Edit/Update: A new poll has been posted that no longer asks about spending 1K on an aftermarket locker.
Please vote at this new poll if you want Can Am to add a manually selectable front diff lock!
http://www.maverickforums.net/forum/7-general-maverick-discussions/431-you-asking-can-am-add-manually-selectable-front-diff-lock.html
------------------------
Edit/Update: GKN is the company that manufactures the Visco Lok diff for Can Am. GKN also has already developed selectable locker technology that can be combined with the Visco Lok diff. It appears clear that Can Am only need ask GKN to make available a selectable locking diff and it would shortly be a done deal. This is surely the correct angle for us to pursue and is likely the only possible way the marketplace will ever see a Can Am selectable diff lock.
If you are among those who desire a selectable locker on your Can Am ATV or SxS unit, or are waiting for Can Am to add the selectable lock option before purchasing, then please contact Can Am directly and let them know!
You can use either this link: http://www.canamoffroad.com/community/my-canam-idea
or call the Can Am offices at: U.S.A.: (715) 848-4957
Canada: (819) 566-3366
Now is your chance to weigh in constructively and let Can Am know how much a selectable diff lock would mean to you!!!
---------------------------
Original post here:
Ok, so I'm considering a Maverick purchase. I'm convinced that the Maverick is as good as gets right now in the SxS market.
My intention here is not to start another debate on the virtues, or deficiencies, of the Visco Lok. Obviously a lot depends on your application and how you run your machine and the discussion tends to get religious. I'm sure some want the QE unit and will fork over the dough to replace the standard Visco Lok unit being shipped in the Maverick. Others may wait and hope the next Mav release will include the QE unit. Yet others are fine with the standard Visco.
For me, I believe (as I'm sure many do) the best possible solution is the standard Visco Lok unit alongside some sort of selectable lock override. It may be that modifying the Visco diff in this manner isn't possible and that the carrier internals (possibly including the carrier itself) may instead need to be totally replaced. The point of this thread isn't to discuss the technical specifics, as I see that discussion has now gone on for many years in a variety of forums. I know one guy down under actually built a prototype locking override unit, but I'm really not interested in a discussion of one-offs.
I've done some research and seen that a year or two back there was someone in contact with Eaton who was trying to convince them to make a selectable manual locker front diff to replace (or enhance) the Visco Lok unit. The last thread post was him saying that Eaton told him they weren't interested in considering development of the product because they would require way more confirmed demand in advance of R&D.
The point of this thread is to truly gauge confirmed interest in a selectable front locking diff. I'm convinced the Maverick will now garner a significant percentage of the sport SxS market (which has grown hugely as we all know) and that the sheer numbers of people interested COULD potentially cause Eaton to reconsider. With all of their expertise, I'm guessing it would probably only take these guys a handful of months of R&D work to solve the problem. But, they won't put in the effort and do it unless the demand is confirmed to be there.
I figure if the sport SxS industry number of units sold can be correlated with the expected adoption of Mavericks (which I think will shortly be eating heavily into the Polaris stranglehold), and multiplied by the number of existing and soon-to-be Maverick owners who definitely want a production manually selectable true locker unit then we can come up with some real numbers. I'm sure Commander (and maybe quad) owners will also have interest, so if you can steer some of those guys here to also chime in that might help too.
If and when the numbers here look good then I'll plan on approaching Eaton again (and/or Ox, ARB, etc.) and ask them to reevaluate the situation. Let's assume, to be reasonable, and in light of typical full size Dana/other selectable lockers that the unit would cost $1000.00
Would you spend 1K and buy a manually selectable front diff locker to replace your Visco Lok unit?
If so then please be sure to vote in the poll so we've got some hard numbers here as opposed to just thread comments. Comments are fine, but the poll number is key!
It's always possible that if we get enough positive feedback we could also approach Can Am and try to convince them to do the legwork and possibly provide a factory selectable locker option too.
No matter what, though, without sheer numbers weighing in about their desire for a fully selectable locker we don't stand much chance of seeing a production unit...
