Tractor Sizing How important is rear diff lock on CUT?

[Scott65]

Just about 10 minutes ago I learned with mine that even with 4 wheel drive, when it's rained and made things slick, my tractor isn't going to move much dirt. Even with diff lock it was doing more sliding than digging. So as of just now, my vote would be for diff lock. Even on dry ground I use it fairly frequently. Numerous times I've been in a situation where the terrain was uneven and loose enough that one front and one rear tire were slipping. Stuck tractor without diff lock. 2 second fix with it.

I can see how split brakes would achieve the same thing most of the time. Unfortunately on my kubota, somebody missed the memo. Either that or it's me that's missing something. It has perfectly good split brakes, right above the hydro pedal. I'm not sure how they figured on a person hitting go and stop at the same time...

I started another thread a while back about a couple of ways to overcome this. So if you end up with this type of setup, check it out later to see what I can come up with

 

[pinetree10]

I've used it a bunch of times. When you're stuck it's nice to have all four wheels trying to get you out.

 

[paulfun9]

I would pass on a tractor without both split brakes and the diff lock. I have run many machines without and know just how easy it is to avoid the stuck with them so for me it is a deal breaker!

 

[RoyJackson]

Without it... you can be stuck. I have not used it much but it's darn handy to have to get you out of sticky places.

Same here...not used much at all, but when you need it, it's invaluable.

 

[silvertramp]

I was clearing deep wet snow yesterday with my 4x4 Yanmar. I used my diff lock repeatedly, even with chained rear tires. The job wouldn't have gotten done without it.

 

[Capricious]

My old Mitsubishi has "both."

One comment: If needed, I can apply the brake to one side without clutching. Can't use the lock without clutching (or not supposed to, anyway).

If one side loses traction but I still have some forward motion I try to use the brake.

 

[vtsnowedin]

My David Brown tractor built in 1966 had a diff lock 2WD. Would have been useless on snow without it and good chains. I don't know what tractor first came out with a lock lever but it was way back there.
I agree with those that insist on both the diff lock and working split brakes. The Kubota hydo setup with go pedal and brakes on the same side is a loser. If your plowing on new ground you have one tire up on wet grass and the other in the hard bottom of the dead furrow. Yes you could feather the brake on the grass side to even things out but in a full day of work you would wear out your left foot. Hit the diff lock once and your good to the end of the furrow.
On the other hand when plowing snow with a front mounted plow you need the split break to occasionally steer against the side thrust of the angled plow. The diff lock would be very unhandy there. So you need or at least should want to have both.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I was ready to post that you can get by without it if you have 4wd and a loader. The more I think about it, you need a lock. I bet I use it a few dozen times a year. That would mean I would have been stuck 8-10 times. That would suck.

 

[oosik]

I use diff lock when plowing snow and coming up out of the valley on the driveway. There is always an icy patch on this section and it helps keep the forward momentum and the rear end from swinging out.

I use split brakes when jigging & jogging around things out in the fields disking or for tight turns at the end of rows. Both of these actions require elevated implement.

I could get the job done without diff lock - - it would require a different approach to plowing snow in the valley & it would take longer to complete.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Lots of reasons to have split brakes and diff. lock. Unfortunately many manufacturers put the split brakes on but put them on the same side as the HST pedal which makes it nearly impossible to use them. Look for a tractor with differential lock and split brakes AND the brakes on the opposite side of the go pedal. Of course with a clutch /gear transmission you don't have to worry about that, only then need the diff. lock.

On my LS gear drive tractor, I have gotten stuck crossing ditches at an angle a couple of times due to getting one front and one rear off the ground at the same time. Hit the Diff lock and it pulled right out, other wise I would have had to shove myself out with the FEL which would have torn up the ground a bit.
That is a somewhat funny situation though, sitting with a ditch under the tractor and two wheels off the ground and just spinning away.