Thread: 98 D1 V8 - how to engage an unused CDL?

A bit of a follow up from 98 D1 V8 - is there a diff lock light on the dash? - have a 98 D1 V8 with 116k km. No signs of much off road use which is likely the cause of the diff lock issue (lack of use). Out of about 30+ attempts to engage the centre diff lock have only been able to get the dash light illuminated once after a number of km's of driving with the level over.

Have tried to engage it from underneath the vehicle and have tried jacking a wheel up to engage it with no luck with either. It seems to me that it's not just a cause of faulty light switch as it seems to actually not be engaging.

Any tips or tricks for getting it in? Hopping that if I can engage and disengage a few times it might ease up and start working more reliably...

There is no way that a CDL will not engage if the selector shaft is moving to the engaged position.
The CDL is just a very large dog ring that drops into place.
The selector shaft is sprung so that if it is in the engaged position, there is a strong spring holding the dogs against each other.
So I would be looking at the adjustment of the linkages and if they are adjusted looking at the adjustment of the CDL switch as it rides up a slope and if over adjusted can prevent the selector shaft from moving into locked position. Try moving the switch up on its threads until it just lights as the dogs lock in.
Regards Philip A