Topic: What's your thoughts on Inchworm?

[blackdiamond]

As some of you know I have had two bearing (needle bearing that the low speed gear rides on) failures in my front transfer case, the 1st was about 1,600 miles after the initial build using the original bearing and the second was about 2,300 miles after the rebuild using a new Marlin Crawler bearing.  After two professional rebuilds nothing has been identified as a specific problem which means that we don't know what happened.  I'm starting to worry that I am the owner of the only Marlin Crawler adapter in captivity with an issue, nothing else makes sense.  Marlin Crawler has covered parts under warranty but I'm still concerned for the future.

Two weeks from Saturday I am heading to Moab from Washington State and if I assume an approximately same length of life for the bearing I'll have trouble about half way there.  Last Friday I tried to order a new front crawl box to carry as a spare, but the waiting list is over 30 currently so it wasn't possible.  I just called to order another adapter, because if it fails again I want to eliminate the adapter from being the problem, and they are out of 21-spline units.

I don't want to purchase, or run, a competitors product because it isn't fair to them for me to purchase only as a spare in hopes of returning it after the trip.  I was very open with MCI about my intent stating that I was willing to cover all shipping charges.  I have considered Inchworm as an option, but am sold on the Marlin product.

The only other option would be to purchase all the bearings and coupler that have been damaged in the past and reuse the adapter, but I have little confidence in my specific unit.  I don't understand how it can be assembled by gotrocks/friend and a professional shop and have identical failures without explaination, when so many average mechanics have success, and not have an adapter issue.

What should I do.  I really don't want to lose half of my vacation doing repairs.

 

[MiniSimp]

Junkyard and carry a spare.

[79coyotefrg]

Jon if i was closer i would  loan  you my crawler box  for the trip, 

it does sound to me  that  your particular adapter  is "off"

[blackdiamond [OP]]

Junkyard and carry a spare.

If the adapter is the issue then I need another adapter.  The parts in the front case outside of the bearings and coupler have always been fine.  I'm not sure my new drivelines will work If I installed it in the single case configuration.  Can't seem to win on this one.

[blackdiamond [OP]]

What's the general thought on Inchworm adapters/front cases?

[jimbo74]

What's the general thought on Inchworm adapters/front cases?

inchworm is a good company...

i have heard their design isnt as strong as the MC unit though... osemthing to do with the input shaft

[blackdiamond [OP]]

I can't imagine breaking either one with my style of wheeling, my rear 4.70 case is a marlin crawler unit so I'm covered where the high torque is applied.

[blackdiamond [OP]]

Is there anything in the adapter design and allows oil to flow forward through the coupler to feed the low speed needle bearing?

[79coyotefrg]

a local friend of mine ordered  some  stuff  from Inchworm,  when he opened  the box  almost everything in there said trailgear 

[KDXSR5]

a local friend of mine ordered  some  stuff  from Inchworm,  when he opened  the box  almost everything in there said trailgear 

[4RnrRick]

I too have had a needle bearing go out in my adapter (Billet MC08-R10) and marlin took care of me. He had no idea what happened. and I have a buddy that it happended to him also. (Billet MC08-R10), and Marlin took care of him also and he was told it was lack of lubrication. we don't understand that prediction as we both were running redline in the T-cases. But there is probably another 10+ locals that I know that have never had any issues...

Personally I don't like how the Inchworm boxes are assemblied, you have to bolt them together one piece at a time to the Tranny since the bolts are internal and don't use studs like AA or Marlin were you can assemble the crawl box on the work bench and bolt it to the tranny as a unit.

If Marlin is out of stock and you can't wait - then I'd suggest AA. OR 23 spline... Thats what I run.

[Rocksurfer]

A friend of mine had these exact issues, turns out an oil passage was blocked and no lube was getting to the rear case. He says it was the gasket that didn't get properly drilled. Don't know if this may be your problem.

Another friend of mine put an Inchworm in his 91 V6 Extracab and loves it. It is his daily driver and has had no issues at all.

[blackdiamond [OP]]

a local friend of mine ordered  some  stuff  from Inchworm,  when he opened  the box  almost everything in there said trailgear 

Inchworm does sell some TG parts, along with Longfield and FROR.  The t-case isn't TG however.

[blackdiamond [OP]]

A friend of mine had these exact issues, turns out an oil passage was blocked and no lube was getting to the rear case. He says it was the gasket that didn't get properly drilled. Don't know if this may be your problem.

The rear case has had no issues, just the front case.

[MiniSimp]

I too have had a needle bearing go out in my adapter (Billet MC08-R10) and marlin took care of me. He had no idea what happened. and I have a buddy that it happended to him also. (Billet MC08-R10), and Marlin took care of him also and he was told it was lack of lubrication. we don't understand that prediction as we both were running redline in the T-cases. But there is probably another 10+ locals that I know that have never had any issues...

Personally I don't like how the Inchworm boxes are assemblied, you have to bolt them together one piece at a time to the Tranny since the bolts are internal and don't use studs like AA or Marlin were you can assemble the crawl box on the work bench and bolt it to the tranny as a unit.

If Marlin is out of stock and you can't wait - then I'd suggest AA. OR 23 spline... Thats what I run.

You're not making me feel real good about my adapter right now Rick.

[bigarms23]

I havent had any problems with my inchworm dual cases besides jim said that if theres a problem he will fix it no questions asked