Front axle not engaging......

[ClassicJimmy]

Hey, fellas. I went to go work at a transmitter site today & couldn't get to the site because my front axle wouldn't lock the hubs. I have a 92 Chev K2500 w/a manual shift xfer but thermal actuated front "hubs" (or whatever gets engaged). Has anyone ran into this before? It happened to me last winter, but then started working again. I've had in 4WD several times this winter allready, but today it doesn't want to work. I read a while back about a cable actuator that runs into the cab & you manually engage the front axle. Found it locally at Central 4WD for $165 . Has anyone installed this? I like the idea of the cable actuator, because I engage it & disengage it, & I can have 2 low if I need it. Don't like the idea of having to route a cable into the cab & find a mounting location for it. If someone has done this, can you please let me know what you think & maybe post some pics inside your cab. Does it work better, same, worse? Was it a pain to install? Thanks, fellas.