3215 diff lock not working (Popping)

Carr73 · Mar 9, 2008

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 · Mar 9, 2008

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

MajMac392 · Mar 9, 2008

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 · Mar 9, 2008

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 · Mar 10, 2008

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 · Mar 10, 2008

RAS323 said:
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 · Mar 12, 2008

RAS323 said:
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 · Mar 12, 2008

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

Canudigit · Dec 17, 2009

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 · Dec 25, 2009

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.

POC · Feb 10, 2010

Mine is now, after moving some snow yesterday and attempting to use the locker, it acts like the diff is lobed, the pedal goes up and down, up and down....Tractor is a 2007 model, I bought it in 2008, 90 hrs, but the dealer has gone out of business now.
What should I do?
Thanks,
Patrick

LAWALLSTRACTOR · Feb 10, 2010

POC said:
Mine is now, after moving some snow yesterday and attempting to use the locker, it acts like the diff is lobed, the pedal goes up and down, up and down....Tractor is a 2007 model, I bought it in 2008, 90 hrs, but the dealer has gone out of business now.
What should I do?
Thanks,
Patrick

Check your owners manual as it may give directions to adjust the diff loc linkage, and if it doesn't let me know and I will try to email you the directions.

POC · Feb 10, 2010

See, I said that you were going to be "MY dealer" now.

Sergei · Feb 11, 2010

LAWALLSTRACTOR said:
Check your owners manual as it may give directions to adjust the diff loc linkage, and if it doesn't let me know and I will try to email you the directions.

If he needs a copy of any pages from the service manual let me know and I'll scan them last time I believe you had issues with your scanner.

LAWALLSTRACTOR · Feb 11, 2010

I appreciate it and I will let you know. I most generally have issues when it comes to computers. It couldn't be me could it. You see I was going to put a smiley face by that and I can't figure out how to do that. Oh Well.

POC · Feb 20, 2010

Ok, just got back online....
No, I found nothing in the manual about adjustment of the linkage.
Something would be great.
Thanks,

manganos · Feb 21, 2010

I don't know if you remember but my NEW 2516 had the same issue. They fixed it and turned out it needed a new piece of metal and some springs replaced. Now it works.

Funny thing is my dealer emailed me saying he had 2 new 2516's come in to the dealership and both of the diff locks on them were not working from the factory. Might be something going on the assembly line?

trctrguy · Mar 31, 2010

had this happen to me 2 times. i hate my mahindra

DavesTractor · Apr 1, 2010

trctrguy said:
had this happen to me 2 times. i hate my mahindra

Well then, let me help you help your dealer get this fixed right. The 3215 is a wonderful tractor.

There are three issues that affect the diff lock prematurely failing. One is the adjustment, some of them just don't engage the cogs fully. The pedal pushes down on a lever and it just doesn't push far enough. A little piece of metal tacked onto the lever takes care of that. Secondly, operator error as some guys apply the diff lock while the wheels are still spinning. That is hard on things. Thirdly, the front axles on these 32/3315's do not pivot as far as they should, so you end up needing the diff lock way too often as when the front axle reaches it's pivot stop it lifts the rear tire and you spin. For years now we have "adjusted" the pivot stop on all the 32/33 16's before they go out and we have seen no diff lock failures on any tractors that we have so modified.

Mahindra is aware and has made Mitsu aware. Your dealer can call Mahindra and talk to the service folks to make sure he fully understands the procedure.

You will note that there really is no adjustment to the pivot stop. The cast block on the front axle is too tall and must be shortened by about 1/4". I won't outline the procedure here since I don't want to feel bad if someone does it wrong and cuts a power-steering hose or messes something up. Talk to your dealer.

Sergei · Apr 1, 2010

I may be wrong, but from the only two posts that he's made since joining this forum, all I see is either someone who has abused the tractor or has made operator errors when engaging either the diff lock or the 4WD.