Diff lock engagement timing?

[Fallon]

I've seen some conflicting information in the manual for my new L3200 regarding the diff lock. Some place say step on the diff lock only when you are getting stuck (implies you are moving & don't stop to hit the diff lock) & another place saying come to a complete stop before you lock the diff. Can you engage the diff lock on the move? I'm assuming you probably don't want to when one tire is spinning hard & just slam the drive train, but what about engaging during a little slippage?

 

[bigbull338]

you step on the diff lock when you only have 1 rear wheel spinning.the diff lock makes both wheels spin.

 

[Fallon]

I'm very familiar with how lockers & limited slip's work on 4x4 trucks, etc. Just not the popper timing to engage the manual ones on a Kubota to avoid tearing things up. I'd assume you just stomp on the lever for extra traction when something starts spinning, but I don't want to break things because you need to let both tires come to a complete stop before you engage the diff lock.

 

[stewg]

I have engaged mine a couple times while the one rear was spinning at low RPMs. Didn't hurt (grind) anything, but manuals states to stop first.

 

[oldnslo]

Yes you can normally engage them while moving but not recommended if one wheel has slowed or stopped and the other other is spinning at twice the normal speed. Engaging the diff lock before you get to the soft spot will allow both drive wheels to help you get through the soft spot. I always presumed that was the intention and use of diff lock, not waiting until you are stuck and then hoping that this is the magic unstuck pedal.

 

[C4Ranch]

It's a dog clutch. The peddle moves a fork that slides the dog clutch down a shaft to its companion. Very slow wheel spin won't hurt it. In fact, it may need to rotate to engage. Once the cogs line up it will drop in and lock it up. You may feel the peddle drop when it locks up and it may stay locked if it has tension on it until the tension is released and you'll hear a pop as the dog clutch disengages.

 

[dstig1]

Yes - slow wheel spin is almost required to get it to engage as it needs to find the catch point. You can do it while moving as long as it is slow and you are not turning L or R (or barely turning) as that will cause the diff to be spinning in a way that it can be damaged when the lock engages (as I understand it). When you let off, it can sometimes stay engaged due to bind in the system, so it pays to slow down or even hit reverse a touch if it sticks. Mine does a little but I hear it ping back up after a few seconds once the bind is relieved.

 

[CalG]

My Hurlimann 435 has split diff front and rear

Talk about confusion in timing! But... It will go anywhere! ;-)

 

[dragoneggs]

Yes - slow wheel spin is almost required to get it to engage as it needs to find the catch point. You can do it while moving as long as it is slow and you are not turning L or R (or barely turning) as that will cause the diff to be spinning in a way that it can be damaged when the lock engages (as I understand it). When you let off, it can sometimes stay engaged due to bind in the system, so it pays to slow down or even hit reverse a touch if it sticks. Mine does a little but I hear it ping back up after a few seconds once the bind is relieved.

Yes, I have to 'spin' a bit for my BX differential lock to engage.

 

[Sysop]

Yes - slow wheel spin is almost required to get it to engage as it needs to find the catch point. You can do it while moving as long as it is slow and you are not turning L or R (or barely turning) as that will cause the diff to be spinning in a way that it can be damaged when the lock engages (as I understand it). When you let off, it can sometimes stay engaged due to bind in the system, so it pays to slow down or even hit reverse a touch if it sticks. Mine does a little but I hear it ping back up after a few seconds once the bind is relieved.

+1 Every tractor I've operated the diff would only lock every 180 degrees of rotation, so at most you need a half rotation of the spinning tire for the diff to engage. If both are spinning you may not be able to engage it, not that engaging it would do you much good at that point. You want that rotation to be a minimal speed when the diff engages to prevent damage.