Diff locks question

[emax]

There have been reports and discussions about the e-lockers not always engaging as expected and desired. The problem seems to be that the wheel sensors are not sufficient to detect different wheel spin speeds to activate the e-lockers - if I understand correctly.

BUT: When I am off-roading and the differentials need to be locked, it is usually because the wheels are doing just that: spinning at different speeds.

So I'm wondering: why would I need to take a turn or drive a tight circle to force detection of this situation, when the wheels are already spinning at different speeds?

 

[ECrider]

I thought you needed to be in 'neutral' in order to engage front/rear e-lockers. Therefore you cannot be spinning?

I would also suspect there needs to be a little rotation for the e-lockers to mesh? Therefore you might not be locked until you are in 'drive' and have rotated the shafts forward or back a little??

I'm not sure but I would hope that once I understand a little more and have tried them for myself I'll figure what it likes and doesn't!

 

[Hannes01]

I have over the years some diffevent Cars with Different type of lockers.
some mechanical, some manual.
the engaging the lockers is from car to car different.
must try it for myself to find the best way!

 

[Michael H.]

Last weekend I drove a PTO2 and practised engaging and disengaging the lockers. They worked as per the instructions in the “Getting to Grips with your Grenadier” video.

You can engage them when stopped or moving very slowly, with the wheels not spinning.

When you press the button, the diff lock light in the tell-tale cluster flashes, and then goes solid when the locker engages, which took a few metres of travel.

It's best practice to be proactive, engaging the required traction aids (such as lockers) before you need them.

 

[Michael H.]

Explained very well here …

Getting to grips with your Grenadier - INEOS Grenadier Event Hub

mediaevents.ineosgrenadier.com

 

[CountyV8]

+1 Michael don't forget they were journalists on a jolly.

 

[ECrider]

Tks Michael - so were you in neutral at the time of pressing the button(s) or in gear?

 

[Michael H.]

Tks Michael - so were you in neutral at the time of pressing the button(s) or in gear?

I tried it both in neutral (stopped) and in gear (just edging forward) and it worked either way.

 

[ECrider]

Very helpful. Tks

 

[DaveB]

There have been reports and discussions about the e-lockers not always engaging as expected and desired. The problem seems to be that the wheel sensors are not sufficient to detect different wheel spin speeds to activate the e-lockers - if I understand correctly.

BUT: When I am off-roading and the differentials need to be locked, it is usually because the wheels are doing just that: spinning at different speeds.

So I'm wondering: why would I need to take a turn or drive a tight circle to force detection of this situation, when the wheels are already spinning at different speeds?

They don't lock until the wheels are turning.
In all the PT02's I drove none hade the lockers fitted

 

[DaveB]

I thought you needed to be in 'neutral' in order to engage front/rear e-lockers. Therefore you cannot be spinning?

I would also suspect there needs to be a little rotation for the e-lockers to mesh? Therefore you might not be locked until you are in 'drive' and have rotated the shafts forward or back a little??

I'm not sure but I would hope that once I understand a little more and have tried them for myself I'll figure what it likes and doesn't!

No you need to be moving less than 9kmh

 

[Spjnr]

They don't lock until the wheels are turning.
In all the PT02's I drove none hade the lockers fitted

Same with the JL wrangler. I've spent a lot of time manoeuvring these round, they always need a shunt forward or back before they lock or unlock

 

[CountyV8]

Check out this Filthy Motorsports video it covers Eaton E Lockes at about 14 mins in will explain why they have to "move"

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x40WGUtdaLI&t=1113s

 

[emax]

Maybe my question was not expressed clear enough.

why would I need to take a turn or drive a tight circle to force detection of this situation, when the wheels are already spinning at different speeds?

What we know: The wheels have to have different speeds for the E-lockers to engage, ok so far.

But when I'm stuck, I usually engage the E-locks because one wheel is spinning and the other isn't spinning at all or not spinning enough. That's what I have the differential locks for.

So if the E-lockers need significantly different wheel travel to engage, why don't they engage when that is exactly the case as described above? One wheel spins freely without moving the car, and the other doesn't spin enough to move the car forward.

So there actually IS a difference in the wheel rotations - in fact, it's hard to have more difference than that.

What's "driving a curve" supposed to change then?

 

[emax]

Explained very well here …

Getting to grips with your Grenadier - INEOS Grenadier Event Hub

mediaevents.ineosgrenadier.com

This link doesn't work here.

 

[bemax]

Maybe my question was not expressed clear enough.



What we know: The wheels have to have different speeds for the E-lockers to engage, ok so far.

But when I'm stuck, I usually engage the E-locks because one wheel is spinning and the other isn't spinning at all or not spinning enough. That's what I have the differential locks for.

So if the E-lockers need significantly different wheel travel to engage, why don't they engage when that is exactly the case as described above? One wheel spins freely without moving the car, and the other doesn't spin enough to move the car forward.

So there actually IS a difference in the wheel rotations - in fact, it's hard to have more difference than that.

What's "driving a curve" supposed to change then?

Normally you would engage the locks a good time before the wheels spin to make smooth progress with the momentum of your car. As soon as you stand still with a spinning wheel you can rescue the situation by locking the diff. But it would be nicer to lock it before to tackle the obstacle without any wheel spin.

 

[Michael H.]

This link doesn't work here.

Interesting. The link was working a couple of hours ago, but now the video isn't listed.

 

[Michael H.]

What we know: The wheels have to have different speeds for the E-lockers to engage, ok so far.

My experience was that they locked while travelling straight for just a few metres.

 

[DaveB]

This link doesn't work here.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-Tnxp-2dew

 

[emax]

My experience was that they locked while travelling straight for just a few metres.

But this is different from what is published on the Internet and in this forum as well: Drive a tight curve or arc to activate the difflocks.

In the answers I have seen so far, there is no logical explanation for the apparent contradiction.