What's the consensus on.........

I don't know, but reading some of these posts makes me think I must have lead a charmed life.

Several times in my old S3, and also in 3 of the Tojo's I've owned, I've often forgotten to take them out of four wheel drive when coming out of the bush, and never suffered any ill effects. Also left the CDL engaged in the D1 on several occasions too.
I discovered I'd left the 75 series in full lock when I was leaving Melb one night to head back home to Albury,,, so that's about 600klms all up from when I exited the bush.

I'll still keep using CDL when I hit dirt roads.

From Bush65, in another thread:

"Of the entire rover drive train, the LT230T is the only stand out part.

That said the centre diff is the weakest piece of the LT230, and, as said above, needs to be locked when you venture onto low traction surfaces. If not the thrust bearings for the diff pinions wear and this leads to more serious failure. Otherwise the cross pins for the diff pinions are the weakest component and they can be easily upgraded with a one piece shaft from jacmac or Ashcrofts."

Over to you JC.

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The old Pajero (D/driver only) I used to have had suffered an idiot PO...often went bush,- but always forgot to unlock the T/fer case on the way home.:(
The protests around suburban corners sometimes alerted him.
Or not. :o
Chain and teeth were damaged enough to jump under Hi-Range load when turning.

Apparantly it took a few years to do the damage, say around 6 to 10,000km

As a R.O.T. (Rule of Thumb) 'If you need AWD to stay ON a bad road, then you're going too fast for Safety.'

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ugu80

From Bush65, in another thread:

"Of the entire rover drive train, the LT230T is the only stand out part.

That said the centre diff is the weakest piece of the LT230, and, as said above, needs to be locked when you venture onto low traction surfaces. If not the thrust bearings for the diff pinions wear and this leads to more serious failure. Otherwise the cross pins for the diff pinions are the weakest component and they can be easily upgraded with a one piece shaft from jacmac or Ashcrofts."

Over to you JC.

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:confused: Not sure what else I can contribute here but there are heaps of D2 transfer case repairs to CDL thrust washers going through our workshop due to no CDL engagement....IE none fitted, so I would say that engaging it on any loose surface will help not only handling but LT230 Longevity. Thats just my HO.

JC

JC, IMHO, your experience supports the notion that the LT230 is manifestly inadequate in and around the centre diff mechanicals...
- Take your pick 'Design' or 'Materials'. Maybe both.
Add 'management/accounting' if you include the brilliant decision to delete the CDL mechanism...


This may well be the only advantage of the BW transfer case...the Viscious Coupling (sic) is constantly taking a high % of the front/rear load differance.

Alas, in doing so it sacrifices itself...and also takes out the output shaft/chain in the Classic/P38.:mad:

If anyone wants to see the combined effects of high speed, high power and landing jumps with large differences between wheel speed and ground speed:

I blew up my LT 230 at KOH and it took me out. - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

I can safely say this is well beyond "should I lock or not on gravel roads".

Quote:

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Originally Posted by superquag

JC, IMHO, your experience supports the notion that the LT230 is manifestly inadequate in and around the centre diff mechanicals...
- Take your pick 'Design' or 'Materials'. Maybe both.
Add 'management/accounting' if you include the brilliant decision to delete the CDL mechanism...


This may well be the only advantage of the BW transfer case...the Viscious Coupling (sic) is constantly taking a high % of the front/rear load differance.

Alas, in doing so it sacrifices itself...and also takes out the output shaft/chain in the Classic/P38.:mad:

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they are a great case, the only repairs we have to do really are cdl reshim and thrust washer replacements, and intermediate shaft leak repairs/ orings.

jc

I also engage cdl as soon as i am in the bush i think the extra few seconds to move the little lever is worth the benefits it brings. one thing i see up here is young bucks mainly in tojos thinking their trucks are tough because they can get so far up a track in 2wd but at the same time not thinking about cutting up the track and wrecking it for the next bloke. a lot of places are getting blocked off because the greenies see the damage to the tracks complain to the government and anyone who will listen end result another track locked up. good to see so many different answers to this thread i guess its a personal thing as much as driving style.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by disco man

I also engage cdl as soon as i am in the bush i think the extra few seconds to move the little lever is worth the benefits it brings. one thing i see up here is young bucks mainly in tojos thinking their trucks are tough because they can get so far up a track in 2wd but at the same time not thinking about cutting up the track and wrecking it for the next bloke.

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It would appear that the answer to Tank's question is that there is no consensus.

I wonder if some of the difference of opinion results from many of us having different conditions in mind.

I notice that you said, "as soon as I am in the bush". That sounds like something quite different from what I pictured when I read the question.

I had in mind the sort of surface that Mum's shopping trolley would handle with ease. I was thinking of a perfectly smooth, firm dirt surface, the sort of surface where the CDL takes a long time to disengage after you move the lever. Rather than pull up and reverse, I often continue on and run a couple of wheels out into the loose gravel on the edge of the road.

I wouldn't expect the CDL to provide any benefit at all on such a surface.

[QUOTE=vnx205;2100003]It would appear that the answer to Tank's question is that there is no consensus.

I wonder if some of the difference of opinion results from many of us having different conditions in mind.

I notice that you said, "as soon as I am in the bush". That sounds like something quite different from what I pictured when I read the question.

guess i should add to my last thread i also use cdl in gravel/dirt track conditions. i think if something comes up ahead on the track you have given yourself the best chance of safely avoiding the danger with the engine braking and extra traction.