Thread: Diff locks and traction control

Originally Posted by johntins

Well, last year at Wombat I had an audience when I tried to cross the river at the potato patch and the thing wouldn't climb the other side.

Push the little lever to the LEFT, John.

Yes there was plenty of yelling going on , Then we laughed at you,
The result was you made it look a lot harder than it really was and your poor boy in the lux looked worried

Originally Posted by rangieman

Yes there was plenty of yelling going on , Then we laughed at you,
The result was you made it look a lot harder than it really was and your poor boy in the lux looked worried

And I STILL haven't fixed the little red light...

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

....
And just for clarification - I know I can do a u-turn with CDL but I was just trying to be mechanically sympathetic.

I remember only once have I switched off the CDL in my RRC, which was negotiating some rocky 'path' either King's Canyon or maybe it was called Palm Springs or Valley(>20yrs ago, so memory a bit vague).
Rocks were dry, both axles were std open type, and only for one brief moment I needed CDL, and just left it on for the rest of the way .. and I could feel it binding every now and then, so had to unlock it again soon after.
But on any loose/slippery type surfaces, gravel, grass, dirt .. as already said, there's no mechanical harm in leaving CDL locked for tight turns.

Originally Posted by AK83

.. as already said, there's no mechanical harm in leaving CDL locked for tight turns.

I've always thought that if you're on a loose surface, lock the centre diff as standard operating procedure (SOP). Because some times, when you need it, it's too late.

Originally Posted by Bohica

I've always thought that if you're on a loose surface, lock the centre diff as standard operating procedure (SOP). Because some times, when you need it, it's too late.

Yes

Originally Posted by Bohica

I've always thought that if you're on a loose surface, lock the centre diff as standard operating procedure (SOP). Because some times, when you need it, it's too late.

I lock my centre diff pretty much anywhere where wheelspin is a possibility. The centre diff doesn't like to work hard. When it's unlocked - any wheelspin at any corner of the barge means the centre diff is being made to work hard (and you get no drive even if it is brief wheelspin). Simple logic.

Watch this from around 1:16. Dave Ashcroft on CDL.

Originally Posted by johntins

Watch this from around 1:16. Dave Ashcroft on CDL.

Spot on - lock whenever wheelspin is a possibility. I even lock the centre diff when on wet tarmac in those odd situations where wheelspin is likely (as opposed to possible).