Diff lock

Hi everyone I was out in the field yesterday feeding the horses and need to put in in low range diff lock but when I come to take it out the lever has gone all lose so had a look and all the linkage is fine tried to take it out off diff lock while under the car and it still wont disengage anyone had similar problems it's a 110 300tdi thanks

At the point where the diff lock linkage goes into the box there is a cam that is bolted to the lock spigot,[ The shaft that goes into the box ] the nut may be loose or the cam can wear. To check the lock is working as it should you can remove the cam and work the lock spigot to the ends of it's travel with a spanner.

Thanks I'll give it ago tomorrow

You can't force it in or out of diff lock, the final bit of the linkage inside the box is spring-loaded and pushes a locking collar which joins the front and rear output shafts. The collar only moves when the splines on the front and rear line up.
If the transmission has wound up, which often happens, the the splines on the shafts grip the collar and prevent the diff lock disengaging, as soon as the tension is taken off it will pop out.
You can do this by moving the lever into the unlocked position and:

• Drive a wheel up or down a kerb
• Put one or more wheel on a loose or muddy surface, sometimes firm breaking helps.
• If it is parked up, you can jack up a front wheel. (Rear won't work if the handbrake is on.)

It is just a matter of getting one wheel to lose traction briefly and the transmission will unwind and the locking collar will unlock.

Driving in reverse is another way of making it release

Thanks Will give it ago in the morning any luck be ok lol

I’ve had this a few times, but the last time I jacked it up to release the windup. Front wheel managed at least half a turn when it lifted off the ground!

I was always taught to reverse out of this issue

Tried everything that's been suggested still no joy

Have you tried disconnecting the linkage and moving the input shaft with a spanner to the out position ? Do this with a front wheel off the ground and see if it spins.

I presume that the diff-lock light is staying on, if this is the case it may be worth checking to see if the switch is playing up or the diff is actually still locked.
With the diff lock lever unlocked, jack one wheel a midge's off the ground and try to set off......gently.
If it spins the raised wheel and goes nowhere then the diff is unlocked, if it tries to set off then diff lock is still engaged.