I don't understand how people can not think it helps with one type of tire but not an other, or how it could help with a big machine but not a smaller one. In all honesty I find it is used much more often on my smaller machines than any of the big machines I have ever owned or operated. Also Having run many different machines over the years I have found it a valuable addition to every single machine. There are times it dosnt seem to help much but its not because it isn't worth having but rather because your already in too deep or both tires are having difficulty getting traction (consider chains or proper ballast if this is the case). Those who have difficulty applying it should take note and relieve some load from the machine before applying as most are not set up to be applied under load or while moving (consult your owners manual)! A good operator will in most cases realize before hand that they will need it and have it engaged before they start spinning the other tire and basically just drive right on threw with no problems. If trying to use it properly according to your owners manual it is extremely hard to work or fights your attempts at applying it there is something wrong and it needs looked at. I to this day have not seen one that works properly (according to its design) that required anything more than the weight of my leg to keep it applied once moving.
Tractor Sizing How important is rear diff lock on CUT?
- Thread starter onelostdogg
- Start date
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I would call the safety police on you but I am just as guilty! I have removed every single seat safety switch from every single machine with one installed since they started installing them and will continue to do so with every single machine I buy!
LD1
Epic Contributor
Wrong.
2wd is 2wd even if one wheel is spinning. The non spinning wheel will be trying to propel the tractor with the exact same forward force as the spinning wheel is.
Same with 4wd.
The reason I find the diff loc dont do much, is cause if traction between the two tires is near equal, it wont do much. Now if you drop a front in a blow hole and one of the rears unloads or is in the air, yea it will get you out. Or if one tire is hung in a mucky ditch and the other on solid ground, it will help. But so will split brakes in both cases.
C4Ranch
Veteran Member
The point I'm making is you have to consider all conditions and cross axle traction loss happens a lot and you're effectively running 1wd on a 2wd and 2wd on a 4wd.. Fact.
If you've spent much time off roading lockers are a must. My jeep has air locker front and back, my UTV has a locker in the rear and my tractor has one in the rear. It matters.
It matters more on a tractor which doesn't articulate much and I've proved it time and time again pushing into a pile of dirt/gravel.
LD1
Epic Contributor
Its certainly not a fact. With an open diff, both wheels are driving with equal force. THAT is a FACT.
If one wheel happens to have significantly less traction (in the air, on ice, etc) then the wheel with good traction can ONLY deliver an equal amount of force as the wheel with lesser traction.
It seems you understand how lockers and open diffs work. So lets not perpetuate the false terminology by saying 1wd.
C4Ranch
Veteran Member
Go get yourself cross axled and tell me how many wheels are spinning..
In 2wd you will have 1
In 4wd you will have 2
In 2wd you will have 1
In 4wd you will have 2
LD1
Epic Contributor
And the ones that aren't spinning, are trying to drive the vehicle with the exact same force as the ones that are spinning.
The number of wheels spinning has nothing to do with how many are trying to drive.
The number of wheels spinning has nothing to do with how many are trying to drive.
C4Ranch
Veteran Member
We're talkin real world here man not the achademics of spider gear power transfer engineering.... If ya got 1 wheel turning, you got one wheel turning... Simple
If you're cross axled and have 1 wheel spinning (or losing traction) you're stuck and the easiest way out is to lock the axle so the one that has traction turns regardless of the one that lost traction.. It's about giving power to the wheel with traction irrespective that one has no traction.
Push into a pile of dirt with a dirt ground in 4wd and 2 wheels will begin to spin even with my 1.1k# Gannon on the back. Kick the locker and if the pile is packed enough you will begin spinning 3 wheels.
Sure you can fiddle with braking one wheel, that's how the modern traction control works in cars but who wants to stomp on non power assist brakes trying to overcome the weight of traction loss when you're pushing into a huge pile of packed dirt... There are lockers for a reason..
If you're cross axled and have 1 wheel spinning (or losing traction) you're stuck and the easiest way out is to lock the axle so the one that has traction turns regardless of the one that lost traction.. It's about giving power to the wheel with traction irrespective that one has no traction.
Push into a pile of dirt with a dirt ground in 4wd and 2 wheels will begin to spin even with my 1.1k# Gannon on the back. Kick the locker and if the pile is packed enough you will begin spinning 3 wheels.
Sure you can fiddle with braking one wheel, that's how the modern traction control works in cars but who wants to stomp on non power assist brakes trying to overcome the weight of traction loss when you're pushing into a huge pile of packed dirt... There are lockers for a reason..
LD1
Epic Contributor
To each his own. I still maintain that if traction is similar (and barring unusual circumstances it usually is close) that the locker don't add much help when pushing a pile.
GManBart
Elite Member
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2012
- Messages
- 4,976
- Location
- Detroit, Michigan
- Tractor
- Massey Ferguson 241, Kubota SVL90-2
Same folks, same sort of arguments....go figure. :laughing:
Something pretty simple is being ignored here. Most folks ride around with their split brakes connected, so if you suddenly need extra traction, you have to reach down, and disengage the lock. On the other hand, with many tractors, all you have to do to engage the differential lock is move your heel....while you're steering, working the loader, etc.
Many times while dragging snow or skidding logs, or even pulling out stuck machines, I've run into situations with both 2wd and 4wd tractors where I ran out of traction. In most cases, locking the differential was all that was required to keep going....I wouldn't want a tractor without it.
Something pretty simple is being ignored here. Most folks ride around with their split brakes connected, so if you suddenly need extra traction, you have to reach down, and disengage the lock. On the other hand, with many tractors, all you have to do to engage the differential lock is move your heel....while you're steering, working the loader, etc.
Many times while dragging snow or skidding logs, or even pulling out stuck machines, I've run into situations with both 2wd and 4wd tractors where I ran out of traction. In most cases, locking the differential was all that was required to keep going....I wouldn't want a tractor without it.
