Thread: CDL usage ???

Use your cdl where traction is likely to be lost not so much dirt roads fire trails yes

In my experience, almost everywhere off the bitumen. The theory says engage it before you hit an obstacle.

You'll find it faster & more stable on high speed dirt with CDL in. Just knock it out for tight, 3 point turns where there's no tyre slip.

You can engage & disengage on the move provide the front wheels are pointing straight ahead. I only do this at walking speeds, but apparently it can be done at 80 kph. Wouldn't recommend it though.

There should be provision for a light connection on the LT230. They've all got dashboard lights I'm sure. I'd suggest hook it up.

If you forget? Nothing much in the short term. You'll notice a difference in the steering on tar. Long term you'll have increased tyre wear, & maybe breakages in axles & CVs coz of the windup.

Pls report back on how you find it. Having a Detroit as well I supect will magnify the change in behaviuor.

Regards
Max P

On my disco 2 the CDL is engaged when low range is selected (not ideal). I have the same outlook as Tusker though and engage it before it is needed, it slows me down on fire trails but when I go offroad I have all day to play so slow is acceptable. I have found this frustrating on fire trails and beachwork though with the fact that the higher revs use more diesel than necessary and as opposed to not having the CDL locked when higher speeds are needed ie climbing dunes

I am considering replacing the actuator bar with a stepper motor design so locking the centre diff is possible in both high and low range

To answer your question, before it is needed.

As said before the Series 1 Discos with that case have a light on the dash to tell you when CDL is engaged, so there must be a switch/output somewhere on the box you can hook into.

Getting that CDL to engage can be tricky at times. I find throwing it in when moving ahead VERY slowly works best, with a bit of the old "double de-clutch" action as used on the old non-synchro gearboxes.

Originally Posted by waynep

As said before the Series 1 Discos with that case have a light on the dash to tell you when CDL is engaged, so there must be a switch/output somewhere on the box you can hook into.

Getting that CDL to engage can be tricky at times. I find throwing it in when moving ahead VERY slowly works best, with a bit of the old "double de-clutch" action as used on the old non-synchro gearboxes.

If I remember correctly there is also a light that comes on if it gets hot as well.

There should be a switch connection on top of the transfer case just behind the actual mechanism that switches the diff lock on/off or in/out whichever way you look at.

You'll have to take the centre console out now though to get to it. It will have two "spade" type connections on it. If you remove it for wiring purposes remember when you put it back in not to screw it in too far. It can foul on the centre diff actuator somehow (Cant remember exactly atm) and actually stop it from engaging altogether.

HTH

I just engage mine when ever i am in low range. I also use it when on long dirt road drives. All rally cars have CDL's, the toyota corrollas in the Australian rally championship struggled to match the subies until they had a homologated CDL engineered. Matt

Originally Posted by garrycol

If I remember correctly there is also a light that comes on if it gets hot as well.

That's right! The switch is screwed in near rear top on passenger side of transfer case. It has two (2) male spade connectors.

There is a light on dash cluster [darked-out until it lights up red] that has a pictograph of a gear wheel, a thermometer and an exclamation mark.

The same light also comes on to warn of high fluid temperature in the automatic transmission, if car is an automatic. This switch is mounted in the line to the heat exchanger in the l.h.s side tank of main radiator. It's fitted in the T-piece junction where the solid steel cooler line joins to the flexible hose that fits to radiator on l.h.s