Asuga Asuga - Center Diff Blown?

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ridgehead44

ridgehead44

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Good morning, everyone,

I took my Asuga out for a ramp-bashing session this weekend, but never even made it to my first jump. I was zipping it around, driving it from my car to the spot where I'd set up the ramp when disaster struck. It started making an awful noise and didn't want to drive when I gave it power. I took a look at the rig and saw some metal filings inside near the center diff.

I was hoping maybe the gear mesh had come loose on the pinion, and it was just a chewed-up pinion gear, but both the spur and pinion looked fine on initial inspection. I can turn the front wheels and rear wheels without any issue, but if I place the vehicle down and try to roll it back and forth, something in the middle of the drive train binds up, preventing it from rolling freely as it should.

I haven't had time to take a closer inspection yet, but I suspect the center diff might have gone out on me. Does that sound like it might be the case? Anybody experience something like this before? Any advice is much appreciated. Thank you in advance!
 
It sounds like it unfortunately, could possible be a screw has backed out on diff case if your lucky then won’t need new parts if not will probably need rebuild diff.
 
Sounds like the centre diff. I had the same with my Sketer. My motor was full of sand and got stuck. Contacted TC and i send my motor to them. It was full of sand. I payed and they fixed it. Good service form TC 💪
 
Screws backing out and jamming against the motor mount is a good call. Could also explain the metal filings you saw.
Just pull the centre diff - you'll be able to check the motor and front/rear diffs at the same time.
 
Jeffwazz said:
Screws backing out and jamming against the motor mount is a good call. Could also explain the metal filings you saw.
Just pull the centre diff - you'll be able to check the motor and front/rear diffs at the same time.
Click to expand...
Been there got the T-shirt unfortunately. You can see where it came to a stop 😅

IMG_6064.webp


IMG_6062.webp
 
Thanks everybody! I'll take a look at it later this week and see what I can find.
 
Als check if your (most likely front) motor bearings haven’t fallen apart. Had it myself on the Muraco and seem it happen with an Asuga.
 
Jeffwazz said:
Screws backing out and jamming against the motor mount is a good call. Could also explain the metal filings you saw.
Just pull the centre diff - you'll be able to check the motor and front/rear diffs at the same time.
Click to expand...
I think this is what it is! ☝️

My motor mount bears the same scars. The diff screws obviously weren't thread locked properly at the factory. 😬 Doh!!
 
Last edited:
Hey all!

Finally got some time to carve out to work on this. Fortunately, the screws in the diff had just backed out.

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Scuffed the motor plate pretty good too.

When I tightened up the screws and put the diff back in, it rolled smooth as butter. So it looks like there's nothing major here. Thanks for all the imput everyone!

Quick question--I should threadlock these diff screws, correct? I just wanted to double-check before I did so. Thanks again, y'all
 
ridgehead44 said:
Hey all!

Finally got some time to carve out to work on this. Fortunately, the screws in the diff had just backed out.

View attachment 7874View attachment 7875

Scuffed the motor plate pretty good too.

When I tightened up the screws and put the diff back in, it rolled smooth as butter. So it looks like there's nothing major here. Thanks for all the imput everyone!

Quick question--I should threadlock these diff screws, correct? I just wanted to double-check before I did so. Thanks again, y'all
Click to expand...
A little blue loctite, suitable for hand tools. Loctite 243 is about as strong as you can safely go for hand tools. Conservatively applied! 🙏👍
 
Horatio said:
A little blue loctite, suitable for hand tools. Loctite 243 is about as strong as you can safely go for hand tools. Conservatively applied! 🙏👍
Click to expand...
Devcon now has an orange "medium high" strength threadlock gel that can be removed with hand tools but do not ever use it on things that you can't apply a heat gun to. It's not like red where you need to nuke it but unless the parts are all metal and can be easily accessed with the heat gun or removed from anything that can't take some heat don't use it.
 
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