Locking transfer box to 4x4

Hi all,

I don't usually (almost never) put my 110 V8 into 4 wheel drive, but thought to myself today, I will put it into 4x4 and go for a drive to Tesco to get the oil circulating round diff and transfer box.

I faced a few problems today whilst in 4 wheel drive.
1) Whilst in the carpark of Tesco ot didn't want to reverse, it was like I applied the brakes, and there was a clunk from the rear.
2) When I got home, I had to turn the 110 around at the top of the road, now going forward at slow speed full lock on the steering to the left, I ground to a hault, again like I put the brakes on, until I straightened the steering to reverse back.
3) it seemed to be getting stuck in 4 wheel drive mode even when I selected 2 wheel drive according to the list on the dashboard.

Any ides on my dilemma.

Yes, you do not understand how the drive system of a 110 Land Rover works. It is not like a series type which has selectable two or four wheel drive.
A 110 will be permanent 4 wheel drive with drive sent to front and rear axles at all time. To allow for different road speeds of front wheels to rear wheels like when [ just like axle diffs do side to side ] going around a corner there is a third diff in the transfer box that should always be open when your on a hard surface or transmission wind up will happen and can damage the system if you are unlucky [ centre diff should only be locked when on slippery ground so drive goes 50- 50 front rear.] It may well be the transfer is just stuck in lock now. Reversing some distance or driving with ns wheels on a grass verge should make it release. Another way to check would be to jack up a front wheel if it spins some as it comes off the ground you will have released the wind up and the lock will let go. You should then be able to spin the wheel [ WARNING do this on the flat or other wheels chocked ] If it does not now spin box is still stuck in lock.

What year is your truck ? I only ask as there were some early 110's made with selectable 2 or 4 wheel drive. Very rare I have never come across one.

Could be an expensive lesson, hopefully it won't be but it just shows how you need to understand how a vehicle works.
Maybe invest a tenner in a Brooklands reprint of the owners manual / handbook?

tottot said:

What year is your truck ? I only ask as there were some early 110's made with selectable 2 or 4 wheel drive. Very rare I have never come across one.

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I believe these were the very first ones and they only used the old 2.25L engine (certainly not the V8 as that was why the Stage-1 S111 was introduced).

Yes, stage one 3 had centre diff but if I remember right it was vac operated like the rangy of the time. The part time 110 was sold along side the full time version but soon dropped as most customers went for the newer system.

Essex Mike said:

Hi all,

I don't usually (almost never) put my 110 V8 into 4 wheel drive, but thought to myself today, I will put it into 4x4 and go for a drive to Tesco to get the oil circulating round diff and transfer box.

I faced a few problems today whilst in 4 wheel drive.
1) Whilst in the carpark of Tesco ot didn't want to reverse, it was like I applied the brakes, and there was a clunk from the rear.
2) When I got home, I had to turn the 110 around at the top of the road, now going forward at slow speed full lock on the steering to the left, I ground to a hault, again like I put the brakes on, until I straightened the steering to reverse back.
3) it seemed to be getting stuck in 4 wheel drive mode even when I selected 2 wheel drive according to the list on the dashboard.

Any ides on my dilemma.

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I should think you are just stuck in diff lock. Try going forward and reverse, and changing into high and low range a few times, then forward and reverse again, while moving the small stick left and right as you do it. It will probably pop out.
The moral of the story is to use what you have got. Use low range and diff lock often, even if it is just in a grassy car park at shows and suchlike.
If things aren't used, they tend to seize up and get clunky in operation.

Essex Mike said:

Hi all,

I don't usually (almost never) put my 110 V8 into 4 wheel drive, but thought to myself today, I will put it into 4x4 and go for a drive to Tesco to get the oil circulating round diff and transfer box.

