Tips for DIFF LOCK, and other settings..

[Dustman]

HI, can anyone post up a few tips on how to and when use the DIFF lock and other settings on the Disco's?

Cheers

Mark

[robbie]

The disco is permanent 4Wd so only has a high or low setting for the ratio. For normal road use high, when off road use low. The method of getting it into high/low does differ e little depending on whether you have a manual or auto. If manual, stop the car and depress the clutch, if auto, put into neutral, slow down to very slow, 1-2mph then move the ratio stick slowly.

Diff-Lock can be engaged whilst moving but should be less than 5mph, I orefer stop. Dont engage whilst the wheels are spinning as they will be going faster than 1 mph and WILL damage your box.

Diff Lock has been seldom used by me even when off road. I usually use low box unless I feel the wheels slipping. I then stop the vehicle or reverse, depending on how steep the slope is, select DiffLock and then away again....

Hope this helps

[datalas]

Weeeeellll..


"Diff Lock should be engaged when traction is likely to be lost" :)

A Discovery is, by it's normal nature 1WD, as Thrasher will testify to.  As in *all* the power of the engine will be transfered by the differentials to the wheel with the least friction against it, and a proportion of that power to the other three accordingly.

Now, in mud, this can prove to be a problem, since what will happen is that you'll end up with one wheel spinning happily, and the other three doing very little.

The "diff lock" will allow you to transfer power in a 50 / 50 split to the front and rear axles.  Granted this won't make certain you'll get out of mud, but it can help.

So, as the manual says, if you lose traction, or are likely to lose traction.  Stop, engage the difflock (having engaged hi / low accordingly) and then set off.  When you have got past the bit you were worried about, you stop again, disengage difflock and then drive off again.   The light won't go off immediately since the diff needs a little bit of slip before it will disengage the lock.  Damp grass will usually do it.

[Colin 009]

Wise words ther guys, :D

But  :lol:  Datalas wrote

Damp grass will usually do it.

not much "Damp grass" where Dustman is. :lol:  :lol:

[jnoshea]

Sometimes I find it difficult to get the transfer box and diff-lock to do anything. I can sometimes sit there for 2 or 3 minutes trying to move the lever, while at other times it works first time.  I find it hard to believe that this is wear on the box since the car was a motorway vehicle for years before I had it and probably never got put into low box let alone diff-lock.  Anyone else got this problem?

[Paul]

since the car was a motorway vehicle for years before I had it and probably never got put into low box let alone diff-lock.

Sounds like lack of use to me.

[jnoshea]

since the car was a motorway vehicle for years before I had it and probably never got put into low box let alone diff-lock.

Sounds like lack of use to me.

Not any more  :lol:

[drmike]

When you say you can't get it to do anything - do you mean the lever won't move? If so try having it in gear and lifting the clutch very slowly while pushing the Hi/Lo lever and you may find it snicks into place.

If you eman the diff lock light doesn't come on right away just drive off anyway and you may find it comes on then.

If you mean the lever is too stiff to move then as others have said try lubricating it - WD40 is usually mentioned.

My own Disco had never been used off road as far as I could tell and when I got it the lever was stiff but freed up really quickly when used.

[Benji]

I engage low at least once a day when im reversing the trailer. If you find its a bit stiff, put the gearbox in first, lift the clutch to a fraction past the biting point whilst pushing the transfer lever forward and she'll pop into low nicely.

The other option is to change into low (or high) on the move, just as the manual states, but this takes a fair few brain cells to work in tandem to get it right!

I did a test on a hill at a site with and without diff lock and i couldn't tell the difference but its always best to give yourself the best chance of getting through the obstacle, so use diff lock and low box before you attempt it if you think it looks a bit dodgy!

[jnoshea]

When you say you can't get it to do anything - do you mean the lever won't move? If so try having it in gear and lifting the clutch very slowly while pushing the Hi/Lo lever and you may find it snicks into place.

That's exactly what I mean.  Thanks for the tip drmike (and Ben for similar).  I'll try it out tomorrow.

[Matt_H]

When I did my off road training, I was taught to use the diff lock when you are likely to need it, rather than after realising you need it.  The onyl way to know when you are likely to need it is to learn from your mistakes.  I was told not to use it 100% of the time off road as you can get transmission wind up.  SO I tend to engage when ruts are very deep or mud/water looks bad and when I'm likely to be getting lots of axle articulation.

WRT low/high, this is my way and the way I was shown.  I cant get it to engage when stationary particularly well.  When I want to engage low I slip the main box into neutral and when I'm just moving (maybe 1 or 2 mph perhaps less) I push it into low.  I do the same low to high but the speed can be increased slightly (maybe 2-3 mph)

If the speed is too fast it will crunch, if its too fast but close it will clunk, just right and it slips straight in.

HTH
Matthew

[Manicminer]

Always engage central difflock when descending a steep greasy/icy hill or similar. In normal use if you loose traction to one wheel then you loose traction to all and the bottom of the hill comes at you rather quick.

[Range Rover Blues]

I'm a bit spoilt having a B-W box but I agree with Matt. it's just as easy to engage on the move, just flick into neutral and then shift the transfer box.  The plate on the dash recomneds chnging ratio swiftly I think.