Please vote at this new poll if you want Can Am to add a manually selectable front diff lock!
http://www.maverickforums.net/forum/7-general-maverick-discussions/431-you-asking-can-am-add-manually-selectable-front-diff-lock.html
------------------------
Edit/Update: GKN is the company that manufactures the Visco Lok diff for Can Am. GKN also has already developed selectable locker technology that can be combined with the Visco Lok diff. It appears clear that Can Am only need ask GKN to make available a selectable locking diff and it would shortly be a done deal. This is surely the correct angle for us to pursue and is likely the only possible way the marketplace will ever see a Can Am selectable diff lock.
If you are among those who desire a selectable locker on your Can Am ATV or SxS unit, or are waiting for Can Am to add the selectable lock option before purchasing, then please contact Can Am directly and let them know!
You can use either this link: http://www.canamoffroad.com/community/my-canam-idea
or call the Can Am offices at: U.S.A.: (715) 848-4957
Canada: (819) 566-3366
Now is your chance to weigh in constructively and let Can Am know how much a selectable diff lock would mean to you!!!
---------------------------
Original post here:
Ok, so I'm considering a Maverick purchase. I'm convinced that the Maverick is as good as gets right now in the SxS market.
My intention here is not to start another debate on the virtues, or deficiencies, of the Visco Lok. Obviously a lot depends on your application and how you run your machine and the discussion tends to get religious. I'm sure some want the QE unit and will fork over the dough to replace the standard Visco Lok unit being shipped in the Maverick. Others may wait and hope the next Mav release will include the QE unit. Yet others are fine with the standard Visco.
For me, I believe (as I'm sure many do) the best possible solution is the standard Visco Lok unit alongside some sort of selectable lock override. It may be that modifying the Visco diff in this manner isn't possible and that the carrier internals (possibly including the carrier itself) may instead need to be totally replaced. The point of this thread isn't to discuss the technical specifics, as I see that discussion has now gone on for many years in a variety of forums. I know one guy down under actually built a prototype locking override unit, but I'm really not interested in a discussion of one-offs.
I've done some research and seen that a year or two back there was someone in contact with Eaton who was trying to convince them to make a selectable manual locker front diff to replace (or enhance) the Visco Lok unit. The last thread post was him saying that Eaton told him they weren't interested in considering development of the product because they would require way more confirmed demand in advance of R&D.
The point of this thread is to truly gauge confirmed interest in a selectable front locking diff. I'm convinced the Maverick will now garner a significant percentage of the sport SxS market (which has grown hugely as we all know) and that the sheer numbers of people interested COULD potentially cause Eaton to reconsider. With all of their expertise, I'm guessing it would probably only take these guys a handful of months of R&D work to solve the problem. But, they won't put in the effort and do it unless the demand is confirmed to be there.
I figure if the sport SxS industry number of units sold can be correlated with the expected adoption of Mavericks (which I think will shortly be eating heavily into the Polaris stranglehold), and multiplied by the number of existing and soon-to-be Maverick owners who definitely want a production manually selectable true locker unit then we can come up with some real numbers. I'm sure Commander (and maybe quad) owners will also have interest, so if you can steer some of those guys here to also chime in that might help too.
If and when the numbers here look good then I'll plan on approaching Eaton again (and/or Ox, ARB, etc.) and ask them to reevaluate the situation. Let's assume, to be reasonable, and in light of typical full size Dana/other selectable lockers that the unit would cost $1000.00
Would you spend 1K and buy a manually selectable front diff locker to replace your Visco Lok unit?
If so then please be sure to vote in the poll so we've got some hard numbers here as opposed to just thread comments. Comments are fine, but the poll number is key!
It's always possible that if we get enough positive feedback we could also approach Can Am and try to convince them to do the legwork and possibly provide a factory selectable locker option too.
No matter what, though, without sheer numbers weighing in about their desire for a fully selectable locker we don't stand much chance of seeing a production unit...
