cause no drag and soak up no power. Fuel economy is typicaly 1 mpg better.
If you select 4 wheel drive at the gearbox, yes the safts will be driven and turn with power from the engine but because they are not connected at the hubs you will get no drive from them at the front wheels. Effectively you have a 2 wheel drive vehicle only.

Anytime you think you MIGHT need 4 wheel drive keep the hubs locked.

YOU MUST RUN WITH THE HUBS LOCKED TO KEEP THE FRONT AXLE AND SWIVEL PINS LUBED!!! if I remember correctly this is at least 1 day every month to keep the oil splashing around the front axle.

You will do no damage running locked on the road. You just wont benefit from the fuel and power saving.

The only issue with locking hubs causing damage is as follows.

YOU MUST KEEP BOTH HUBS IN A SIMILAR CONDITION.

ie... Both locked OR both unlocked.

Having mismatched hubs will cause your front diff sun and planet gears to spin wildly causing increased wear to this area. Remember this is only a problem if they are mismatched!!!

I dont know where some of the crazy ideas about damage occuring and never locking them on the road comes from. It can only be from idiots who just dont know anything about landrovers.
I have also heard that the steering becomes heavier when they are locked. I have never noticed the steering becoming in any way affected by the hubs. ONLY when the gear box is stuck in 4 wheel drive will locking the hubs cause this problem. The hubs are not at fault. The sticky gearbox causes this.

Take the recent snow. A drive to wales along the m1, m25 and m4 motorway will mean I LOCK my hubs before my journey starts. I lose the benefit of fuel saving but I now have the security of knowing ANYTIME I need 4 wheel drive. Even when travelling at 60 miles an hour (4 wheel drive can be selected at ANY speed so long as all wheels are doing a similar speed. IE not wheel spinning) I can simply depress the yellow knob and I have 4 wheel drive.
I will unlock my hubs when the bad weather is over and normal road only driving returns.

Hope this helps.