It's orange and starts with "K"

[TBDonnelly]

You can engage the differential lock without using the clutch. Manual recommends reducing RMPs before engaging and only apply it momentarily. I have used it many times. As soon as I get traction, I release it. Most times it releases immediately, some times it takes a few seconds (feels like a long time).

....and since the back two tires are locked together, never turn while having the differential engaged, only proceed straight forward.

Don

 

[ChuckinNH]

Don't engage the differential lock when one tire is spinning. You can do it while the tractor is moving, but both rear wheels should be turning at the same speed. I often engage mine before coming to a spot where I know the traction will be iffy, and prevent the spinning from starting in the first place.

If you can get past the green color, and sales talk, this video from John Deere shows the use of the diff. lock in a muddy spot.

Deere & Company Media Player

 

[BTI]

You can lock the diff at any ENGINE rpm.
(insert what chuck said here LOL)
Also once locked they normally stay locked until there is no tension on the internal mechanism (wheel bind etc).
tsk tsk green propaganda LOL

BTI

 

[ChuckinNH]

Sorry about that!

 

[rimshot]

All these recent posts have included valued comments regarding the differential lock. If I could just persist for a moment as my situation was not quite addressed. I was briefly hung up as both front and rear drive wheels was in an icy hole. Wheels were not turning unless I added more heat to the hydrostatic but then the wheels just spun. In that situation the wheels can not be rolling together as the drive wheels would only spin and of course the driven wheel on each axle would remain inanimate. As it turned out I just got it to rock out and did not stay there long but I could have shot out of there had i enabled the differential lock. So, the question for this situation follows, can the differential lock help in the kind of situation I have just described?

Thanks in advance.

rimshot

 

[bearhawk]

All these recent posts have included valued comments regarding the differential lock. If I could just persist for a moment as my situation was not quite addressed. I was briefly hung up as both front and rear drive wheels was in an icy hole. Wheels were not turning unless I added more heat to the hydrostatic but then the wheels just spun. In that situation the wheels can not be rolling together as the drive wheels would only spin and of course the driven wheel on each axle would remain inanimate. As it turned out I just got it to rock out and did not stay there long but I could have shot out of there had i enabled the differential lock. So, the question for this situation follows, can the differential lock help in the kind of situation I have just described?

Thanks in advance.

rimshot

Exactly what its for.

If one tire is spinning in the air, and one is loaded with the weight of the tractor, the unloaded tire will spin freely.

Happens all the time with my icy driveway.

Lift up on the hst pedal and press down on the diff lock. I find that I need to put constant light pressure on the lock pedal. then apply the hst. The lock pedal will drop a little more as it engages.

Drive yourself out of the hole..

My CK 20 has been great.

Cheers

 

[davitk]

depends. With the FEL being so handy, I typically use that to pull myself out. Raise the loader, put the bucket in full dump, lower the loader enough to lift the front wheels, then slowly curl the bucket while backing out (good time to engage the dif lock). Works like magic

 

[ChuckinNH]

All these recent posts have included valued comments regarding the differential lock. If I could just persist for a moment as my situation was not quite addressed. I was briefly hung up as both front and rear drive wheels was in an icy hole. Wheels were not turning unless I added more heat to the hydrostatic but then the wheels just spun. In that situation the wheels can not be rolling together as the drive wheels would only spin and of course the driven wheel on each axle would remain inanimate. As it turned out I just got it to rock out and did not stay there long but I could have shot out of there had i enabled the differential lock. So, the question for this situation follows, can the differential lock help in the kind of situation I have just described?

Thanks in advance.

rimshot

Yes Rimshot, in that situation, you would take your foot off the hydro control, engage the differential lock, and then reapply power to the drive wheels. At that point, both wheels would turn together.

 

[rimshot]

depends. With the FEL being so handy, I typically use that to pull myself out. Raise the loader, put the bucket in full ddaviump, lower the loader enough to lift the front wheels, then slowly curl the bucket while backing out (good time to engage the dif lock). Works like magic

=======================

Thanks bearhawk and davitk.

It's time I admit to todays boo boo. My tractor had the snowblower on the rear and I had been using it. Thinking I was an old pro I grabbed the 3ph position control to lift up the blower. I lifted it alright as I heard a crunch . I had just raised it so high I just put the handle for the chute rotator right through the center of the Slow Moving Vehicle sign...........kkkeeeeeeeeRunch!

rimshot

 

[rimshot]

Yes Rimshot, in that situation, you would take your foot off the hydro control, engage the differential lock, and then reapply power to the drive wheels. At that point, both wheels would turn together.

============

Thanks Chuck