Free wheeling hub problems

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tomtom1992

New Member
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27
Hi,
Just got a 1981 series 3 land rover. Snow started other day so I thought great, Ill get landy out. Engaged free wheeling hubs, into 4wd and went off. Got all way up farm tracks in a foot of snow fine but on way back got stuck going up a hill, hardly any snow. I looked out and only the back wheels were turning. I finally got it home and had a look underneath and had a mess with the front propshaft in various settings (fwh engaged/disengaged, 2wd, 4wd high/low) and got the following results

2wd- front propshaft spins with the fwh both engaged or disengaged
4wd high and low- front propshaft spins a small amount with the fwh both engaged and disengaged.
Is this right? Thinking about taking the fwh off, seem a lot of trouble
Also, can anybody identify the fwh that are on it? Cant find them anywhere on the internet
cheers
 

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tomtom1992 said:
Hi,
Just got a 1981 series 3 land rover. Snow started other day so I thought great, Ill get landy out. Engaged free wheeling hubs, into 4wd and went off. Got all way up farm tracks in a foot of snow fine but on way back got stuck going up a hill, hardly any snow. I looked out and only the back wheels were turning. I finally got it home and had a look underneath and had a mess with the front propshaft in various settings (fwh engaged/disengaged, 2wd, 4wd high/low) and got the following results

2wd- front propshaft spins with the fwh both engaged or disengaged
4wd high and low- front propshaft spins a small amount with the fwh both engaged and disengaged.
Is this right? Thinking about taking the fwh off, seem a lot of trouble
Also, can anybody identify the fwh that are on it? Cant find them anywhere on the internet
cheers
Click to expand...
with wheels on the ground prop will turn with hubs engaged or not ?seems like you either have bust half shaft etc or poor hubs
 
Last edited:
Yes that's right but it doesn't confirm anything, only that your 4wd system is engaging in the transfer box. Put it in 4wd then jack up each front wheel separately, engage hubs and try to turn it, if it turns, they ain't working (and or halfshafts like James said!).
 
If you are in 2wd and the front prop is turning with both wheels on the ground then it's either broken driveshaft (which is likely to be a bit noisy) or the fwh aren't engaging. My money's on the hubs having seized up. Standard drive members are far less trouble.
 
Ok, cheers for the advice, shall check in the morning
I did have a go earlier in 2wd, didnt think about trying it in 4wd aswell, and if the hubs were engaged, if I turned one side, the other would turn and if the hubs were disengaged, when I turned one side, the other would stay still
Only did this on the front as its the front wheels that dont seem to be turning
 
Last edited:
Just tried it when wheels are off floor
In both 2 and 4wd, with the hubs engaged, if i turn a wheel, the prop and the other wheel turn
In both 2 and 4wd with the hubs disengaged, if i turn a wheel, nothing else moves
Is this right then and Im just not understanding how my 4wd works? Not the levers but the actual system i mean
Also, just to double check, to engage both fwh, they both have to turn clockwise dont they? This is what ive been doing but theres no markers on the fwh
 
normall rear axle is driven only , but because of diff in rear axle you can stand still if one wheel spins as there will be no drive through the diff for the other wheel , when you engage 4wdf both axles are driven equally and positively as there is no center diff like later landies hence a defender can use 4wd on the road and a series shouldnt , but if one wheel spins on front axle the other will loose drive because of front axle diff , if you have one wheel aty rear and one wheel at front spinning the vehicle will stand still , the besty way too check operation of a free wheeling hub is to engage 4wd jack only one wheel up when hubs engaged you wont be able to turn wheel apart from some free play , and with hubs disengaged wheel will spin freely , if working correct ,then check other side the same , one faulty hub would loose drive to the other wheel the same as a wheel spinning but would look as neither turning
 
Cheers for the info. Had a go and it all seems to work as it should. Thinks its just my understanding of the 4x4 system that was wrong, expected all wheels to turn when I put my foot down
 
you need to jack the front wheels upwith free wheel hub engaged and 4wd selected you should only be able to turn wheel a small amount. Repeat for the other side.
If propshaft turns then not engaging 4wd, if wheel turns but not propshaft could be fw hub but also could be front drive shafts snapped.
Do a search for landrover expedition site I believe frw hub types on there.
Must have joined this post whilst others where posting!
 
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Also, just to double check, to engage both fwh, they both have to turn clockwise dont they? This is what ive been doing but theres no markers on the fwh

Mine are clockwise to engage but they're not the same kind as yours, haven't seen your ones before I don't think.
 
I think they're Fairey ones, they look identical to the ones on mine. Clean the front face and you should get writing that gives the Fairey company name if they are.
 
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