Powr matic hubs

[230ohc]

I recently got an axle with Powr matic hubs on it.
Google knows nada, anyone ever seen or heard of these?

[tgreese]

Picture?

[Stuka]

Aren't those the "automatic" hubs that have three positions (free, auto, lock) and can engage when power is sent to them?

[230ohc]

20190114_173042.jpg

As far as I can tell they engage with a set screw. Just one on each hub that locks a bearing in place. I took one apart just for a look see. But I can't find any info on who made them or years manufactured or parts.

Stuka by automatic do you mean , free then engage automatically?
If these work independently would it be similar to lsd?
Or am I missing something?

[Stuka]

Ahh, these are different than the ones I was thinking. But these are automatic if they are the same ones a friend had (they look identical). He had them on a Ford truck.

Basically, when you put it in 4wd, they would engage. When you take it out of 4wd, they would free wheel. But they are quirky, especially when going from forwards to reverse, or vice versa. They can also break if there are shock loads.

A couple of companies made these back in the 60's into the 70's. Advertised as making it so that you would not have to get out and lock the hubs when you were stuck. They "just worked".

[230ohc]

Interesting, I like em. The engagement is really easy, but having taken one apart I didn't think the set screw was the strongest mechanism. However these do appear well used and no real signs of damage or wear due to this simplicity of it. Perhaps I'll try em out and see how well the automatic feature works. But now I'm curious because the engagement is only about a quarter turn with no positive positions, just one way or the other.
I sure hope I can find a manual or some technical info.
Worst case is tear em down completely to understand better how they work.