old style locking hubs
 

I've talked to guys before that mentioned the locking hubs they had "back in the day". The way they described it was that they didn't have the switch you turn like most do. They (I've heard this from multiple people) said that you wrapped your hands around the whole hub and turned it instead.

Any thoughts on whether people still make something like this?

Re: old style locking hubs
 

Look up mile marker selectro hubs probably those.

Re: old style locking hubs
 

Still available for some, pricey though.

http://shop.milemarker.com/p/classic...-ford-rockwell

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I've got a pair of Selectros on my '72 Blazer with Dana 44. It's too bad they're only made for a few front axles anymore.

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Are these better then then new style? Or do they have a tendency to unlock when hit.

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I guess you are one of the lucky ones, I was just looking on their website and they only have the ones with a switch rather than turning the whole thing for Dana 44's now. Which really sucks, because I wanted it for a dana 44 lol.

Re: old style locking hubs
 

I believe they only work with external hubs.

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I've never hit anything with them, but I suspect they'd be more likely to break than unlock if getting hit by rocks. Probably any brand lockout is likely to break if hit hard enough.

Re: old style locking hubs
 

Maybe I'm missing something, but my hubs do stick out past the wheels...wouldn't that be considered external hub?

Re: old style locking hubs
 

No, both internal and external hubs stick out past the the wheel. Read this to get a better understanding of the differences. http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/newbi...rnal-hubs.html

Re: old style locking hubs
 

So is there any type of hub lock that will work with an internal hub that is easier to turn? I have big hands and fingers so reaching in to grab these switches can be a bit of an inconvenience lol.

Re: old style locking hubs
 

Selectros may be your best choice since they're easy to turn. You may be able to find a used set if you are vigilant.

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I have found a couple on ebay that say they are for Dana 44s but they also say 19 spline, and I am pretty sure mine would be a 30 spline. I have no idea if that would actually make a difference.

Re: old style locking hubs
 

My 69 GMC K10 has 30 spline axles on the differential side and 19 splines on the hub side. Good luck, Bruce

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I've used a set of open pliers to turn my old warn hubs. Good leverage.

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My dad always ran these on his jeeps in the 50's and 60's, we used them hard and never had a hub failure. He was buying military surplus so it may have been what the govt. spec'd. I was not ambitious enough to search and see if they are still made or were even available for GM hubs. You flipped the levers, turned them 180 degrees and flipped them back into the slot to engage and disengage.

Re: old style locking hubs
 

Those are Dualmatics. My dad ran those on his '62 Land Rover. Those are tough as it gets. I have a set for my '72 K2500

Re: old style locking hubs
 

i have an old wrap your hand around set that my uncle used on his half ton chevy back in the 70`s real neat retro looking

Re: old style locking hubs
 

I also had a pair of those dualmatics on a '60 Series II Land Rover. They did seem pretty stout.

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I had dualmatics on my 59 fleetside napco , , you pull the arm out rotate 180 fold it back , I never ever had a problem , bulletproof , I wish things were as good now as they were back then

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I agree. I guess it's nostalgia having a thing for these old hubs, but it's the appreciation of the quality as well. In fact, I always considered factory hubs plastic junk and switched them out right away.

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I'm only 31 and I still love the old stuff. Considering my first car was made in 88 and pretty much newer stuff from there on out. I had a couple classics and now I prefer them. Easier to work on, more reliable etc. Especially considering the last 4wd I had was a 2007 tahoe, only had 100k miles on it and something went wrong with the 4wd in the front axle. I wasn't going to pay $400-$2000 to fix it depending on what it was so now I have a 72 GMC lol.

Re: old style locking hubs
 

The OEM spicers like in my avatar are good units and easy to turn with two fingers as long as you do the maintenance on them every few years and don't use heavy grease. Gear lube seems like the way to go on them. Can't beat the look of OEM either.

Re: old style locking hubs
 

Not to argue here. I agree the Spicers are perfectly good hubs. But the hubs we're talking about here are better, if for no other reason, no plastic. Figure Spicer first made all metal hubs, too. Then by '69*, when most trucks got lock outs, they went to plastic (I figure) as a way to gain more profit. It certainly wasn't to make them stronger. One of the biggest mistakes people make is using grease outside of the wheel bearings. The other is doing no service at all. Servicing required, clean and lube...with oil.

* Plastic in grille,too. And in '72, first plastic door panels. In '73, mucho mas plastico

I do different things on different trucks. I'd use Spicers on an original truck, and have had them on about every truck I've had. But, it's way cool to use period correct upgrades on the right truck, just like Hickey stuff, Eagle Ventures hoods, aluminum slots, Ramsey winch/bumper, etc. I started out modifying these trucks when they were newer. Who wants a boring stock old man truck? And I why not increase performance to add to the pleasure? I've bought most of my cool aftermarket hubs from guys who had to have the Spicers. i like them all. I have a N.O.S. set of Spicers and even some red '70 nobs to color coordinate my GMC.

