BBrown

B

BBrown

New member
Hi Guys,
I've been gone for a couple of years. I found this forum answered a multitude of questions that I had about my RTV900 and its behavior. Well one issue that comes up each winter still haunts me. Seems each winter, on a hill, in deep slippery snow, when I need the locked differential, it simply wont engage. Is there an adjustment or a procedure that isn't obvious. It aint no fun back sliding down the mountain. I do stop the wheels and depress the peddle--for several seconds--just doesn't engage.
 
Have you tried reversing while pressing the pedal? Maybe you are getting frozen slush built up on the linkage. Mine is not always easy to engage but usually pops in after a few seconds with my foot on it.
 
Thanks for the response! No I haven't but will. It's a bit scary to put in reverse when climing a slimy hill but will this afternoon. One question though; I have never really felt or heard the "lock engage". What should I listen for? I'm wondering if it ever reaslly worked properly. Mine is one of the early 900's.
 
Hey......Have never really heard anything on my "05" nor have I felt a detent or anything through the foot engage lever.......I have heard a "klunk" a few times when it disengages but this is NOT common.........I can see the difference though INSTANTLY as when in the "snot" snow in the last few days have kicked it into gear going to the woodpile.......Good luck.....Dennis
 
I don't use mine much but wonder if it's like trying to switch to 4wd while the tranny is under pressure.

For the rare times I do use it, I just step on the pedal and keep my foot on it until it does eventually engage.

BBrown. Have you tried to engage it before going up that hill? Does it engage OK when not under heavy load?
 
I'll try the unloaded/flatland engagement today. I bet it will work. One question though--does turning the steering affect or disengage the lock?
 
Mine acts like the ones on tractors that i have been on, they stay engaged as long as there is a wheel that wants to slip then when there is not a binding together needed the pedal comes back up so when you turn the steering wheel that unloads the differential bind if you are not spinning the rear wheels and it should disengage. I know i don't explain things very well but i have been around equipment all my life and have had to make do with what i have and my dad always said i bought it to use.:myopinion:
 
To keep it locked in I pull up on the knob there by the raise and lower the bed lever......It STAYS locked in until I push down on the floor "engage" pedal thing and release it.......When I want to just use it for a moment or so I hold it down with my heel and when through I let up on my heel...........Has nothing to do with the steering as far as the engagement or disengage goes; but the steering IS affected becoming much wider turns...........Dennis
 
Like all things 4 wheel drive, engage the 4wd lever and or engage the dif lock BEFORE you need it. And unlock after your are done. For the dif, it may require backing and then going forward to get it to disengage.
Don't ever engage either when any tire is turning. Previous posters have said the repair bill is huge when you break the dif lock. And I agree with D&D, it is probably best to use the lock button than hold your foot on the pedal. If you're foot slips and then you try re-engaging, you could have a tire spinning and not realize. The resulting klunk will spell money.
 
Tryed it by engaging in neutral, flat ground. It seemed to work as both rear wheels spun on the ice. Still the drive wheel--passenger side, seemed to have all the torque. Seems strange to me. My 291o doesn't behave anything like this. When engaged and you pull the throatle it definatly spins both wheels--tried it today as I was starting to question myself. TYhe RTV definatly doesn't really lock both rear wheels equally.
 
Next have someone depress the pedal and look on the passenger side between the rear wheel and the HST orange filter. Just below it, on the side of the transmission ahead of the axle, is the lever it pulls forward. Check that it is traveling far enough. Should be a strong spring attached to the lever which is then attached to the cable your foot operates through the pedal in by your left foot. You know what I mean. Perhaps the spring is broken or cable too loose. Mine spring is tight with no slack.
 
Sounds like it's not engaging. Both wheels should spin at the same rate when locked since you "lock" them together. But, both wheels can still spin at the same time when it is unlocked if there is not much traction - like ice or when you have the rear tires off the ground on jackstands.
When I have to use my diff lock there is no question that it is locked because it pulls much better. In 6 years, even with WS tires, I haven't been stuck because of lack of traction.
 
Put her in 2wd, jack the back wheels off the ground and spin one. The other should spin in the opposite direction. Now engage the dif lock. Spin. Both should turn the same way.
 
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