Diff lock usage

[RaydaKub]

I may be doing some brush clearing this weekend on a small hillside. It doesnt appear steep enough to worry about any roll over. I've got a rachet rake. Any time you use a bucket on a hillside though, you can slide the front end downhill. So here's my question. This isn't a low traction situation, would using the diff lock here help avoid the slide down the hill? Or would this be putting too much stress on the lock pin?

 

[ovrszd]

Definitely won't overload the diff lock.

I use diff lock when mowing on steep side slopes with the JD. Helps a lot.

 

[longjohn79]

Should the diff lock remain "locked" while the tires are still turning or do you need to hold it down the entire time? I have a hard time keeping mine pressed down.

 

[RaydaKub]

Definitely won't overload the diff lock.

I use diff lock when mowing on steep side slopes with the JD. Helps a lot.

I do also, but I would suggest that this is a low traction situation. I'm not worried about traction, just side hill drift.

 

[RaydaKub]

Should the diff lock remain "locked" while the tires are still turning or do you need to hold it down the entire time? I have a hard time keeping mine pressed down.

Have to keep it pushed down all the time, and I certainly want to make sure it isn't only partially engaged.

 

[4570Man]

Your split brakes are probably better in this application.

 

[boggen]

Your split brakes are probably better in this application.

x2 split brakes one for left rear tire and one for right rear tire. some folks call them steering brakes for a reason, more so when working with FEL and the front wheels come off the ground or little to no wait on front tires to maintain traction.

 

[stuckmotor]

For what it's worth: I suspect that at it's previous home, someone drove my used MF 261 with the diff lock stuck in the "on" position. The tires were foam filled and when I made a turn they "plowed" and the tread/ribs showed that they were comming apart from the rest of the tire. I got the diff lock unstuck and replaced the tires before the treads came all the way off.

 

[ovrszd]

I do also, but I would suggest that this is a low traction situation. I'm not worried about traction, just side hill drift.

My example isn't "low traction", it's "side hill drift" control

 

[ovrszd]

In a side hill drift situation the wheel brakes can be used. Just understand they are counter-productive. The diff lock isn't.

 

[DHD]

Your split brakes are probably better in this application.

Does the BX2230 have split brakes ?

 

[CobyRupert]

A locked diff. does what on sidehill? Prevents the front end from drifting down?
Hmmm, never heard of this before.
I guess the theory is that in order for the front to drift down, the up hill tire has to rotate more than the down hill tire?
Does locking the diff actually prevent this?

It would seem that if the bank is steep enough that front tires are sliding, the back tires probably have some sliding going on too and the tractors going to turn?
I'm interested to know how effective this technique is.

 

[RaydaKub]

A locked diff. does what on sidehill? Prevents the front end from drifting down?
Hmmm, never heard of this before.
I guess the theory is that in order for the front to drift down, the up hill tire has to rotate more than the down hill tire?
Does locking the diff actually prevent this?

I dunno, that's why I started the thread. What I don't want to do is bust the diff lock pin because of the stress of both wheels having decent traction and my just being ornery about not wanting to drift, attempting to "steer" by not allowing the uphill wheel to be lazy.

Split brakes would be an option on larger tractors, but not an option for me.

 

[oosik]

I've only used the diff lock when plowing snow on my driveway and then only when plowing up out of the valley on the driveway. I don't see how diff lock would prevent or cure side hill slipping/drifting. I have to keep my foot on the lever all the time to keep it locked - otherwise it will come out of lock the first time there is any slack in the drive train.

If I need diff lock when out on the property - it means the ground is soft/muddy and I shouldn't be out there anyhow. I'm just creating more problems, causing ruts, than I'm solving.

I would estimate that I use the steering brakes just as often when plowing snow as the diff lock.

 

[ovrszd]

A locked diff. does what on sidehill? Prevents the front end from drifting down?
Hmmm, never heard of this before.
I guess the theory is that in order for the front to drift down, the up hill tire has to rotate more than the down hill tire?
Does locking the diff actually prevent this?

It would seem that if the bank is steep enough that front tires are sliding, the back tires probably have some sliding going on too and the tractors going to turn?
I'm interested to know how effective this technique is.

If you have never experienced it, I can't explain it.

Using brakes to control front tire slip versus diff lock is no comparison.

 

[Jim Nelson]

After having to rebuild my B 7800 dif lock twice I would say use it only when necessary for traction as this is my understanding the purpose of it is. Also always be sure that it disengages when you lift your heel off the pedal. If your tractor is built the same as mine it is a very poor design with the wrong parts designed to fail first.

 

[ovrszd]

After having to rebuild my B 7800 dif lock twice I would say use it only when necessary for traction as this is my understanding the purpose of it is. Also always be sure that it disengages when you lift your heel off the pedal. If your tractor is built the same as mine it is a very poor design with the wrong parts designed to fail first.

First I've heard of that? Lots of 7800 owners that haven't had failure. Sorry for your problems.

 

[Jim Nelson]

First I've heard of that? Lots of 7800 owners that haven't had failure. Sorry for your problems.

I posted a thread on it. The "clutch" piece is harder than the differential cage that it locks with so the differential cage goes first, on mine I believe it was because it didn't completely disengage which I hope I fixed the second time around. My dealer's service manager said he thought the reason it didn't happen more often is because most of the time you don't need to use the dif lock and I tend to agree with him.

 

[RjCorazza]

I've never tried either independent braking or locking the diff on a slope. My gut tells me braking the high side wheel could prevent sliding sideways, much like operating a zero turn mower giving more power to the low side wheel. If I was at the point of considering locking / braking on a slope I would be going up / down the slope, or leaving the tractor in the shed. I have no idea what this slope looks like, so my comments are solely based upon my healthy fear of tractors on inclines!