Those knob-type Selectros were available from many sources with their own name on them. Here are some examples:

Re: old style locking hubs
 

old spicer hubs on my k61 (wheels have been re-painted--was to cold)

Re: old style locking hubs
 

Looks nice in body color. your hubs look to be in great condition. Selectro made other style hubs,too. and, here are a couple more Selectros sold under other names...like Dualmatic!

Re: old style locking hubs
 

Old School Selectros...now owned by Special-K. I had to have OEM Spicers :)

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I've got the same color and style of Selectros on my '72 Blazer.

Re: old style locking hubs
 

That truck warranted OEM bumper to bumper. Thanks for the opportunity to own them. Might even use them one day!

Let's not leave out the cream of the crop of the time...Warn Loc-O-Matics. I ran these on my first 4wd. I tore up a couple hubs before I realized Warn's instructions were incomplete. They instruct to manually lock for heavy loads and compression breaking, but should have included any serious off road driving. It made sense to me after the fact to lock-in any time I went 4 wheelin'. It's any situation where added stresses occur. I had large tires, then there was the deep thick mud. With big tires they were only good for a quick aid, like rear tires spinning when backing up a gravel driveway. Maybe snow covered roads,too. But over 32" tires were a new thing the hadn't planned on. They held up fine locked in. The OEM automatic hubs would have been great all around hubs if GM had made them this way. Basically, if you roached a hub it's because you were too lazy to get out and lock-in. But, you gained the convenience of automatic

Re: old style locking hubs
 

Im not convinced anything is better than the spicers yet. Has there ever been a spicer thats failed due to something other than someone putting pliers on the knob? Just because the selectos don,t use plastic doesnt automatically mean they.re better quality. Maybe they are, i havent reaearched them or have experience with them. Was the machining and metal hardness or contact area as good or better than the spicers? Since the strength of steel can vary from 36 ksi to 180ksi depending on alloy and heat treatment, im looking for more than just an appearance difference. If there are reports of spicers stripping out and selectros or others not, Im all ears.

Re: old style locking hubs
 

That's fine, think how you'd like. I'm only responsible for my opinion. I do know that Warn makes hubs with plastic dials or you can get the better ones in all metal. I'm sure whatever grade of steel they use in hubs is appropriate for the application. plastic was new to the auto industry in '69 and has come a long way since. Maybe the Spicers only break when you use pliers, but the metal ones don't. Sure, it's your own stupid fault for not properly maintaining your stuff, but why be punished for it? The fact is, when you need the hubs locked in you need your hubs locked in and nothing else matters at that moment. The fact is, people should maintain a lot of things on vehicles that most don't. I'm happy with everything about a stock truck, including the hubs. I

Here's one more picture I have on my computer:

Re: old style locking hubs
 

Whats the use of arguing the strength of the original Spicers? If you were going to buy hubs today would you be able to get the spicers? If you had to buy hubs right now today then it looks like the Yukon hubs are the next best thing. And Yukon may even be better.

Re: old style locking hubs
 

Thats just it, if we can tease out strength differences here, it may guide us to spend more or less effort and money to find OEM vs vintage aftermarket versus the new stuff.

Re: old style locking hubs
 

i have witnessed a stock spicer fail a few times on the d44s. shears the weld on the locking gear.

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Tell us more about Yukons. I've never heard of them. I know Warn offers Premiums. I've never had a set off hubs I'd consider not good enough. When I kept tearing up those Loc-O-Matics I didn't want to spend another $150 +/- (in '78) I bought a $49 set of no names from JC Whitney and ran them till '82 when I got rid of the truck. I was running 37/14.50s, the truck had a built 440, and those were my hard wheelin' days. Those had plastic dials.

Re: old style locking hubs
 

I have a set of these they are tough

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Yukon hubs are all steel with chromoly internals. I have been looking at them to replace my standard warns. I never owned before but was going to put on the 44 to replace my warn premiums which looked real bad. But now still want some. But I only note what I'm saying based on research. But I like what I've read and what I see.

On a quick note. I was the one that fried the passenger side spicer on my truck back in 89(I think, maybe 90). I fried it with the spindle by overheating. That's when I sold my truck, undrivable to my friend. He put on the warrens. Never been a fan of warrens either.

Re: old style locking hubs
 

Here's a Yukon link
http://www.yukongear.com/ProductDeta...x?ProdID=12616

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Here's a Warn on my 72 GMC...Lock-O-Matic?

EDIT: Oops - I see I left them locked

Re: old style locking hubs
 

Those aren't Lock-o-Matics, but nice quality old Warn hubs.