Differential Loc TC29D

thcri · Feb 5, 2003

Looks like I screwed up, maybe not. We got ourselves a good ice storm here, no snow though yet. Anyway I have a good hill on my driveway and I was headed up the hill in 4 wheel drive. I got up about half way and the tractor started spinning and then started slidding back down the hill, well out of habit I depressed the differential loc, (this is a no no with wheels spinning) anyway I heard a real loud clank, I imagine gears not meshing right. My concern now is the pedal for the differential loc does not seem like it has come all the way back up. It is not all the way to the floor but not as high as I remember it. Everything seems to be working ok but I do notice that turning real sharp the tractor does tend to fight itself some like the two back wheels are keeping it going straight. Though it may be just the super steer on the ice too. Any thoughts from anybody out there as to if I wrecked something or not would be appreciated.

Murph

Hoeman00 · Feb 6, 2003

Turn your wheels sharp and use the brake on inside wheel.
If tractor bogs down than dif lock is still engaged.
BTW I leave the brakes locked together most of the time
because w/ SS I don't need brake for sharp turns,
then use brakes for stopping your slide.
I know I told u too late. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

jinman · Feb 6, 2003

Murph, I use my differential lock often when I am digging with the loader. I think I often engage it with the wheels still turning, but at a very slow speed. What does your Owner's Manual say about engaging diff-lock? Can you reach down and lift the pedal to see if it releases? Also, don't you have a split brake pedal? If so, you could press the right or left brake pedal while turning, and your tractor should really come around. If it continues to push forward, that's a good indication you may be stuck in diff-lock. ...just my two-cents worth. I'd probably be disturbed too if I'd heard a loud "clank" as your described. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Sounds like Tim and I are on the same "wavelength" since we both suggested differential braking just a few minutes apart. I know your tractor doesn't have the brake pedals on the left like our Class III Boomers, but maybe you can do differential braking using both feet just long enough to do the test. Be careful.

thcri · Feb 6, 2003

Well the brake thing is one thing that I had a hard time with even with supersteer. Being from the old farms I am use to using the brakes to turn. And I still would but it is tuff pushing the hyrdro and the brakes at the same time. The brakes are dual but on the same side as the hydrostatic. Maybe I could just push the hydro with the back of my foot and the toes could push one of the brakes. What I did do as a test was take the tractor out of 4 wheel and just stopped on the icy hill and then pushed the hydro all the way down. Assuming it is not locked in only one of the back tires should have spun, but both tires did spin. I am afraid that it is locked in. I did try to pull the differential loc up with my hand but it would not come up.

Murph

thcri · Feb 6, 2003

Jinman,

Yes I have engaged mine many times while moving, in fact you can engage them at a pretty high speed. The key is both wheels should be moving at the same speed. When I was on the icy hill, I only had one wheel spinning and the other one was still. Engaging it tried locking in one moving gear in one that was stationary. Anyway that is a no no and I did it. My dealer says I didn't hurt anything but I still want to go out and do the brake test and see what I come up with.

Murph

Steve_in_Ont · Feb 7, 2003

First - Jack the back of the tractor up. Place it in neutral. Turn one wheel. If the other wheel turns the same direction, your diff. lock is engaged. If the other wheel does nothing, or turns in reverse, then the diff lock is not engaged.

If it is engaged, try pulling up the peddle with zero load on the system (like when it's jacked up as above).

If it does not come up and disengage, then you have probably bent or broke something...

Good luck.

jinman · Feb 8, 2003

Steve, that sounds like some really good advice to me, if Murph can jack up both rear wheels. I checked my TC45D manual this morning and it stated that the differential lock could be engaged at speeds up to 5 mph, but as Murph said in his post, they also said it was best to engage before one wheel was slipping. I think if I felt my tractor was "pushing" instead of responding quickly to my steering, I'd feel a lot better having my dealer look at it. If it's broke, it sounds like a warranty repair to me. If it's not broke, then I'd sleep a lot better knowing it was okay for sure. My lock pops right up as soon as the load is removed from the wheels. It's a different model tractor, but I'm pretty sure they operate in a similar manner. If he can't get it jacked up, a trip to the dealer might be best.

thcri · Feb 8, 2003

Jinman and Steve In Ont,

That does sound like the best advice. Just got to find me a jack and will get it accomplished. As far as turning now it seems to be ok, but then our ice is gone also. My tractor has supersteer and the 4 wheel will loc in automatically. On the ice maybe it was locking in 4 wheel and making it go straight. But raising it will be the answer.

Murph

thcri · Feb 9, 2003

I got it. Tonight when takin corn out for the deer I headed up a steep hill with lots of snow on it and then while pushing the hydro with the heel of my foot I was able to push the left brake with my toes. The tractor just died down telling me the differential loc was in. I stopped the tractor and tried pulling the loc to the upper position but could not. I finally grabbed the pedal and gave it a good yank. It came up. Now tried the same trick again on the hydro and the foot brake. Now the tractor slides to one side. Only one wheel spinning. Tried pushing down the differential loc and the pedal comes back up on its own. I don't think I did any harm by pulling it up like I did and when I push it down I did the brake trick again and it does loc in and then will come out again.

So now I sleep again.

Murph