Center diff lock off roading...

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IamRobbie

IamRobbie

Well-Known Member
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Location
Derbyshire, j28 M1
When off roading ie pay and play days I use my center diff lock before hitting something where I think I may need a little extra help or any mud ect.. Driving around on loose grass or gravel ect I take it out but remain in low box. I've heard others keep it in diff lock all the time unless on tarmac..

Which is correct?
Is it just personal preference?
 
its not advisable to use center difflock on a firm surface , but equally you should apply before you think you might lose traction
 
jamesmartin said:
its not advisable to use center difflock on a firm surface , but equally you should apply before you think you might lose traction
Click to expand...
As I do. However I recall a conversation with Paul d a couple of years ago saying he leaves his in whilst green laning. Where as I know I won't be spinning up and struggling without diff lock in so I leave it out. I'll only use it when I think I'll struggle to get through without it. Saying that axle lockers work a treat as well.. A friend just changed his transfer box because it wouldn't come out of diff lock.. It's in my van at the minute and I've had a quick look and it seems that it's the actual diff center that's somehow stuck on as the mech works fine itself
 
IamRobbie said:
As I do. However I recall a conversation with Paul d a couple of years ago saying he leaves his in whilst green laning. Where as I know I won't be spinning up and struggling without diff lock in so I leave it out. I'll only use it when I think I'll struggle to get through without it. Saying that axle lockers work a treat as well.. A friend just changed his transfer box because it wouldn't come out of diff lock.. It's in my van at the minute and I've had a quick look and it seems that it's the actual diff center that's somehow stuck on as the mech works fine itself
Click to expand...
if its unlikely your going to get wheel spin dont apply it your only adding strain,
can you see the actual diff lock collar moving in/out of lock
 
For me,

It is more a case of how slippery is the surface. If it is a high grip off road surface, then no diff lock. If it is slippery then diff lock is being engaged.

Cheers
 
I've never been off-road as such, but what I've seen as the Billing off-road site there were signs instructing to use did-lock at the beginning. Therefore why not, as mentioned above if you think u will loose traction use it.
It works very well in snow also :D
 
jamesmartin said:
that would depend on the ground, most green lanes would be better in high
Click to expand...

Sorry, good point. High ratio has its place, but so does 2nd / 3rd low.

I have taught LANTRA two day courses over a number of years. The mantra for control (initially) is that once you leave the road it goes to low and locked, there can of course be exceptions. We demonstrate the reasons for diff lock to students by sticking one wheel on a rolling road and the Land Rover goes nowhere :)
 
discool said:
I've never been off-road as such, but what I've seen as the Billing off-road site there were signs instructing to use did-lock at the beginning. Therefore why not, as mentioned above if you think u will loose traction use it.
It works very well in snow also :D
Click to expand...

Good point, I also use diff lock if I am going off road on a steep incline either up or down.

Cheers
 
Dartmoor Navigator said:
Sorry, good point. High ratio has its place, but so does 2nd / 3rd low.

I have taught LANTRA two day courses over a number of years. The mantra for control (initially) is that once you leave the road it goes to low and locked, there can of course be exceptions. We demonstrate the reasons for diff lock to students by sticking one wheel on a rolling road and the Land Rover goes nowhere :)
Click to expand...
yes low if you need to crawl,or need highest possible torque at the wheels, you allways use the highest gear practicable, it reduces wheel slip, diff lock is only for when there is a chance of wheel slip, locking means the 2 axles are driven equally so your inducing the chance of wheel slip
 
I've driven hundreds of Rtv comps and many hundreds of miles greenlaning, (that dosn't mean much though sometimes :confused:) most of the time laning I am in high no diff lock until I see a patch where I think I'll need some help and then its low range and then perhaps diff lock as well. Momentum and a light right boot in the right gear is often more efficent than low/locked and just blasting it.
Quite often during trials although I will usually start off with the diff locked I will knock it out to help getting round a tight bend, then again if it's really tight and I want the best line for the next gate I will handbrake it round and that is not possible if the diff is locked.
 
Oh yes 'low range' thanks for the reminder... never been there and it appears never will, as now Ive tried low range and diff lock just in case there was a need with the snow that was predicted arrived... but nether the two will engage, ha-ho never mind.:D
 
jamesmartin said:
not on a firm surface when theres the likely hood both axles need different speeds, the engine will ensure one lose traction as system winds up
Click to expand...

James, this is a rather circular discussion. The OP is on a pay and play site, if it's a firm, even surface then he should save his money and go for a drive in the country. Grass, gravel, dirt, breakage in surface all release transmission wind up as it occurs without any significant loss of traction. However if he doesn't have the diff lock in place he will almost certainly lose traction at some point when he hasn't engaged diff lock in good time.
 
Dartmoor Navigator said:
James, this is a rather circular discussion. The OP is on a pay and play site, if it's a firm, even surface then he should save his money and go for a drive in the country. Grass, gravel, dirt, breakage in surface all release transmission wind up as it occurs without any significant loss of traction. However if he doesn't have the diff lock in place he will almost certainly lose traction at some point when he hasn't engaged diff lock in good time.
Click to expand...
he was talking about green laning in the post, the point is you apply diff lock just prior to needing it, you never lock a diff if you dont need to ,thats a rule from an engineering point and a traction point
 
jamesmartin said:
he was talking about green laning in the post, the point is you apply diff lock just prior to needing it, you never lock a diff if you dont need to ,thats a rule from an engineering point and a traction point
Click to expand...

James, read the original post for a change instead of answering something else.
 
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