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Kettle River, MN | How do some of these trucks with locking differentials work with only one switch? Do you just not have an option of locking the diffs individually? Is it just a partial locking system?
Not talking about the power divider switch either.
Edited by ne_mn 1/22/2013 16:26
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NC ND | unless it's in an application where full lockers are required often only the back axle is set up to lock. Steering is pretty tough
with all four locked. Or it could just lock both axles with one switch. |
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| my freightliner that i can't confirm 100% on how it operates, but got a lessen on how i believe it works when i was bound up when backing on a ditch back and had the most rear axle in the air was like this.
Furthest back axle locked the pass rear, and the front axle in the tandem locked the drivers front. |
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Ohio | EbertFarms - 1/22/2013 17:30
my freightliner that i can't confirm 100% on how it operates, but got a lessen on how i believe it works when i was bound up when backing on a ditch back and had the most rear axle in the air was like this.
Furthest back axle locked the pass rear, and the front axle in the tandem locked the drivers front.
That is how a power divider/intra-axle diff lock works. It locks the tandems together but doesn't lock the diffs in the tandems. So its basically the same as a 4wd pickup. The tires diagonal from each other are the ones that get the power IE: front left and right rear or front right and left rear. To the OP I've never seen a truck with full lockers that didn't have 2 switches. 1 for the power divider and 1 for the diff locks. |
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Edson, Alberta / Ormstown, Quebec | Of the trucks I have owned, most have been full lock, with a switch for each axle plus the power divider. One was a 3/4 lock, with only one locking axle, plus the PD. Another had both axle locks, but only one one lock switch. I had to add a second switch because you can't steer a semi in the mud with both axles locked and sometimes you can't keep moving if you unlock them both. |
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Central Kentucky | Depends on the truck. On mine (2002 Mack) there are two switches. One for each axle with status lights for each. Also there is a Power Divder switch with a status light. This is the norm two switches if both axles lock and always a separate Power Divider switch. Many trucks were spec'ed with just one diff lock. That is the real difference in what is referred to as a "vocational" truck vs. a road truck. My word of caution: nothing can be turning when any of these switches are engaged. Best procedure is to stop, get out, run around the truck, get in and engage!! (smile). If anything is moving in most trucks something is going to break when you throw a switch. Drive straight just like your tractor with a diff lock. |
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Kettle River, MN | championized - 1/22/2013 17:13
Of the trucks I have owned, most have been full lock, with a switch for each axle plus the power divider. One was a 3/4 lock, with only one locking axle, plus the PD. Another had both axle locks, but only one one lock switch. I had to add a second switch because you can't steer a semi in the mud with both axles locked and sometimes you can't keep moving if you unlock them both.
That makes sense, Ive been looking at truck paper wondering how some of these can be full lockers with one switch. Was it real hard to add the second switch?
Kentuck - 1/22/2013 17:18
Depends on the truck. On mine (2002 Mack) there are two switches. One for each axle with status lights for each. Also there is a Power Divder switch with a status light. This is the norm two switches if both axles lock and always a separate Power Divider switch. Many trucks were spec'ed with just one diff lock. That is the real difference in what is referred to as a "vocational" truck vs. a road truck. My word of caution: nothing can be turning when any of these switches are engaged. Best procedure is to stop, get out, run around the truck, get in and engage!! (smile). If anything is moving in most trucks something is going to break when you throw a switch. Drive straight just like your tractor with a diff lock.
I routinely engage the power divider when moving, just make sure there is absolutely no power going to the tires and nothing is spinning. Done this many different trucks with no ill results. I have not engaged the differential locks when moving.
The KW truck I drive in the winter has full lockers with a switch for each axle but usually only lock the PD and the front axle for three wheel drive and then the fourth no power set keeps me from sliding sideways (icy and sloped usually). |
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Edson, Alberta / Ormstown, Quebec | No, it was not hard to add the second switch in my case. We only pull end dumps and we never have to slide our fith wheels, so I just extended that airline to the axle lock and replaced the switch with a properly labeled switch. It was even in the right spot on the dash. I put a glad hand on the 5th wheel in case I ever do need to move it. |
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Full locker question on semi
