Thread: What's the consensus on.........

As soon as my wheels hit the dirt i engage CDL

Originally Posted by vnx205

How about this for a theory?

If you are driving on a surface where experience has taught you that it takes forever for the CDL to disengage, then you probably don't have enough slippage to need the CDL and maybe even have so little slippage that there is some small risk of transmission windup.

What do you reckon?

Unless your TC is knackered engagement is almost instant so that scenario would never come up.
I only engage if its really loose or wet/muddy, i dont see the need on a dry track.

I'm not sure I understand the first sentence.

Did you notice that I was talking about a surface where it takes forever to disengage.

TC? Is that Traction Control or Transfer Case?

There are definitely plenty of situations where the CDL doesn't disengage immediately.

Originally Posted by vnx205

I'm not sure I understand the first sentence.

Did you notice that I was talking about a surface where it takes forever to disengage.

TC? Is that Traction Control or Transfer Case?

There are definitely plenty of situations where the CDL doesn't disengage immediately.

Yes i read that wrong , i agree the CDL can get stuck and may take a bit of reversing then forward to release..

Was told, CDL is small and not that strong. Best to engage as soon as there is a possibility of wheel spin e.g., dirt road CDL in. I don't always remember to do it but I feel I should.

Originally Posted by slug_burner

Was told, CDL is small and not that strong. Best to engage as soon as there is a possibility of wheel spin e.g., dirt road CDL in. I don't always remember to do it but I feel I should.

The truth being you are unlikely to stuff a cenre diff when it is engaged
You will stuff it if your 4wdriving with out engagement

Originally Posted by rangieman

The truth being you are unlikely to stuff a cenre diff when it is engaged
You will stuff it if your 4wdriving with out engagement

Over 15 years of racing RR and LR based racers and lastly a 300 bhp 5.2 litre Bowler Wildcat, I always had centre diff locked on any loose surface. Reduces the front and back diffs and axles from running at different speeds and less wear on centre diff.
Also car always felt much more "stuck to the road". Never noticed the under steer mentioned in previous posts. Also never broke a transfer box. Did a few half shafts on the RR based buggies never had a breakage on the Bowler which ran D2 axles.
I always engage centre diff lock when in the bush on dirt or any slippery surface.
Just must remember to turn off when tarred roads. Can cause a bit of damage otherwise.

There are (rare) cases where you don't want any diff locked. And this is where CDL has it all over part-time 4wd (where there is no possibility for front/rear differentiation):

E.g. Slippery side slope where you are creeping along in low range.
With locked CDL found myself going down sideways 1" for every inch forward - no matter how careful.

With CDL disengaged and taking care not to cause any wheelspin... Might have sideslipped an inch every yard.