Thornton-Welles locking differential

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

As previously stated in my earlier email where I cited "Grandad". Thornton made the "Nospin" diff. Later Thornton were brought out by the Detroit Locker people. Accessed August 4th 2016 from, http://www.hcvc.com.au/forum/OldTruc...n-names#104467

This has been verified by another author who states that ...

Detroit Locker
After being used as a compensator between the two axles of the Thornton Tandem Drive (a dual rear axle conversion for single-axle trucks), it appeared as the Thornton NoSpin differential in 1939, and was eventually used in a large number of WWII military trucks. At points in the 1950s and 1960s, it was an OE option in OE light trucks. It began hitting the light truck aftermarket in 1969 as the Detroit Locker. Major improvements came in 1994 with the incorporation of a dampening device that civilized the Detroit without changing its basic operation. Accessed August 5th from,
http://www.offroadadventures.com/articles/view/id/432

Here is the link to a third source that provides the History of the Detroit Locker. Accessed August 5th from, http://www.onallcylinders.com/2013/1...ferential-town It states that... "The Detroit Locker was initially called a “Thornton NoSPIN Differential.” Ray Thornton patented it in 1941 as device for use in six wheel (tandem drive) truck applications. The NoSPIN was manufactured by the Detroit Automotive Product Corporation and was used on American military vehicles during World War II."


Kind Regards
Lionel

[gordon]

A Detroit locking diff, and very useful it was. I know you are talking Fords here, but don't forget all the Dodge WK60 had Welles-Thornton back bogies too.

I suspect they hoped ( in vain ) that using locking diffs on both the back axles would make up for the lack of drive to the front axle - fat chance

[Tony Smith]

Here is a wartime version of the Thornton No Spin for Ford Cars. I see that it also involves replacing the axles, while the modern version uses the original axles (or uprated aftermarket replacements made to the original form). That may be a peculiarity of fitting it to a Ford Banjo diff, or it could be the original design used for the No-Spin.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Vintage-...dYoSmI&vxp=mtr

But I'm still (13 years later ) looking for an example of the Truck version that may have been fitted to a CMP.

[The Bedford Boys]

A bloke in our MV club had a Marmon Herrington locking diff fitted in his MH Gun Tractor for a while. He took it out and replaced it with a standard diff, as the lockers can "click out" leaving you with no drive at all. He told me that sometimes you'd have to get out of the truck and give it a push and you'd hear it click back in and off you'd go. In his opinion, they'd be more suited to something running in 4x4 all the time.

Another bloke in our club has a Ford GTB which he converted a Detroit Locker out of a tractor to fit in the rear diff. Works a charm I'm told