lock a ball diff - reversible

Hi Guys ,

found this on DRC

credited to JT of DRCcentral

Here's an easy ball diff > Locked diff method I've devised, without over tightening the diff screw.

Pop down your local bike shop and buy a couple of tyre repair patches, the thin, plain rubber sort.

Take the ball diff apart and lay the pressure rings on the patches and draw around the rings, then cut out the circular patches. Now lay the rings on the pressure hubs (the two plastic / cast metal hubs that the plates sit against) and mark the inner circle (the centre hole) and cut that out of the now circular patches.

This exploded view is a modified version of the T2 ball diff from the X-Ray manual. Ball diff designs vary but this modification can be applied to all types.

Now simply rebuild the ball diff exactly as you normally would but leave out the larger diff balls placing the patches between the plastic ball holder and the pressure plates. Build the rest of the diff, including the smaller balls that surround the long screw, as normal. The very thin rubber patches give you the correct overall diff length and stop the diff operating without damaging any parts. There's no need to overtighten.

The result is a fully locked (spool) that can easily be returned to a ball diff.