3215 diff lock not working (Popping)

[Carr73]

My new(21 hours) 3215 gear tractor got stuck in deep sand today. I tried to use the diff lock in forward and reverse and it just popped while still spinning only one tire. Thankfully I have a FEL and used it like a pry bar to get everything rolling. Do you think this is just a linkage adjustment? If it was something simple it would save me a trip to the dealer. This has been an awesome tractor so far.

 

[Outlander]

When engaging the DL, the clutch must be in and you must be stopped. If hydro the pedal must be neutral. (?)

 

[MajMac392]

Ditto from Outlander.
I hope you didn't try and engage it while you were spinning or moving. The results may not be pretty.

 

[Carr73]

Yes, I did push the clutch in. Mine is a gear drive. I was stuck so I pushed the clutch in, pushed the diff lock lever down, put it in low range and let the clutch out. The diff made a popping noise and did not engage both wheels. I then tried it in reverse with the same results. I have used this already two or three times in a similar situation with good results.

 

[RAS323]

Are you keeping pressure on the DL when you are trying to use it? Soon as you take your foot off of the pedal it will disengage.

 

[DavesTractor]

Are you keeping pressure on the DL when you are trying to use it? Soon as you take your foot off of the pedal it will disengage.

I think you have rounded off one half of the diff lock mechanism, it generally happens by engaging the diff lock while the wheels are spinning. It needs to go back to the dealer and they can fix it. We did one recently, it is an easy job and even the parts were cheap. Your dealer will likely cover it under warranty.

One half of the diff lock is a relatively soft cogged gear, the other half is part of the actual differential. They make one side softer so if there is wear, it is only the throw-away part, not of the differential itself.

 

[Sergei]

Are you keeping pressure on the DL when you are trying to use it? Soon as you take your foot off of the pedal it will disengage.

Interesting, unless the factory changed the way it works my DL pedal will stay engaged until I lift the pedal back up. So far it's been great this winter moving snow and not having to keep foot on pedal, I really like the way it works now. But my question is will this cause any damage to the tractor? So far there has been no sign of any mechanical problems.

 

[shvl73]

I would guess it would work like that on my 10 series. it stays engaged while under tension, then releases when unloaded.

 

[Canudigit]

Carr73, my 3215 has done the same thing brand new from the dealer. I haven't tried engaging it while in neutral so i'll try that. I was overcome by the smell of the new motor and shiny paint and the next thing I knew I was diggin', all before I read the owners manual. Good luck.

 

[tractorboy5500]

Hey Carr, i had the same problem with my 5500 4x4 when i bought it, but i am an off shore drilling rig mechanic, so i can figure alot of things out on my own "sometimes". If you look at the linkage and see were it goes to the dif. lock on the trans, have some one press the dif lock and watch and see how far it travles, more than likely its not engaging all the way like mind was, look at the linkage and you should be able to adjust it, if you take the linkage off and engage it and dis engage it, you will see how much to adjust it. good luck. it work for me. when you first had this problem and if you only tried it a few times, you shouldnt have done enough damage to hurt anything.