Questions about Atlas and Klune TC

[Marcelo73]

I have read about this TC. What I understand is that Klune es an add-on to your current TC and Atlas is a replacement. Is that correct?

What's the difference between an Atlas 2sp and a OEM tc or a Teraflex tc besides the offered ratio?


Does it worth to have an Atlas 4sp for mud or sand terrains or it will be underused?

[4.3LXJ]

OEM uses a chain drive tcase with a low range consisting of a planetary sitting in front of the chain drive. The Atlas two speed is an older type of design with an all gear case except that there are no sliding gears like the Dana 18, 20 300 or the NP 203 or 205. That is about all the popular ones. Instead all gears turn and are engaged by a synchromesh slider. You can use the Atlas in front wheel drive only if you wish in low range only. The Klune V is an add on planetary that goes on the front that gives another speed low range. You can also do the same thing more cheaply with a 231 doubler. Here is a link here for that.

http://www.xjtalk.com/showthread.php?t=4194

I am currently running an Atlas 4 speed which is the best of both worlds.

[Marcelo73]

OEM uses a chain drive tcase with a low range consisting of a planetary sitting in front of the chain drive. The Atlas two speed is an older type of design with an all gear case except that there are no sliding gears like the Dana 18, 20 300 or the NP 203 or 205. That is about all the popular ones. Instead all gears turn and are engaged by a synchromesh slider. You can use the Atlas in front wheel drive only if you wish in low range only. The Klune V is an add on planetary that goes on the front that gives another speed low range. You can also do the same thing more cheaply with a 231 doubler. Here is a link here for that.

http://www.xjtalk.com/showthread.php?t=4194

I am currently running an Atlas 4 speed which is the best of both worlds.

Thanks for the explanation. The Atlas replace the current TC, right? And that lower ratios are useful in mud or sand or just are useful in rock crawling?

[4.3LXJ]

Yes, the atlas replaces the current transfer case. One great thing about the atlas is strength. There isn't a stronger one on the market. But to the question of need. The 2.7 in your current transfer case is a good mudding ratio and good on trails, as is the 2.0 ratio in the older cases. The 3.8 is a bit low for mud, but good for rocks. The 10.38 ratio is really slow and only good in big rocks. I chose it because I wheel in it all and wanted to do well in each area. But unless you have very different types of wheeling all available to you, one ratio is sufficient.

[Marcelo73]

Yes, the atlas replaces the current transfer case. One great thing about the atlas is strength. There isn't a stronger one on the market. But to the question of need. The 2.7 in your current transfer case is a good mudding ratio and good on trails, as is the 2.0 ratio in the older cases. The 3.8 is a bit low for mud, but good for rocks. The 10.38 ratio is really slow and only good in big rocks. I chose it because I wheel in it all and wanted to do well in each area. But unless you have very different types of wheeling all available to you, one ratio is sufficient.

Thanks Steve. That's what wanted to know. I don't do crawling, Maybe to climb steped hills but too expensive just for that. Still looks a pretty amazing piece of engineering.

[4.3LXJ]

Expensive, yes. If you ever get around to doing it look into the Stak 3 speed. It fits well in the XJ and has a 2.72 and 5.44 low ratio

[xjmarc]

Stay away from the Stak. I've know way too many folks that have had issues with them and customer service just plain sucks.

[4.3LXJ]

What kind of issues?

[xjmarc]

They pop out of gear and the outputs are known to be weak and break. Mostly the popping out of gear though. Look over on Pirate and you'd be lucky to find a good review.

[4.3LXJ]

OK, thanks. I was just curious. They look beefy.

[Marcelo73]

Thanks for the info. I've never heard about Stak before. And Atlas when I have nothing else to add, maybe I'll consider to buy one :)

[4.3LXJ]

Marcelo, the Atlas is a good transfer case, but expensive. The hardest part of putting one in an XJ is making the linkage sanitary. I managed it, but it took me some time. You need to be able to fabricate to make it work out clean. The linkage that comes with it is suited for a Jeep without a console.