I faced a few problems today whilst in 4 wheel drive.
1) Whilst in the carpark of Tesco ot didn't want to reverse, it was like I applied the brakes, and there was a clunk from the rear.
2) When I got home, I had to turn the 110 around at the top of the road, now going forward at slow speed full lock on the steering to the left, I ground to a hault, again like I put the brakes on, until I straightened the steering to reverse back.
3) it seemed to be getting stuck in 4 wheel drive mode even when I selected 2 wheel drive according to the list on the dashboard.

Any ides on my dilemma.

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I know the answer. You are a moron!

No offense meant. But at least you know now

Thanks everyone for the reply's...

My 110 is 1988 with the santana LT85 box

Well it just goes to show, that I obviously had no idea how my transmission actually worked, I was always under the illusion, my Landy was 2wd until I moved the transfer gear stick to the left and the orange light came on.

I have managed to release the center diff and the light has since gone out on the dash.

I can certainly say I have learnt something here today.

lucky you have the 85, has a reputation for being a tough box. Just for info the light comes on and goes off when the diff itself decides to go in and comes out of lock not when the gear lever is moved.

So (contentious this ....) a Landrover 110 isn't a true 4 wheel drive, it's a 2 axle drive using 3 differentials.
1 on the front axle, 1 on the rear axle and one in the middle (in the transfer box).
You can only 'lock' the center diff.
If you jack your landrover up so that 1 wheel is unwieghted (off the ground) in 2 wheel drive that wheel will spin and you go nowhere.
Any wheel, front or back, nearside or offside that unwieghted wheel will spin.
If you engage 4WD power is sent equally to both the front and rear axles so if only 1 wheel is 'unwieghted' the car will move
If you lift two wheels, one on the back axle and 1 on the front off the ground and apply 4 wheel drive both of those unwieghetd wheels will spin and you go nowhere..
You could lift any 2 wheels, 1 on each axle, nearside or offside, both the same or one on the opposite side.
Those two unwieghetd wheels will spin and you go nowhere.

To get a 'true' 4WD car you need to lock all 3 of the differentials, all 4 wheels now get driven and you would still get drive/motion if only 1 if the wheels was wieghted.

Is there not a set of instructions on the fuse box cover ?

miktdish said:

So (contentious this ....) a Landrover 110 isn't a true 4 wheel drive, it's a 2 axle drive using 3 differentials.
1 on the front axle, 1 on the rear axle and one in the middle (in the transfer box).
You can only 'lock' the center diff.
If you jack your landrover up so that 1 wheel is unwieghted (off the ground) in 2 wheel drive that wheel will spin and you go nowhere.
Any wheel, front or back, nearside or offside that unwieghted wheel will spin.
If you engage 4WD power is sent equally to both the front and rear axles so if only 1 wheel is 'unwieghted' the car will move
If you lift two wheels, one on the back axle and 1 on the front off the ground and apply 4 wheel drive both of those unwieghetd wheels will spin and you go nowhere..
You could lift any 2 wheels, 1 on each axle, nearside or offside, both the same or one on the opposite side.
Those two unwieghetd wheels will spin and you go nowhere.

To get a 'true' 4WD car you need to lock all 3 of the differentials, all 4 wheels now get driven and you would still get drive/motion if only 1 if the wheels was wieghted.

Is there not a set of instructions on the fuse box cover ?

View attachment 257906

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I'm learning alot here...

Thanks for the replys.

Unless I'm on grass, mud or snow, leave the diff lock alone.

Essex Mike said:

Unless I'm on grass, mud or snow, leave the diff lock alone.

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Yes
As @tottot said the sytem 'winds up' and the resulting strain/load can break the gears in the transfer box.
The forces are produced as the front of the car goes at a slightly different speed to the back of the car - have a look at this video.

The way your 110 works in 4WD is expained from 5min 30 secs into the vid ..

This is correct. It was a 4-speed main box with (optional) fairey overdrive that the synchromeshes always wore on and a vacuum operated centre diff lock.

tottot said:

Yes, stage one 3 had centre diff but if I remember right it was vac operated like the rangy of the time.

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