So I couldn't find anything about this. I have a front high pinion 3rd member with a Zip air locker. I took the airline off to do my lift and it dripped out a good amount of gear oil. Not enought to fill the entire line, but more than just a couple drops. The 3rd member was a built unit from Marlin Crawler. Is this a common thing?? Will it hurt anything? Not really sure what to think of it. I haven't used the lockers in a few months, but they were working fine. Thanks for any help.

 

Usually indicates a seal problem when oil makes its way into the airline. Not sure on ZIPs but there may be O-rings that could be worn, or possibly cut/damaged during install.

 

I have the same problem with mine but the oil makes it all the way the cab it was a brand new 3rd from marlin crawler does anybody know?

 

Are the vents on the housing functioning? Could see oil/air being pushed into the line from the expanding air in the housing. I had a clogged vent and that caused the seals to blow out and filled my wheel bearings with gear oil.

 

I'll have to check but I put new extended breathers with the 3rd and the oil start coming out pretty soon after the 3rd member install

 

I have seen these from ARB:
http://www.marlincrawler.com/air-ele...urge-valve-kit

Is your locker engaging, or is your compressor kicking on a lot indicating a leak? Did you damage the air line when installing the locker? Not that hard to do. Did you bench test the locker upon receipt to see if it held air properly? Did you run the locker at all in your rig before hooking up an air source? I have had a couple of arbs built by Marlin, but I never had any problems. I did have a problem with another ARB, built elsewhere, but it was due to a air breather restriction that caused pressures to build up.

 

I used a junkyard axle and although I thought that the vent hole was clean, debris had gotten clogged in the breather, and pressures built once the diff heated up..

 

I did not bench test it what happened was I bought it life got in the way and it sat for about a year before I installed it thinking back now I may have nicked the air line it was tight fit I may have run it with an air source for a short bit. But it does in gauge but I have not used it much the runner is not dd and work out of town

 

Correction with out an air source sorry trying to do this on the phone while at work

 

I have never had a ZIP locker; I have heard some good things about them though for sure, but I also have heard that installing them without damaging the airline can be a bit trickier than installing an ARB. You have I am sure a good unit, but you are going to need to inspect it and possibly repair or replace the o-rings, the airline, etc. My last ARB airline got crimped when installed for the First time in an aftermarket housing, and I brought it to a very good diff builder local to me, had the entire line and air collar replaced (and bench tested in front of me with proper air psi to see if all seals were holding) for peace of mind and got her back in the housing again, nice and easy. She is an RD142 in a 5.29 9.5" 80 series third, and now she functions flawlessly. When you get yours out and fixed, make sure you run new line or blow any gear oil or debris out with compressed air. Check your breather too. I thought mine was not obstructed, but it was and i caused similar symptoms to yous, but in fact always workded so i was not too worried. I hear you on life getting in the way. The only thing I am good for nowadays is grandiose planning, poor project execution, and needless parts accumulation;-)