Limited slip diff Marathon

mrphilf · 07-14-2014, 12:15 PM

Now that I have built my cart nasty enough to really get back in the woods I am getting stuck in mud too much, time to work on the rear end and stop the one wheel spin open diff issues.

In researching I cant find a LSD conversion for the Marathon rear end, I even went so far as to contact the people who were issued the patent for the kits that everyone is selling for later models, no joy.

I read some posts here from a few years ago where a member was talking about packing the spider gears...did anyone ever try this?

http://www.buggiesgonewild.com/elect...tial-lock.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by GarageBuilt

I'm with scottyb on this one. No welding. If you are not able to get the store bought ones, then you can just pack the spider gears. I did this for two years before BU came out with their T/C. By packing the spider gears, But it has to be done right. You will have the poss/ track in a straight line & under a load. But when turning, one wheel will give. Allowing smooth turning.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GarageBuilt

Sure scottyb.

Let's start with the EZ-GO spider gears. The spider gear is a set of 4 smaller gears. These 4 gears are set at 90 degrees from each other. Now lets break the 4 gears into 2 sets of gears. One set will not slid at all. But the other set will slide from side to side. This is the gear we are going to pack tight with a alum spacer & two harden washers. By doing this we have now locked up the spider gear. But not to the point that we have 100% lock out. That depends on how tight you pack the two gears. But remember it is best to have a little slippage than to have total lock out.

I just bought a spare diff off ebay and I'm going to give it a shot, was curious if anyone has tried this and what specs they tried and/or were successful with for how tight to make the gears...

cgtech · 07-14-2014, 03:01 PM

I put a RXV posi diff in my marathon, no problem. You can use all your stock gears (about 12.5):1, or (carefully) mix and match rxv ring gear and intermediate shaft like i did to achieve a roughly 14.5:1 ratio.

mrphilf · 07-14-2014, 03:45 PM

I don't much about different kinds of carts. How "posi" is the RXV diff? Is a true LSD with clutch pacs? Did you just swap out the carrier or the entire rear end?

cgtech · 07-14-2014, 06:35 PM

It is a true "clutch type" posi. I used the carrier, ring gear, and intermediate shaft from rxv. I used the input shaft and second gear for the intermediate shaft from the marathon. you could use all of your stock gears including the stock marathon ring gear on the RXV carrier. if you use an RXV intermediate shaft you have to substitute a different bearing for the intermediate shaft (i think it was a 6204). These parts all went into the marathon axle housing. I went the way i did because im going with bigger tires, and wanted to get a better ratio for climbing power. I can't say exactly how well it will work because the project is not finished yet but everything went into the axle just fine

mrphilf · 07-14-2014, 07:38 PM

What year is the carrier you used from? Did they put these posi carriers in from like 94-97 only? Or did it come out of some special workhorse type cart?
I ask this because Marathons are open diffs and there is an aftermarket LSD kit for 98-06...

cgtech · 07-15-2014, 10:52 AM

I dont know the year, but ALL RXVs use the same posi carrier.

mrphilf · 07-15-2014, 06:32 PM

Interesting, thanks for the info. I am now on the hunt for a RXV carrier, wish I woulda started a thread before I bought the extra Marathon carrier lol

rottie · 01-18-2016, 08:12 PM

Did you get this project finished and working?

cgtech · 01-18-2016, 10:44 PM

Ive got more welding to do. Not done yet. But the axle went together just fine (its assembled & waiting for the frame to be finished). I gotta get a shield gas regulator for my welder. So many "unexpected projects -ie Keep everyones autos running" projects i dont progress fast at all. Hey, i want at least one day a week to "kick back & relax, maybe watch a football game". I was changing spark plugs at halftime during the Steelers/Denver game. Boo Denver!

tbird67 · 11-18-2020, 07:25 PM

How did this LSD conversion work out? I'm looking to do something like this to my 92 Marathon.

07-14-2014, 03:01 PM	#2
cgtech Over This Interview Is... Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: AZ Posts: 17,449	Re: Limited slip diff Marathon I put a RXV posi diff in my marathon, no problem. You can use all your stock gears (about 12.5):1, or (carefully) mix and match rxv ring gear and intermediate shaft like i did to achieve a roughly 14.5:1 ratio.

07-14-2014, 03:45 PM	#3
mrphilf Getting Wild Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 99	Re: Limited slip diff Marathon I don't much about different kinds of carts. How "posi" is the RXV diff? Is a true LSD with clutch pacs? Did you just swap out the carrier or the entire rear end?
mrphilf Getting Wild Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 99

07-14-2014, 06:35 PM	#4
cgtech Over This Interview Is... Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: AZ Posts: 17,449	Re: Limited slip diff Marathon It is a true "clutch type" posi. I used the carrier, ring gear, and intermediate shaft from rxv. I used the input shaft and second gear for the intermediate shaft from the marathon. you could use all of your stock gears including the stock marathon ring gear on the RXV carrier. if you use an RXV intermediate shaft you have to substitute a different bearing for the intermediate shaft (i think it was a 6204). These parts all went into the marathon axle housing. I went the way i did because im going with bigger tires, and wanted to get a better ratio for climbing power. I can't say exactly how well it will work because the project is not finished yet but everything went into the axle just fine

07-14-2014, 07:38 PM	#5
mrphilf Getting Wild Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 99	Re: Limited slip diff Marathon What year is the carrier you used from? Did they put these posi carriers in from like 94-97 only? Or did it come out of some special workhorse type cart? I ask this because Marathons are open diffs and there is an aftermarket LSD kit for 98-06...
mrphilf Getting Wild Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 99

07-15-2014, 10:52 AM	#6
cgtech Over This Interview Is... Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: AZ Posts: 17,449	Re: Limited slip diff Marathon I dont know the year, but ALL RXVs use the same posi carrier.

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07-15-2014, 06:32 PM	#7
mrphilf Getting Wild Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 99	Re: Limited slip diff Marathon Interesting, thanks for the info. I am now on the hunt for a RXV carrier, wish I woulda started a thread before I bought the extra Marathon carrier lol
mrphilf Getting Wild Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 99

01-18-2016, 08:12 PM	#8
rottie Getting Wild Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Seattle,WA /Sebastian,FL Posts: 106	Re: Limited slip diff Marathon Did you get this project finished and working?

01-18-2016, 10:44 PM	#9
cgtech Over This Interview Is... Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: AZ Posts: 17,449	Re: Limited slip diff Marathon Ive got more welding to do. Not done yet. But the axle went together just fine (its assembled & waiting for the frame to be finished). I gotta get a shield gas regulator for my welder. So many "unexpected projects -ie Keep everyones autos running" projects i dont progress fast at all. Hey, i want at least one day a week to "kick back & relax, maybe watch a football game". I was changing spark plugs at halftime during the Steelers/Denver game. Boo Denver!

11-18-2020, 07:25 PM	#10
tbird67 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Nov 2020 Posts: 2	Re: Limited slip diff Marathon How did this LSD conversion work out? I'm looking to do something like this to my 92 Marathon.
tbird67 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Nov 2020 Posts: 2

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