Rear Differential lock

[drjay9051]

New owner of CK25. Great tractor. No info in manual on the differential lock. I have depressed pedal while in both two wheel and four wheel drive and cannot feel any difference. Am I missing something. I had tried while in 4 wheel while pushing heavy load and wheels wer spinning, still no difference that I could tell. Help is appreciated. Also, this is my first tractor and I am not sure how to tell if the fittings are greased properly. Do I stop after a pump or two or keep injecting grease till it squirts out or what? Silly question but hey Im a newbie

Jay

 

[Highbeam]

The diff lock simply makes both rear wheels rotate at the same speed. A typical open differential will let one wheel spin all by itself. So if both rear wheels were slipping at the same time then it is working properly. A locked rear end is not as effective as engaging the front axle. You'll want to do thast for loader work.

I am an admitted greasaholic. I pump grease in until I see eveidence of grease exiting the fitting. Grease is cheap and it doesn't hurt to put too much grease in a joint. It just gets messier.

 

[glmf]

Highbeams description is very good, if I may add one point. I am quite sure the differential lock can't be engaged until one rear tire is spinning, then you can press down on the lock and engage the other rear tire. I find it most useful when traveling in my rock bed(yard) and having the tractor slightly highside itself on two opposite corner tires, one front and one back and the tractor wheels just sit there and spin, with the tractor not moving at all. Thats when I press the diff lock and away we go, works swell.

 

[Bigboyskioti]

The diff lock lever has to be pushed all the way down. Sometimes I'll push on it and it doesn't go all the way down and nothing will happen. I just push a little more and they lock. I've been thinking about making the lever longer to get better access to it.

 

[mrutkaus]

drjay there are some places with grease fittings where you can damage things if you put too much in, perhaps the two on the middle of the front axle and similar fittings that use seals to keep the grease in, maybe don't go too much grease in those places...

Mike

 

[Highbeam]

"I am quite sure the differential lock can't be engaged until one rear tire is spinning, then you can press down on the lock and engage the other rear tire."

Interesting. My understanding is that the diff lock lever actually jams a pin in the planetaries which locks the two wheels together. When you release the lever the pin will pop out of its spot with an audible click. Given that it is a rigid, on-off style joining of the two rear wheels I would highly recommend that you allow all the wheels to stop spinning before engaging the pedal to prevent the shock load. Now if both wheels are rolling along at the same speed then it is entirely advisable to engage the diff lock at that time before encountering the obstacle which might allow one rear wheel to slip. But be warned, steering will be difficult since the differential will not allow the inner wheel to rotate more slowly than the outer.

With the diff locked, front wheel drive engaged, and in low range with decent rpm the Kioti is hard to stop.

 

[Harvey7]

DR Jay

I've found you have to be a little aggressive sometimes to lock the diff. and I have to keep my right foot on it to keep it engaged. For the most part it goes in ok.

 

[glmf]

"I am quite sure the differential lock can't be engaged until one rear tire is spinning, then you can press down on the lock and engage the other rear tire."

Interesting. My understanding is that the diff lock lever actually jams a pin in the planetaries which locks the two wheels together. When you release the lever the pin will pop out of its spot with an audible click. Given that it is a rigid, on-off style joining of the two rear wheels I would highly recommend that you allow all the wheels to stop spinning before engaging the pedal to prevent the shock load. Now if both wheels are rolling along at the same speed then it is entirely advisable to engage the diff lock at that time before encountering the obstacle which might allow one rear wheel to slip. But be warned, steering will be difficult since the differential will not allow the inner wheel to rotate more slowly than the outer.

With the diff locked, front wheel drive engaged, and in low range with decent rpm the Kioti is hard to stop.

I could be wrong Highbeam, it certainly would not be the first time! I just remember reading on these forums somewhere, and someone had diagrams and stuff to show exactly how it worked. And if my memory serves correctly, you can press the pedal anytime you want, but the lock won't engage until one wheel slips. It could of been in another mfg forum, and I used to do just as you say, press the lock before I thought I needed it. But for some time I have been just pressing the lock only if the extra traction is needed with the wheel already spinning and it works fine, no chattering or anything like that. As I said, its just something in the back of my head that I read somewhere,,,I could be way off,,,,

 

[HODAK]

Highbeam describes it correctly as I remember. It even feels like that is what's happening. If you engage while one tire is spinning, you should feel the clunk or engagement. The lever usually even moves further down. When resistance disappears or the wheels are moving freely and your not applying pressure, the lever will pop back up. I usually engage if I anticipate the need or stop if one wheel slips and then ease into it again. Where I work, we have a large New Holland that has an electrically operated diff lock. Right now it is getting repaired due to improper use. The repair facility said the lock was engaged and then used on a hard surface, (no slippage), or engaged and driven for extended periods which it is not designed for. 3500.00 is the estimate to repair. I'd much rather have the mechanical. Flipping a switch is just a little too convenient - maybe. Just my two cents for the day....

 

[texasjohn]

Highbeam, I think you described it well.

I very infrequently use the differential lock, but yesterday it happens that I was backdragging uphill and rears were slipping. I engaged the lock while stopped and stood on it while backdragging. Then, would release it and noticed while going forward downhill again a distinct CLICK ... after repeating the procedure several times, I definately associated the CLICK with the differential lock disengaging.

