running diff lock in snow, this ok?

I take a lot of backroads on the way home to miss rush hour traffic and when there is snow covering the road I put the landy into diff lock. I have a 2004 Td5 110.

Is it ok to run this for considerable mileage, I might have it in diff lock for 10 miles at a time over my 30 mile commute. I also dont adjust my speed is this ok, I'll be doing 45-60 mph.

The diff lock is making the power split 25% per wheel instead of a front back split I presume.

Looking out the window at another decent snow covered drive home.

Thanks

Your center locking diff splits power 50/50 front/back. Personally i wouldnt bother locking it unless you get some traction issues or going up a steep incline.

Glb8686 said:

Your center locking diff splits power 50/50 front/back. Personally i wouldnt bother locking it unless you get some traction issues or going up a steep incline.

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what he said.

Just put it in when you need to.

Glenbirnie said:

I take a lot of backroads on the way home to miss rush hour traffic and when there is snow covering the road I put the landy into diff lock. I have a 2004 Td5 110.

Is it ok to run this for considerable mileage, I might have it in diff lock for 10 miles at a time over my 30 mile commute. I also dont adjust my speed is this ok, I'll be doing 45-60 mph.

The diff lock is making the power split 25% per wheel instead of a front back split I presume.

Looking out the window at another decent snow covered drive home.

Thanks

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Depends if the amount of snow allows the wheels to slip. I wouldn't bother with diff unless I thought there was a chance of one axle losing grip.

25% split, ok.. if no wheels slip. have a search for how the diffs work

the diff lock splits the power 50-50 front and back where that then goes is down to the diffs, in standard form you will have open diffs so if one wheel starts to spin all the power on that axle will go out through the spinning wheel, so in worse case scenario you could spin up one rear wheel and one front wheel and lose all traction.

as to the dangers of extended use if the surface is low friction and the wheels can spin a little to avoid wind up then you should be ok, i will let somebody else comment on the speed issue as im not sure.

cnuts all faster than me

DiscoPol said:

cnuts all faster than me

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haha, me too

From OP to 4 straight corresponding answers in less than 5 minutes, thats why I love this place

Don't do it !! Only use diff lock when you are stuck, or lose traction !!
You would be best getting some good tyres , and just drive carefully in normal high or low box!!! Use engine braking to slow etc !! Diff lock only makes the two rear wheels drive without the diff slipping !! Only realy helps when one wheel loses drive ,

ok I'll go with the advice and stay off the diff lock unless i get slipping. Havent had it long and keen to play with everything, as usual f*k about first then read the instructions later when ive a spare 5 mins but the spare time never happens!

cheers gents.

on the other hand, if you never use it offroad, and never normally use diff lock, snow would be the best time to knock it in and out a few times to make sure it doesnt seize so it doesn't work when you REALLY need it.

ferretboy said:

Don't do it !! Only use diff lock when you are stuck, or lose traction !!
You would be best getting some good tyres , and just drive carefully in normal high or low box!!! Use engine braking to slow etc !! Diff lock only makes the two rear wheels drive without the diff slipping !! Only realy helps when one wheel loses drive ,

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Here's a full stop fella . you seem to missing it.

Also, you probably want to engage diff lock just before you lose traction

Glenbirnie said:

ok I'll go with the advice and stay off the diff lock unless i get slipping. Havent had it long and keen to play with everything, as usual f*k about first then read the instructions later when ive a spare 5 mins but the spare time never happens!

cheers gents.

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you wont hurt anything driving in diff lock in snowy conditions ,you can drive hundreds of miles on good roads without damage but eventually the wind up in the drive chain would weaken a diff,cv ,prop joint etc apart from increased tyre wear

jamesmartin said:

you wont hurt anything driving in diff lock in snowy conditions ,you can drive hundreds of miles on good roads without damage but eventually the wind up in the drive chain would weaken a diff,cv ,prop joint etc apart from increased tyre wear

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Pretty much what he says , but adding running difflock will make the vehicle slightly more stable , when hitting windrowed snow slush FME only when hard grippy surface will wind up start to load things up , if its packed snow then not a problem , done it for considerable numbers of miles in various rovers over the years HTSH

ferretboy said:

Don't do it !! Only use diff lock when you are stuck, or lose traction !!
You would be best getting some good tyres , and just drive carefully in normal high or low box!!! Use engine braking to slow etc !! Diff lock only makes the two rear wheels drive without the diff slipping !! Only realy helps when one wheel loses drive ,

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Shut it you Nobber, the diff lock he is talking about is the center diff not a rear diff lock, and by the way its much better to have the diff locked before losing traction or getting stuck.

Oh and use some punctuation FFS.

I would have thought it better to have diff lock engaged before losing traction, as losing traction whilst traveling at 20-30mph could result in a spin and possible collision.
Also whilst on the slippey stuff diff lock could also help in slowing down with more of the drive distributed between front and rear axles.
I may be wrong but i always engage difflock on slippy or loose surfaces, surely its better to be in diff lock before being stuck

I'm no expert but I did read somewhere that that if you're already spinning one wheel there is a good chance the diff lock won't engage as it needs both front and rear to move so it can drop in. Don't know how true that is as mine seems to drop in when still when not moving?????????

currymunster said:

I'm no expert but I did read somewhere that that if you're already spinning one wheel there is a good chance the diff lock won't engage as it needs both front and rear to move so it can drop in. Don't know how true that is as mine seems to drop in when still when not moving?????????

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I could be wrong, but engaging the diff lock while a wheel is spinning seems likely to be met with some expensive sounding noises....?? Stationary front prop, spinning rear prop (or vice versa)?

If not already engaged, then stop, calm down, have tea, and engage diff lock while stationary and have another go..... A

If you are doing 60 mph in conditions where you think you need diff lock I wouldnt worry about transmission wind up as you will probably total the thing beforethe gearbox packs in.

steveyorks said:

If you are doing 60 mph in conditions where you think you need diff lock I wouldnt worry about transmission wind up as you will probably total the thing beforethe gearbox packs in.

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Evening Steve, I hadnt thought of that but its very true, if he loses a Landy at those speeds in the snow it really will be goodnight vienna.