Advice on how to use difflock/transfer gearbox

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
2

25discovery

New Member
Posts
1
Recently purchased a 1994 Discovery 300 tdi. I am pretty clueless woman about cars. I am totally confused about the difflock and how to work it. Please could someone explain simply how to use.

Currently my discoverys one is all the way over to the right towards H on the gearbox is the correct for normal road driving????

Any help greatly appreciated, thank you.
 
diff lock works in high or low-it should only be used on loose muddy ground and disengaged as soon as you are about to drive on tarmac or firm surface
 
When you engage diff lock you will get a light on the dash. if it don't go out when you disengage diff lock try a bit of reversing.

Have you tried to put it into diff lock yet? as a lot are stuch due to not being used
 
Last edited:
use low when you want to go slower... i use mine often when reversing a trailer.. it gives more time to twiddle the steering without having to slip the clutch. on slippery stuff too low a gear will just make the wheels spin ... thats why everyone slides all over the place in half an inch of snow.
you can also use low to get a heavy trailer moving.
you normally only need diff lock in when the wheels start spinning. it locks the gearbox diff so both axles get driven when the wheels start spinning, without it one wheel spinning can stop you moving, in five years ive used mine in one muddy field , but i dont go playing in brown stuff. use it on a grippy surface and something will beak.
 
Am i right in thinking as long as you keep in a straight line you wont bust nothing..?
Isnt it called windup and mostly caused by one wheel needing to spin more when turning
in 4wd..?
 
landymanmel90 said:
Am i right in thinking as long as you keep in a straight line you wont bust nothing..?
Isnt it called windup and mostly caused by one wheel needing to spin more when turning
in 4wd..?
Click to expand...

wind up will occur with different rolling radius's on tyres as well in straight line, as soon as surface is firm disengage diflock
 
With the bad snow here in Birmingham I stuck mine in diff lock as it was rather icy and drove around with it doing the shopping and all. I made sure that I did not go past 3rd gear and kept it in low revs. Same again today, but I'm not sure if I should be using it for that long? Can someone enlighten me please?
Thanks
 
goonarmy said:
airhook said:
Towing, hill descent and climbing, rock crawling etc.
Before tomorrows class read all chapters of the handbook.
Click to expand...



Best advice of the lot ... READ THE HANDBOOK!!!!

First time I went out in my Disco 2 TD5 on a twisty road I thought there was something wrong with it after ONE tight left bend. It just sailed round on an even keel, not like any 'drunken pig' Disco I had driven up till then.

I stopped and got out in case it had two flat or soft tyres ... but not.

I tried a few more bends both sides and it handled just like a big two-ton Mini.

I stopped again, found the book, and read a whole section on ACE, Automatic Cornering Enhancement. Gosh ... is that clever or what?

I should have read the book FIRST!

CharlesY
Click to expand...
 
CharlesY said:
goonarmy said:
Best advice of the lot ... READ THE HANDBOOK!!!!

First time I went out in my Disco 2 TD5 on a twisty road I thought there was something wrong with it after ONE tight left bend. It just sailed round on an even keel, not like any 'drunken pig' Disco I had driven up till then.

I stopped and got out in case it had two flat or soft tyres ... but not.

I tried a few more bends both sides and it handled just like a big two-ton Mini.

I stopped again, found the book, and read a whole section on ACE, Automatic Cornering Enhancement. Gosh ... is that clever or what?

I should have read the book FIRST!

CharlesY
Click to expand...

I dont have any manuals with it apart from the Haynes one, will check that:eek:
Click to expand...
 
kuunder90 said:
With the bad snow here in Birmingham I stuck mine in diff lock as it was rather icy and drove around with it doing the shopping and all. I made sure that I did not go past 3rd gear and kept it in low revs. Same again today, but I'm not sure if I should be using it for that long? Can someone enlighten me please?
Thanks
Click to expand...


NO!

Do NOT use diff-lock on icy roads, as it WILL INCREASE the risk of slipping, especially on corners and when turning. This is because when turning corners, the front of the car travels further than the back by just enough to make the back wheels and front wheels turn at slightly different speeds, so at least one tyre MUST slip if the centre diff is locked. This is why you have a DIFFERENTIAL between the drives to back and front.

"Drive gently" is the secret, and use difflock ONLY at VERY low speeds if you think you might get stuck or if you have got stuck and a wheel is spinning. Get it out of difflock as soon as you are in the clear.

Be very very gentle trying to drive out after being stuck. Success is most likely if you can get out without spinning any wheels. Using low range second gear is often good and you can whip it into Low 3rd and 4th at nice low speeds to keep you moving.

Take the car out and have a drive in LOW RANGE NOT DIFFLOCK.
Get the feel of it like that.
Top speed will be about 30 mph but you could pull a train!

CharlesY
 
CharlesY said:
NO!

Do NOT use diff-lock on icy roads, as it WILL INCREASE the risk of slipping, especially on corners and when turning. This is because when turning corners, the front of the car travels further than the back by just enough to make the back wheels and front wheels turn at slightly different speeds, so at least one tyre MUST slip if the centre diff is locked. This is why you have a DIFFERENTIAL between the drives to back and

CharlesY
Click to expand...

that makes a lot of sense, thanks.

BTW there are plenty of handbooks on eBay, I got a nice original one in the leather case for under a tenner, always good to have.
 
CharlesY said:
NO!

Do NOT use diff-lock on icy roads, as it WILL INCREASE the risk of slipping, especially on corners and when turning. This is because when turning corners, the front of the car travels further than the back by just enough to make the back wheels and front wheels turn at slightly different speeds, so at least one tyre MUST slip if the centre diff is locked. This is why you have a DIFFERENTIAL between the drives to back and front.

"Drive gently" is the secret, and use difflock ONLY at VERY low speeds if you think you might get stuck or if you have got stuck and a wheel is spinning. Get it out of difflock as soon as you are in the clear.

Be very very gentle trying to drive out after being stuck. Success is most likely if you can get out without spinning any wheels. Using low range second gear is often good and you can whip it into Low 3rd and 4th at nice low speeds to keep you moving.

Take the car out and have a drive in LOW RANGE NOT DIFFLOCK.
Get the feel of it like that.
Top speed will be about 30 mph but you could pull a train!

CharlesY
Click to expand...

Thanks Charles, as Dave's just said, that makes sense!

davek0974 said:
that makes a lot of sense, thanks.

BTW there are plenty of handbooks on eBay, I got a nice original one in the leather case for under a tenner, always good to have.
Click to expand...

Thanks, will have a look on ebay for one;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
Vibration over 50mph on gradual turn left
Replies
3
Views
330
j1ck
J
B
Freelander 2 (LR2) Freelander 2 coolant issues
Replies
6
Views
708
GrumpyGel
GrumpyGel
D
Disco 1 More Heat from Central Console Since Gearbox and Transfer Gearbox Reconditioning
Replies
1
Views
800
lynall
L
O
Electrical - starting fault/issue (seeking help/advice) - 1996 Defender 110 300TDI
2
Replies
27
Views
1K
tottot
tottot
P
It seems someone drained the main gearbox oil case on my puma 90 2007 2.4. Damage assessment enquiry
Replies
7
Views
1K
lightning
lightning
Back
Top