I never think to engage the lock until I discover rear tires spinning, then stop, engage, and begin again. That's how I use it.

 

[BTI]

It won't usually lock before anything slips while going in a straight line.
The mechanism requires things to line up.
Such as an external gear meshing with an internal gear or a set of pins lining up with a set of holes.
Thats why it seems like you have to force it, gentle downward pressure works just as well.
In reality you can stomp all day long while standing still and if it's in just the right place it won't drop in.
Move forward and turn the wheels, making one go faster than the other, it'll drop right in.

When you step on the pedal it won't usually drop right in unless you are moving or one wheel is spinning and the other is not or you are turning.
I doesn't have to be rapid spinning.

The mechanism is spring loaded so that as long as there is some sort of pressure on the drivetrain, they will stay locked.
Usually LOL
If the backpressure is light on the drivetrain they will unlock.
Man this is hard to describe online. LOL

BTI

 

[williekioti]

I also believe Highbeam has it correct. Ok to engage stationary and when moving with both tires rolling equally. I would be real hesitant to engage Dif Lock with one wheel spinning and one stationary, gonna put a butt load of stress on the diff/axles to try and get the two tires to jive....

I usually either engage just prior to needing it or while moving as long as it's a straight line and both wheels turning equally. Engages like a charm every time. Mine either disengages instantly upon releasing lever or if under load it will release after the load lessens on the powertrain. Mine has worked flawlessly so far.

Hodak: that's a real bummer on the NH for something that could have been avoided easily(probably). I also concur, I rather prefer the old school, mechanical diff lock over a switch. If for no other reason than the situation described in your post. Most times I use it for very short duration, like filling the bucket from a pile. Occaisionally I use it in a continuous mode when pulling wood up the hill on my wood road.

EDIT; BTI you slipped in while I was typing... You are probably correct that if things aren't lined up and little slippin' or turning will help engage it. Mine seems to engage easily, almost instantly 8 out of 10 times, the other two I just keep my foot on the petal(minimal pressure) until she drops in.....

 

[Highbeam]

Maybe on that NH with electrical engagement the on/off switch could be replaced with a push button that engages the lock only so long as the button is held down.

I have this awful picture in my mind of one of our heavy or filled rear tires spinning at full speed with the other rear wheel stationary and then the operator stomps on the diff lock. Lots of energy built up in the spinning wheel just like a flywheel to break things or at the least make the tractor lurch forward.

 

[glmf]

Highbeam, you sir are correct. Checked my manual and it states to not engage if one wheel is spinning and the other is still. Don't know what I had in that brain of mine, but like I said, its not the first time I am wrong. Thanks again

 

[Mike058]

Doesn't the tractor have to be in 2WD for the diff lock to be totally effective? In 4WD, if one of the front wheels loses traction, doesn't all the torque go to that wheel through the center differential? Or is the center diff limited slip of some kind?

 

[Highbeam]

The diff lock works in 2wd or in 4wd just like the locker on a truck's differential. There must be some sort of transfer case much like a pickup truck which does not include a center differential. What this means is that when in 4wd, cornering on surfaces with good traction will cause driveline bind.

Cool that you are on the Key Pen. I own some land out there near Home.

 

[Mike058]

The diff lock works in 2wd or in 4wd just like the locker on a truck's differential. There must be some sort of transfer case much like a pickup truck which does not include a center differential. What this means is that when in 4wd, cornering on surfaces with good traction will cause driveline bind.

Cool that you are on the Key Pen. I own some land out there near Home.

How about that, so do I. It's out Jackson Lake Rd about 23 AVE KPN. About 9 miles west of the very north edge of Home.

 

[Highbeam]

I posted more in your other thread in the buying forum but I'm just south of Home on Cornwall Rd. Not many folks live out there so your plans interest me, especially your commute prospects, and kids in school.

I threw in a photo of the place after some clearing and also my truck/trailer combo so that you might recognize me on the road.

 

[dfkrug]

New owner of CK25. Great tractor. No info in manual on the differential lock. I have depressed pedal while in both two wheel and four wheel drive and cannot feel any difference. Am I missing something.

The CK25/30 owner's manual describes the operation of the diff lock on
page 5-26.

Kioti uses a shifter fork that slides an 8-pin wheel into the side of the
differential, which has 8 holes in it. They must be perfectly aligned
before the pins go into the holes. 8 pins mean there are 8 possible
rotational positions of the rear axles for the diff to be locked (every
45 degrees of rotation).

This photo is of a Kubota diff lock mechanism. It has only 2 male
parts of the key (mislabeled female in the photo), allowing only
2 rotational positions of the rear axles for the diff to be locked (every
180 deg of rotation).

 

[SPYDERLK]

This photo is of a Kubota diff lock mechanism. It has only 2 male
parts of the key (mislabeled female in the photo), allowing only
2 rotational positions of the rear axles for the diff to be locked (every
180 deg of rotation).

Do you know this for sure? 180 is a lot of rotation. Seems the female could have a double set of key recesses for the males, giving 90 degree engagement points.
larry