Diff. lock ... question

[glaserm]

Hi there,

my question may sound stupid to you guy's. Bud I could not find an answer in the users manual I have. It only say's that if you put the stick to the Diff. Lock position the differential is locked. But you can put the little stick in front (like first gear) or back (like second gear).
So I'm confused what is actually happening. Before I go to the countryside I better know what to switch, right?
Here we go:
Shifting the little gear stick from H to the lets say Diff. Lock position front (like first gear) does this lock the front differential?
Same thing, for the "back position"?

Many thanks

Martin

[OldFart]

Hi :)

Move the little lever to the left will engage your diff lock, move it fully to the right will disengage it (turn it off) ...moving the same little lever fully forward will put you in low ratio, and fully back into high ratio.
When the diff lock is engaged there should be a warning light on the dashboard, likewise the light will go out when you disengage.....BUT dont panic if it doesnt go out straight away. You DONT need to reverse to put out the light, usualy by the next forward going gear change it will go out.
Its good practise to move it in and out whilst stationary at least one a week...it keeps the mechanism freed up :)

[glaserm]

Perfect O/F,

thanks for that. I played already with the diff lock (no driving) and I could see the light (yellow I remember).
If the diff lock is engaged, does it lock both axels and 100%?

Thanks

Martin

[Budgie]

On permanent 4 wheel drives the transfer box is not locked when driving on the road, this is to allow you to turn corners without dragging the wheels or "winding up" the axles or transfer box. When the vehicle is like this then you will stop if you loose traction on just 1 wheel.
When you go offroad you need the front & rear propshafts locked so you get 100% drive to each shaft. So Land Rover has put a locking diff in the transfer box. This what is being operated by the small gearstick in the cabin.

You have four positions on the stick.
Normally this will sit in the 4th gear position for road driving which is High Ratio - no diff lock.

If you push the stick forwards (3rd gear) it goes into Low Ratio - no diff lock.

Push it to the left (1st gear) will give you Low ratio with diff lock
and pull back (2nd gear) for High Ratio with diff lock.

The are no difflocks in the axles (unless you fit them, which will set you back about £500 per axle + fitting! :yikes: )

Hope this helps. :D

[OldFart]

Originally posted by Budgie


You have four positions on the stick.



errr ...cough :p

We both forgot to mention that there is also neutral on the low ratio/diff lock lever :D

I use it to further thief proof the Disco when parking in the places like Glasgow :smart:

[glaserm]

Thank you Budgie and O/F,

perfect ... no further questions. :yay:

Oh, have I told you, today I gave my Discovery to Bosch 'cause they fit me a pre/water heater for the winter time. You know winters are quite strong and most times very long here in Austria.
Quite expensive though, EUR 900.- only for the material.

Here a link just in case:
http://www.eberspaecher.com/en/heiz/einsa/limou/limou.htm

Thanks again you guy's

Martin

[OldFart]

Ah Winter :icecube:

I love the snow, this is our Disco last winter at Aviemore in Scotland, we now call her "The Duchess of Aviemore" Duchess for short :buck:

You water heater looks very interesting :)

[glaserm]

Hey what a nice picture, I need to make some of my car now, ... hm, this should take some days.

Will come back to that ...


Looking forward to ask more questions.

take care

Martin

[Newsreader]

Originally posted by OldFart
We both forgot to mention that there is also neutral on the low ratio/diff lock lever :D


... and if you ever break down and need to be towed. Rare in a Landy of course:p

[glaserm]

Oh, that's interesting. If my Discovery is to be towed, than I have to switch into neutral.
Thank you Bernie

Martin

[Captain-Fungi]

Nice picture OF, what sort of preperation do you give your Disco ready for the winter?

How far fully forward does the lever need to go to be in either High or Low range? The transfer gear box on my Disco was never used by the previous owners and was stiff when I first started playing with it....

