Another locking hub question, Sorry Guys

[McGuyver]

I have (or had) the SOTF auto locking hubs on my 04 250. Left side selector knob was frozen in the "Auto" position and not going to budge. Replaced them with Warn manual hubs, but it also defeats the Automatic feature we paid for. This is what I found after removing the auto hubs...

With both side by side on my workbench and both set in the "Auto" position, inside the hub from the right (Not frozen) the spline gear spins freely. However, in the left (Frozen) autohub, the spline gear would not spin.

Actual question.... Which scenario is correct?

The dealers want big bucks to replace these with new and the recyclers only want half your arm if you can find them at all. My local recyclers say these things go off the shelves very quickly.

If I can repair my frozen one and clean and repack both of them I think I would reuse them so I have the "Auto" feature again. If not, at least maybe I could recoup some expense for these on Ebay.

Thanks for any help.
Steve

Just finished a teardown on the units found and repaired the prob with the frozen guts of the autohub. Now if I could get the twist mechanism to free up I'd be in business. Letting it soak now.