Ox Locker Shifter Plate By Frank D.

The normal mounting location for the Ox Locker shifter is in the factory console, on the flat area directly behind the gear shifter.  This location wouldn’t work for my installation as that real estate was already being used.  (Two switches mounted there that control my front ARB Air Locker and compressor.  Sorry, the Ox Locker just wasn’t available when I put this in.)

Note: I would think if you have OX Lockers front and rear you could also use this solution to mount the rear OX Shifter, while mounting the front Ox shifter behind the gear shifter.

Dave over at Drive Train Direct was kind enough to ship me a universal mounting bracket for the OX Shifter but I just couldn’t find a comfortable place to mount it that didn’t interfere with the front seats sliding forward.

After some thought and additional surveying the lay of the land inside my Jeep, I decided I would sacrifice the rear-most cup holder and fabricate a bracket to hold the Ox Locker Shifter.

Here is a picture of my finished work effort bolted into the console cup holder and a write-up on how to do this if you wish to do the same.

Fabricating The Bracket

The bracket, which will hold the OX Locker Shifter, is made of 3/16-inch thick aluminum plate.  I suppose you could use steel, but I find aluminum much easier to work with and it certainly is strong enough for this application.

I have created a fairly simple template that you can use to recreate the OX Locker Shifter mounting plate.  Here is a picture of the template. You can find a full size template in the file named “oxshiftertemplate.jpg”.

Note: None of the lines on this bracket are square.  This is because the factory console isn’t square.  (In truth the console is convoluted, concaved, off camber, off kilter and anything but square to any plane located anywhere in the universe!)

The four 5/16-inch holes located at the four corners of the bracket will be used to mount the bracket to the factory console.

The two 3/16-inch holes and the slot are to mount the OX Locker Shifter. You can use the template that comes with the OX Shifter to mark this location accurately.

The single ½-inch hole between the two upper mounting holes is optional.  I decided I wanted to mount a waterproof toggle switch and take advantage of this unused real estate.  (I might even use this switch to turn my ARB Air Locker on and off so that both lockers can be control from the same vicinity.)

Making this bracket to fit was a trial and error effort.  If you use the full size template (oxshiftertemplate.jpg) you will get it very close.

Creating the Bracket:

1. Cut the paper template out and trace the drawing on your aluminum plate stock.

2. Cut out the outer shape of the bracket.

3. Bend bracket along the “Bend Line” shown in the drawing to match the angle shown on the right side of the drawing.

4. Trial fit the bracket and angle to your console.  You may very have to trim the sides a bit with a file.  Make sure the bracket doesn’t stick out on the side and interfere with the front seats sliding forward.

5. Drill the four 5/16-inch mounting holes in the four corners of the bracket.

6. Drill the remaining holes in your bracket and perform a trial fit.  You may find you have to bend the bracket in multiple directions to get it to fit flat on both horizontal and somewhat vertical wall of the console.

7. Clean up all your machining with a file and sandpaper.

Note: The ½-inch hole for my toggle switch is not exactly centered for my implementation.  This is because of a “Molding Bubble” on the inside of my console, which would not allow the switch to be centered.  You might want to check yours before you drill this hole.

8. Using the bracket as a template, mark your console with a pencil through the four corner mounting holes and the switch hole if you elect to install a switch.

Drilling the Console

You will be drilling four ½-inch holes in your console to mount the four bolts that will hold the bracket in place. 

Note: These are ½-inch holes, NOT 5/16-inch.

You will be using these neat fasteners I found at Ace Hardware (40 cents each) called “WellNuts”.  They look like Nutserts but they are made of ½-inch diameter rubber with a ¼-inch x (20 x 5/8-inch) brass-threaded insert.

Here’s a look at the WellNut hardware in the unthreaded and threaded states.

ü      The WellNut is the black part.

ü      The bolts are ¼-inch x 20 x 5/8-inch stainless steel Allen heads (Ace Hardware 45 cents each). 

ü      The washers are also stainless steel (Ace Hardware, 5 cents each).

9. Drill four ½-inch holes at the four corner locations you have marked.

It should look like this.

