Can anyone suggest a simple leaflet or booklet which will tell me how to use these as I am a newbie and don't have a clue. Or could any one explain to me please thanks
- posted
17 years ago
Can anyone suggest a simple leaflet or booklet which will tell me how to use these as I am a newbie and don't have a clue. Or could any one explain to me please thanks
A good start is the Defender handbook, which you can get from a dealer.
In general, never ever ever use the "differential lock" unless you are actually stuck and you are spinning a wheel and are unable to move. If you learn how to use the vehicle more you'll find times when you can ignore that rule, but as a beginner, just leave the diff lock alone as otherwise you can break expensive drivetrain components quite easily. If you are driving through water or snow, do not put the diff lock on, it does not give you "more grip" as some people think.
As for low range, you only need that when first and second gear are the only gears you're able to use, e.g. you are driving on very rough ground indeed. It is however a good idea to use it from time to time just to keep the gears turning, I use it when reversing my landrover out of my driveway.
So that's some very basic rules of thumb to get you going, and if you want to learn more, I'd suggest getting a book on off-road driving as this will also tell you what's dangerous and what equipment you should carry with you to prevent you from getting into trouble off-road. This will tell you more about diff locks and low range, if you get one that talks about Defenders. If you just ask about specific things in a group like this you'll end up just learning how to do things that'll probably end up getting you into trouble ;-)
There is a section in the manual "Gearbox and Transmission", part of "Driving and Operating", which will give you an idea.
Try the 1996 RHD Model
On or around Fri, 26 Jan 2007 17:12:23 +0000, Ian Rawlings enlightened us thusly:
erm...
I'd be inclined to judge whether I was *likely* to get stuck, and engage diff lock before that.
the one thing you really want to avoid is driving with the diff locked on hard surfaces. Same as driving on-road in 4WD in a series, you get wind-up which at the very least reduces your tyre life and fuel consumption.
On or around Fri, 26 Jan 2007 17:12:23 +0000, Ian Rawlings enlightened us thusly:
I'd be inclined to use it in snow when on hills.
Yes I know austin, but he doesn't even know how to *work* it, the idea is to start off simple. I sincerely hope you don't think I'm unaware of how and when to use a diff lock!
I did after all say that there were times when my suggestion could be ignored and he'd learn about that as he went along.
Depends on how deep it is and what's underneath!
See how come I wanted to start off simple?
For example, using diff lock on a slippery road will guarantee that some wheels will slip when you're cornering, using diff lock in such situations is complicated, not something to burden someone with when they don't appear to even be sure what the lever does.
On or around Sat, 27 Jan 2007 20:49:13 +0000, Ian Rawlings enlightened us thusly:
IME on steep slippery, the first thing that happens is loss of traction at the front, followed shortly by loss of forward motion.
interestingly, Edward II climbed up a certain bank that neither the 110 nor the disco would climb readily except in the dry, without batting an eyelid.
Sure, but just because snow is down doesn't mean it's slippery underneath, that's a common mistake people new to 4x4s make, when it's raining or there's a light dusting of snow, they whack on the diff lock. Hence me stating that the beginner should only use diff lock when stuck at first until they learn more about the truck.
I was trying to keep it simple, oh well ;-)
Weight? Tyres? Wheelbase? My defender got up a slope that a pair of Discoveries on beefier tyres couldn't handle, driving was pretty much consistent between us, it could have been a slight difference in wheelbase or my tyres being narrower, but I think they weighed half a tonne more than I did, which was probably the clincher.
It can also bugger your ability to steer. Anticipation is good, as you stand a chance of maintaining momentum, but over-use can mess you up.
On or around Sun, 28 Jan 2007 09:10:50 +0000, Ian Rawlings enlightened us thusly:
well, Edward II is a 109", and being a van body probably a bit lighter than either the 110 CSW or the disco. Tyres are Avon Rangemasters, which are a good deal more competent than they look as if they should be.
This particular bank is a firm but slippery when damp surface. The other motors were on AT tyres of various kinds.
On or around Sun, 28 Jan 2007 10:57:41 +0000 (GMT), snipped-for-privacy@zhochaka.org.uk ("David G. Bell") enlightened us thusly:
inter-axle diff lock doesn't have too much effect on the steering. It's much worse with a rear axle lock as well. From experience on loose ground, the unloaded end (front, going uphill) will make it stop fairly soon, depending on tyre choice, mind. Then again, if the conditions are suitable, more speed will carry you up things without locking the diff... I've been in positions where locking the diff once it's already stopped on a slope doesn't make it go again, and I've had to back down and do it again with the diff locked.
The other thing about diff lock on upslopes as I see it is it probably gives you a bit more chance of maintaining steering if you do have to reverse down, by making at least one front wheel still turn.
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