Differential Lock

K

KubotaTechnician

Member
I know most of you who post are knowledgeable, so I'm not addressing you specifically.....</P>


When you engage the differential lock, you MUST be sitting still and the tires MUST NOT be spinning. </P>


This may sound like common sense, but I just got done doing a full replacement of the differential gears in a Kubota BX22 tractor. This has the exact same diff lock that the RTV has. The BX diff lock was engaged several times at speed. There are four3/8"pins, three had been broken off. These then lodged between the axle gear and the cage, causing severe damage. I replaced the cage, all of the spider gears (three had at least one hairline crack each), bearing surfaces under the idler gears, and the diff lock itself. </P>


It tookmany hours to do the R&R. Easily five, perhaps a bit more, was spent cleaning parts, including the interior of the axle housing. The most cleaning time was spent clearing mud from the externals of the trans and frame. Final cost will be hundreds of dollars in labor, and several hundred in parts. </P>


We installed the new diff lock, and at the owners request, disabled it. I've removed the linkage, and locked the diff lock out. This is the second time he's done this, so he figured it was time to remove this feature. I told him that with the BX backhoe and font loader, he should be able to get the machine out of any situation, no need for the tires to do the work. The RTV doesn't have the luxury of hydraulic arms (YET!!) so spare yourselves the headaches!!</P>


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I have used mine on a couple of occassions. I have done as you said. I also stop completely before releasing it. I have noticed both times after releasing it and stepping on the throttle there is a klunk or thump sound, like it releases late. Is that normal?</P>


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Yup, thats normal. On the RTV, the lock is spring loaded inside the case to default to the released position. Once you unlock it from your end of the linkage, it'll stay engaged until slack on the lock allows it to unlock. At that point, the spring will disengage it with some force.
 
After you use the diff lock it's a good idea tocheck if it disengages. I had mine stick on for least 20 minutes after I had finished using it. The machine felt weird and I finally figured out what was going on. I had to "encourage" it to release. Now I always check it. </P>
 
If possible I try to back up a little bit after I use the diff. lock, it will usually release the tension on the drive train and disengage it, just like locking hubs on a pickup truck, jdh1
 
My father in law has a 2006 RTV 900 and we have been hearing a clunk from the right rear wheel. The dealer is saying the axle u joints are ok, and that it is the locking rear axle that is not dis engaging. Is there a way to get this to disengage? The dealer wants $2500 to take the trans apart and "fix it". My guess is that my father in law use the locking axle and for got to disengage it.

Thanks for the help.
 
Maybe drive in figure 8's to switch around the stresses in the rear axle. That might unlock it.
 
I hate to hear that.. I don't really know about this - fortunately this has never happened to me -yet. I would jack up the rear and spin those wheels and listen to or look to where the clunk is coming from just to make sure it isn't a ujoint.... I looked at this area in my manual and it does have bearings in the differential.... You might be able to get the parts diagram for this area emailed to you from the Messicks site.. http://www.messicks.com/KubotaTractorParts.aspx my manual has it included in the transmission section.
So, is the lever stuck in down position or the knob stuck in the up position? good luck , bordercollie
 
dang! kubotatechnition. you have been a member for a loooong time. if you would have used your premonition of an internet just think.
 
aurthuritis said:
dang! kubotatechnition. you have been a member for a loooong time. if you would have used your premonition of an internet just think.
Click to expand...
We merged with another DB a few years ago. Some of the members came in with the 1969 join date. To many to manually change, so as they post or are noticed I change them. It was a glitch with our DB merge and we just deal with it.
 
It does make sence.I got mine as a demo model so I dont know how it was treated before I owned it.With in disenguaged there is no issues and sounds good but I do nitice when it is locked on turns there is a bit of a clunking noise in mine.The dealer told me its normal but you know how some dealers can be.Ive owned it since 2004 and there is no real change i can tell in noise or sounds..


Mark
 
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