10. Insert one WellNut in each ½-inch hole.  You may have to lubricate the sides of the WellNuts as this is a tight fit.  Use WATER, not oil.  They will go in.

It should look like this.

Trial Fit the OX Shifter and Bracket

11. Mount the OX Locker Shifter to your bracket.

12. Trial fit the bracket with the OX Locker Shifter to your console.

Apply Finish to Bracket

13. Remove the bracket from the console and remove the OX Locker Shifter from the bracket.

14. Prepare the bracket for painting by sanding the bracket and all edges smooth.

15. Soak a paper towel in rubbing alcohol then rub the bracket down to remove sandpaper dust and oil remnants from your hands.

16. Paint the bracket in the color of your choice.  I choose to paint mine with Black Dupli-Color Truck Bed Liner (Wal-mart $6.96) out of a rattle can.  I like how this stuff wears and I like the textured finish.

Here’s what mine looks like.

Here is what the finished effort looks like.

Please note my switch is waterproof (Tractor Supply Company $7.46, SPDT Contacts) and has a black rubber nipple covering the toggle handle.  This makes it somewhat difficult to see in the photo above.

Drilling OX Cable Routing Holes

17. You will need to open-up a slotted hole in the rear sidewall of the rear-most cup holder to position the OX Locker Shifter Cable through the back of the console and then through the floorboard to the differential.

18. This slotted hole will need to be large enough (1-inche wide by 3-inches tall) to pass the cable through AND allow access to the two Cable Collar locking screws of the shifter to adjust the cable during installation and, if needed, in the future.

Note: The console has an outer and an inner wall to it. You will have to cut this slotted hole through both.  I used a 7/8-inch hole cutting drill to cut two holes and then cleaned them up with a utility knife.  I am sure a Dremmel type tool would work just as well.

Here is a photo of the slotted hole you need to make in the cup holder.  You are looking from the front of the Jeep into the rear wall of the rear most cup holder. The passenger seat is to the left in the photo and the driver’s seat is to the right.

19. Drill a 7/8-inch hole in the driver’s side rear of the console to allow the Ox Shifter Cable to be routed through.  Again I used the 7/8-inch hole cutting drill to make this hole through the outer and inner liner of the console.

20. Now you need to drill a 7/8-inch hole in floor of your Jeep to get the cable to the Ox Locker differential.  Pull back the carpet on the driver’s side rear and you will see a vertical surface about 12 inches behind the console.  Drill your hole offset to the driver’s side in this vertical surface.  This location will allow the Ox Cable to come through just to the side of the emergency brake bracket under your Jeep.

Here is a picture of the floor pan hole.

And here is a picture of the hole in the rear of the console.

Route the OX Locker Shifter Cable

21. Install the OX Locker Shifter Cable to the OX Differential Cover as described in the OX instructions and then route the cable through the 7/8-inch hole you drilled in the floorboard.

22. Work two 31/32-inch rubber grommets (Ace Hardware 27 cents each) over the cable end.  One grommet will close off the floorboard hole and the second will close of the hole in the rear of your console.

23. Route the shifter cable into the console and then through the slotted hole in the cup holder. Then attach the cable to the shifter as described in the OX installation instructions.

Here are two pictures:

Adjust the OX Locker Shifter Cable

24. Adjust the Ox Locker Shifter Cable according to the directions in your instructions.

25. Once you are satisfied you have the cable adjust correctly slide the Ox Shifter Assembly into the cup holder and bolt it in place.

Here are two pictures of the finished effort:

Ownership of Write-up

This write-up has been written by Frank D., a very satisfied customer of Drive Train Direct, Super 35 Axles, and now the OX Locker.

This write-up is being sent to Drive Train Direct for distribution as they see fit as well as being placed out into the public domain.

Anyone who may find value in this write-up is welcome to freely use, copied, modified, improved and shared this content in any why they wish.

Sincerely,

Frank D.

(Daless2 on the www.jeepsunlimited.com and www.jeepaholics.com forums)

Email.ID@Worldnet.Att.Net

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