Now I can get it to Diff Lock but am not sure whether it is going fully forward into Low Range when I push up on the lever, if it stays forward the viabration of the engine knocks it out of gear again. There is not a lot of travel involved, there is the same amount of travel when going into High range.

Do how do I know when it is in either of the ranges succesfully?

Many Thanks

[OldFart]

Originally posted by Captain-Fungi
Nice picture OF, what sort of preperation do you give your Disco ready for the winter?

Just a standard winter service, shove the snow chains in the boot and keep em there all winter at the first sign of frost (early snow sometimes in Scotland), carry a shovel but only on our long journeys....and thats it :)
Last year we had Eagle GT4's fitted and did'nt need to use the snow chains once.....this year we have our new Goodrich All Terrains, but we'll still put the snow chains in the boot at first sign of real cold weather.
And lets be honest if a Landy cant cope with the white stuff with chains fitted then you should'nt be out in it......thats when I'd like a snowblade fitted :yay:



Ah you edited whilst i was replyng :hahaha:

Low ratio lever needs to go fully forward, try doing it in two stages , first put the low ratio lever into neutral (upright position) let the clutch back up, then down again with the clutch and push lever fully forward, then try moving...YOU WILL know if its in low ratio by the extreme lowness of gearing :goofylook

[Captain-Fungi]

If it isnt in and is still in Nuetral I presum I will not move anywhere? It wont damage my engine in any way?

[OldFart]

Originally posted by Captain-Fungi
If it isnt in and is still in Nuetral I presum I will not move anywhere? It wont damage my engine in any way?

Correct........just be slow and easy letting the clutch up in case it is in gear.
If its not in gear then the gearbox (via the clutch) IS NOT connected to the engine and cant therefore do any damage to the engine. :)
Try checking and lubricating all the linkage underneath ...see if that helps :buck:

[Captain-Fungi]

Have now mastered putting it in and out of low range, I am kind of relieved I thought it might of been damaged due to the 0% use it has had.

I see what you mean about the lowness of the gears :D

I found that it helped to put my car into first gear then move the transfer leaver forward, put on a bit of gas and then off again, then push forward on the transfer leaver and it drops into gear.

Is this whats known as double de-clutching? I doubt I will ever use the low range, just nice to know it works correctly.

I use the difflock in no conditions other than on a loose surface such as shail or wet grass?

Thanks For All The Answers.

Pete

[OldFart]

Originally posted by Captain-Fungi


I use the difflock in no conditions other than on a loose surface such as shail or wet grass?



Pete

Correct...and of course snow and sand :D

But remember in snow you need as high a gear as possible so low ratio may not be ideal !

For general guidance the Disco book says .....If there is any risk of loosing wheel grip the DIFF LOCK should be engaged.......unlock the DIFF LOCK as soon as firm non slippy ground is reached.

[Captain-Fungi]

All sorted now, I currently have about 200 pounds to spend on upgrades for my Disco, what should I get?

I really want an A Frame and some spot lights to go with it. How easy are these to fit as I am not the best mechanic in the world?

What sort of grage should I take my Disco to to have these fitted?

[OldFart]

A frame is a doddle to fit, it goes onto same bolt holes as bumper does, at least it does on mine. Fitted in ten minutes ezy pezy :)
Lights need a relay in the system, so best to leave that to auto electrician unless you really know what yer doing :dunno1:

[Captain-Fungi]

I will fit the bar but will take the Lights to be fitted at my mates uncles garage, where I had my alarm fitted.

Just bought some shiny new number plates.

Thanks For The Info

[Jetilla]

When setting off on a steep hill with a trailer, it is wise to ise low ratio. This saves the clutch. You can also change to high ratio whilst moving. Build up gears and speed in low ratio, then use the double declutch method (clutch out of gear, clutch up, clutch **slowly** into gear, clutch), then drop down a cog or so on the main gearbox and off you go.

Also use low ratio for shunting large or heavy trailers

And when off road, the speed is low anyway so use low ratio to give more power, and control descent.