1528 Diff Lock Issue

[JAlba1975]

Hi All - I have a 2005 Massey 1528 with the HST and a 1520 FEL. I recently purchased the tractor and have been combing through the unit, everything is seemingly good but when I tried to engage the DIFF I could not tell if it was working... the lever (right above the reverse pedal) seemed to be really locked up so I have been soaking it with Deep Creep and I finally got it to move! Now that it is moving, I jacked up the rear and tried to engage it. Does anyone have any experience with this DIFF? Should I be moving for this to work or in 4wd? Any help is appreciated!

 

[JWR]

Hi All - I have a 2005 Massey 1528 with the HST and a 1520 FEL. I recently purchased the tractor and have been combing through the unit, everything is seemingly good but when I tried to engage the DIFF I could not tell if it was working... the lever (right above the reverse pedal) seemed to be really locked up so I have been soaking it with Deep Creep and I finally got it to move! Now that it is moving, I jacked up the rear and tried to engage it. Does anyone have any experience with this DIFF? Should I be moving for this to work or in 4wd? Any help is appreciated!

I do not have direct experience with the MF 1528. However, I have with various Kubotas and a MF 2660. For sure the rear axle differential lock has nothing to do with 4WD being in or out or even being on that tractor. The 2WD tractors have differential locks. From your description I would guess that the diff lock just has not been used much (or at all) and got corroded in place. Trying it a few times may be all it needs. Also some tractors require some motion before the lock goes into effect.

 

[JAlba1975]

JWR - thanks for the feedback. Since I have only had the unit for a few weeks I contacted the previous owner and apparently you have to manually hold the DIFF lever down while applying gas pedal so while I still had it jacked up I tried it and it worked. Crazy that someone who is stuck has to steer, apply gas and hold this lever down!! Now I know!

 

[RayIN]

JWR - thanks for the feedback. Since I have only had the unit for a few weeks I contacted the previous owner and apparently you have to manually hold the DIFF lever down while applying gas pedal so while I still had it jacked up I tried it and it worked. Crazy that someone who is stuck has to steer, apply gas and hold this lever down!! Now I know!

My tractor has a foot-feed accelerator on right foot-rest AND the diff.lock pedal which must be held down with my right heel; they are 14" apart. Thankfully I still have a dash throttle lever. Operators manual states tractor should not be moving when engaging diff. lock. My diff. lock will remain engaged until you lift your heel.

Suggestion, buy a steering wheel knob.

 

[JAlba1975]

RayIN - that does not sound any better... lol. Thanks for the good suggestion of the Suicide knob! I think I will find one!

 

[JWR]

My tractor has a foot-feed accelerator on right foot-rest AND the diff.lock pedal which must be held down with my right heel; they are 14" apart. Thankfully I still have a dash throttle lever. Operators manual states tractor should not be moving when engaging diff. lock. My diff. lock will remain engaged until you lift your heel.

Suggestion, buy a steering wheel knob.

I think to clarify your operator's manual means not to try to engage the diff lock when running at much speed or more commonly while spinning when stuck. That is a big temptation but a good way to bust something. However what they don't say is that a SMALL amount of movement and rotation of the rear axles may very well be necessary to get thee= diff lock to engage. To me that is normal.

 

[Dmacleo]

Suggestion, buy a steering wheel knob.

got 3 on mine, orbital valve with multiple shoulder/elbow issues. no matter what I got a knob I can use.

 

[bearthebruce]

I have a geared MF1533.. you must have motion for the diff lock to engage. In my case, I can release the clutch, get the wheels turning and then stomp the pedal to lock the diff.

 

[irvingj]

And my GC is the same -- slight pressure forward on the go-pedal while pushing down firmly and continuously on the diff lock lever. Sometimes it's a real bear to engage. So far I've been able to get it in when needed, but it ain't always easy.

It really does make a big difference in traction -- I've been able to get "unstuck" many times by engaging it.