Anyone with knowledge on Differential locks?

[ByronBob]

Hi all,

I think for the most part of the summer that my differential lock was stuck engaged on my tractor. I noticed when mowing the ground was getting ripped up more than normal.

Yesterday I oiled everything real well and the lock is now free. It moves in and out alot better than it did. I'd say I got 20 hours or so with it this way.

What damages did I do? It never was on the road.

 

[Adam23]

If you were not on asphalt or concrete I don't think you would have done any damage. Even if you were on asphalt or concrete I think the only damage that you would have done would be to you tires! Diff locks are pretty darn indestructable.

 

[samofsweden]

Hi all,

I think for the most part of the summer that my differential lock was stuck engaged on my tractor. I noticed when mowing the ground was getting ripped up more than normal.

Yesterday I oiled everything real well and the lock is now free. It moves in and out alot better than it did. I'd say I got 20 hours or so with it this way.

What damages did I do? It never was on the road.

Kubota built these tractors for a normal users, (people dont need to be experts in drive-line knowledge to use a Kubota), if you forget the diff in for a period it (drive-line, gearbox etc)wouldnt take any damage. What is more wearing for your diff is not to use the difflock. If you start spinning one wheel and not engage your difflock your internal sprockets inside the diff will start spinning which put more stress on your diff than if you engage the diff right away. You allways engage your diff when you drive straight, both rear wheels should be traveling at the same speed. And allways engage the diff when your wheels start spinning. You should avoid to turn on dry asphalt or concrete with difflock engage. Hope this will help you. /Sam

 

[RobJ]

For the record my L manual says to only engauge when both wheels are stopped.

In your case you probably just need to step on it a little more often to keep it from rusting.

Good Luck,
Rob

 

[Texas Dodge]

I never use my differential lock because I keep mine in 4WD all the time

 

[wushaw]

I never use my differential lock because I keep mine in 4WD all the time

You say that today but I guarantee you there will be times you will need it...4wd or not

I have used mine many times and there was one time nothing worked except another vehicle and a chain

 

[samofsweden]

For the record my L manual says to only engauge when both wheels are stopped.

In your case you probably just need to step on it a little more often to keep it from rusting.

Good Luck,
Rob

For Kubota you should very likely to stop the tractor before you engage difflock. I was speaking in general meenings about difflocks. But as you pointed out read the manual for your tractor.

 

[Texas Dodge]

You say that today but I guarantee you there will be times you will need it...4wd or not

I have used mine many times and there was one time nothing worked except another vehicle and a chain

Oh I'm sure I will one of these days.

 

[orezok]

I never use my differential lock because I keep mine in 4WD all the time

In reality, 4 wheel drive is 2 wheel drive. One front - one rear. Get either one off the ground and you have no wheel drive.

 

[samofsweden]

So engage rear diff lock and you have 3 wheel drive...

 

[N80]

I have 4wd and I use my diff lock a lot. (Maybe I need to be more careful! ) However, I'm not wild about the placement of mine. It sits right behind my right heell, which is fine, but if I keep it depressed with my heel, I can't reach the throttle pedal with my toes.....and I have fairly big feet.

Now, when it is engaged and torque is applied it will stay engaged until the torque slacks off, but sometimes idle speed is not enough to keep it engaged. When this happens I have to keep my heel on it and use the hand throttle to get out of the hole, or creek, or teeter tottering mess I've gotten into. It works okay but the hand throttle is not very precise for such situations.

I wish it was close enough to the throttle pedal to keep is depressed and apply gas. Oh well. I guess Kubota is afraid someone will have the throttle floored, tires spinning and then jam the diff lock. I guess they're trying to idiot proof it.

 

[ByronBob]

Well I don't feel the tractor running any different now because of it. The only thing I worried about was if the gears would have been worn down because it was stuck in the closed position.

I mowed the grass primarily. So even though it was locked it just ripped the dirt up a bit.

 

[RobJ]

I
I wish it was close enough to the throttle pedal to keep is depressed and apply gas. Oh well. I guess Kubota is afraid someone will have the throttle floored, tires spinning and then jam the diff lock. I guess they're trying to idiot proof it.

Same place on mine, I don't use it to much but that spring is healthy to. Seems if I don't plant into the floor it'll slip to. It would be nice to have some sort of locking lever.

 

[orezok]

So engage rear diff lock and you have 3 wheel drive...

Well, 2 for sure. Can't guarantee that is one front is off the ground that the other will have any traction.

 

[N80]

Well, 2 for sure. Can't guarantee that is one front is off the ground that the other will have any traction.

No, you got 3 wheel drive with the diff lock engaged. Just because its off the ground or slipping doesn't mean it isn't three wheel drive. Heck, it would be still be '3wd' if it was upside down!

 

[orezok]

No, you got 3 wheel drive with the diff lock engaged. Just because its off the ground or slipping doesn't mean it isn't three wheel drive. Heck, it would be still be '3wd' if it was upside down!

It seems that if one of the front wheels is off the ground it's spinning free so no "drive". The other front wheel is getting no power since the other is spinning free so therefore no "drive" at the second front wheel. Hence, only 2 wheel "drive".

I don't think I'll try the upside down thing, but be my guest and let us know how it works.

 

[N80]

Whether a vehicle is 1wd, 2wd, 3wd or 4wd has nothing to do with lack of traction. In your scenario, the front wheel that is off the ground and spinning is still being driven. The fact that it is getting no traction does not mean it isn't driven.

 

[Toolguy]

Getting back to the subject of the post, I doubt if your diff lock has been engaged for the last 20 hours. Even if you only drove on grass or soft ground you would have a very difficult time trying to make tight turns. You would notice something was wrong because the front wheels would want to skid in a straight line when you turned. It would leave major skid marks on the grass if you could get it to turn sharp at all. It could be done I guess, but one would have to be pretty darn near brain dead or intoxicated not to realize something major was not right.

 

[cp1969]

Getting back to the subject of the post, I doubt if your diff lock has been engaged for the last 20 hours. Even if you only drove on grass or soft ground you would have a very difficult time trying to make tight turns. You would notice something was wrong because the front wheels would want to skid in a straight line when you turned. It would leave major skid marks on the grass if you could get it to turn sharp at all. It could be done I guess, but one would have to be pretty darn near brain dead or intoxicated not to realize something major was not right.

That is exactly what I was going to say. When mine is locked, you can't turn it without stepping on a brake.

 

[rdsaustintx]

one would have to be pretty darn near brain dead or intoxicated not to realize something major was not right.

Uh oh.