Rear Differential Lock-up

[phyxer]

I have a question concerning the lock-up and unlocking of the rear differential on my Kubota B2620. When I push down on the pedal behind my left foot which is supposed to lock-up the rear differential, sometimes it is very easy to push and it immediately locks up the rear and sometimes it is harder to push and seems to be hit and miss as to whether it locks up the rearend or not. I have tried this while in motion (slow speed and neither wheel spinning) as well as while sitting still. ALSO, as for getting the rear end to unlock once it's locked up can be hit and miss as well. Sometimes it will unlock immediately when the pedal is released and sometimes it takes several seconds and or a few cycles of the pedal for it to release. I look forward to your opinions on my experience as well as your experiences with your rear diff lock up performance. Thank you in advance.

Troy

 

[ray66v]

The above described is normal operation.

Unless the gears are precisely aligned, it will not lock. It is hit or miss.

Try clicking your heels together 3x first, that works on mine.

 

[allen in texas]

ditto normal operation. On my tractor, the diff will release when I least expect it and the pedal will pop loudly and scare the crap out of me.

 

[phyxer]

Well I guess the good news is that there is nothing wrong with my tractor. The bad news (if there is any) is that the lockable rear differential system is not a precision based system and this leaves a little to be desired. Oh well, I doubt I'll ever truly need it but if I do I'll know to be patient and talk nice to it and it will kick in and out when it gets "around" to it! Thank you very much folks!

Troy

 

[savageactor7]

I've only used the DL a few times since we got it in '93...and not once since I put chains on the front. Seems to me the book advises to drive straight while using that. You probably already knew that but for those that don't...it's important to know.

 

[phyxer]

Thanks for the reminder savage. Yes I do know this but turning is how you can tell if it unlocked or locked. I only turn in gravel or grass or garden, never on a solid surface. Thanks again for the reminder.

Troy

 

[bandit67]

First of all, yes that is normal.

But it won't take long for you to figure out exactly how to get it engaged and disengaged right when you want it to. I use the diff lock a lot on my hilly terrain, and after it breaks in a bit, it engages and disengages much easier. Couple that with the operator brain-heel break-in period, and it becomes a fairly flawless system.

I think the only reason it is recommended it be engaged only when going straight is that both rears lock up and spin together, so even if you do try turning the fronts, you'll still go fairly straight ahead.

 

[Ductape]

Try clicking your heels together 3x first, that works on mine.

Theres no place like home.

Theres no place like home.

Theres no place like home.

 

[Baby Grand]

Theres no place like home.

Theres no place like home.

Theres no place like home.

Last weekend I got my front axle burried and started to auger-in with one of the rears. I clicked my right heel on the diff lock pedal, closed my eyes and prayed:

There's no traction I'm lackin'.
There's no traction I'm lackin'.
There's no traction I'm lackin'.

It would be nice to say that she pulled right out of the slop, but I had to do the FEL shuffle.

-Jim

 

[Wayne's Train]

I use the push down on it easy while applying forward then backward motion to engage it when I get on uneven ground and start spinning tires. I know, it doesn't seem possible that you could lose 4wd traction with the BX. But sooner or later it'll happen.

 

[carpenter383]

The diff lock pedal should go down easily as soon as you start to loose traction. When the rear wheels are turning at different speeds the "holes" line up to allow it to lock.

 

[EE_Bota]

My experience agrees with carpenter383. When I apply the lock because I anticipate slipping, it doesn't always engage immediately. But if I am truly slipping already, and need the lock, mine engages much easier and quicker.

I do like the "no traction I'm lackin..."

 

[barrff]

I have a Kubota BX25 with FEL and currently rear 5' blade for snow removal. Working in snow the other day, I had a very difficult time getting the dif lock to engage. I tried it stopped, putting a little forward or back motion on it with the hydraulic drive, I even tried disengaging the 4wd for a minute to see if there was a torsion issue. I finally got it in, but had the same problem again a short time later. Could temperature (cold) be an issue? I'm going to take it to the dealer and let him look at it, but wondered if anyone had had any issues where it just would not engage?

 

[brandoro]

I have a Kubota BX25 with FEL and currently rear 5' blade for snow removal. Working in snow the other day, I had a very difficult time getting the dif lock to engage. I tried it stopped, putting a little forward or back motion on it with the hydraulic drive, I even tried disengaging the 4wd for a minute to see if there was a torsion issue. I finally got it in, but had the same problem again a short time later. Could temperature (cold) be an issue? I'm going to take it to the dealer and let him look at it, but wondered if anyone had had any issues where it just would not engage?

The rear wheels need to be turning at different rates to allow the locking mechanism to line up. If one wheel is spinning ease up on the HST, press down on the lock pedal/arm and let the spinning wheel to continue slowly spinning until the other wheel locks in.
If you are stopped it is very unlikely that things will be lined up when you step on the diff lock.
Another way that works is to be turning gradually in one direction, this also allows the wheels to turn at different rates. If you have trouble getting it to unlock turning slightly one direction then the other will usually release the lock.
Having the diff locked does make it difficult to turn tightly.

 

[Wayne's Train]

You do know you have to hold it down with your heel after it engages for as long as you want it to stay engaged. Soon as you let off it'll start to disengage.

 

[ericher69]

Any diff lock I have ever used on any tractor including my b2920 needs some aggressive down force stomping like motion to activate when u want it in!

You guys are way to soft on equipment...

 

[Wayne's Train]

Maybe so but if you stomp on the BX pedal you'll be fixin' it sooner than you want to.

 

[samham]

i am new here and ran across thread. i know its an old thread but though i would try my luck at some help on subject. my dif lock is not working for sure.
it has worked in past, but now moves up and down freely without working.? anyone have any ideas on what is inside? the main thing is that if something is loose inside i don't want it to tare something else up. thanks for any help.

 

[vic4news]

It actually should move up and down freely. They tend to be sticky when the tractor is new. You need to keep the lever pressed down to lock the wheels.

Have you tested to see if both wheels are locked together when the lever is held down?

regards,
Vic

 

[samham]

thanks for reply No does not work Period. did work until a couple of days ago. lever just flops up and down now.