Rear differential locker is broken

[Jureb]

My rear diff locker wasn't working so I decided to remove it and I discovered this mess. I'm still thinking if I should spend like 500€ on a new locker (which I actually haven't had to use yet) or maybe try to rebuild this busted one, if it will even be possible. Maybe I will just decide not to have a rear locker. Any ideas how should I close the hole on a diff with the possibility to open it sometime in the future?

 

[AndycruiserguyLomas]

That is Oh so common on Collies . Its a bit of pot luck if they work or not at this age. On my D4D Collie it was virtually non existent, on my present V6 Collie its like new and works fine.
Options;-
Buy a new one
Buy a second hand one off a COllie in better condition
Buy a second hand one off the front axle off an 80 series ( they are the same but you have to change 2 wires round in the plug). Thats what I did.
Take it out altogether and make a plate to cover/ put the old one back and do without.
You have to weigh up if you will need a locker, they are very capable without, especially with the CDL engaged. In 9 years of Collie ownership I never engaged it once.

 

[Farmer Tony]

Mud and hills I love the rear diff lock, however original is costly. Instead I bought small compressor and pneumatic actuator. Few meters of air pipes will do. Pneumatic actuator comes with wiring and solenoid valve. All togather cost less than 400USD here, and you have service air for tyres or other things at the same time...

 

[Gorm]

Found a link on a repair of the actuator. It's for another Toyota, but the actuator looks quite similar.

 

[Jureb]

I've watched this video, it's good. Lockers on 95 Prados are the same. Unfortunately my locker's housing is crumbling like pie crust...

 

[Treebeard]

Looks to me like it'll just crumble to nothing if you get it to spin again. Any load on it (trying to lock the diff) will just break it all apart!
Think your only option is to get a used one in the options above, or just blank the hole off if you never use the locker!

 

[Jureb]

Looks to me like it'll just crumble to nothing if you get it to spin again. Any load on it (trying to lock the diff) will just break it all apart!
Think your only option is to get a used one in the options above, or just blank the hole off if you never use the locker!

Yes it's very fragile and I didn't try to repair it or anything. I basically just used some 2 component "metal" epoxy, sealed it up and reinstalled it. I would throw it in the rubbish but I didn't want to leave an open hole in my rear diff and I didn't think of a better idea how to close the hole in a reversible way (if I buy a new diff lock in the future).