Can't disengage centre diff ?

[Shayne]

97 UK spec manual 24 valve 80 Amazon .

It had the CDL modification before i bought it someone added a scond hazard light swith so so it was optional in low box .

And I've buggered things up when i changed the clutch i think . Been goin around in circles today in a gravel car park plugging and unplugging electrical connections on the transfer box , trying low box high box locking front and rear , pressing the added button and i'm stumped . Whatever i do a rear wheel skips during full lock turns ?

Any ideas ?

 

[Michael80]

Do you hear the center diff lock working with the ignition on, engine off?

 

[Michael80]

I have had one do it before, the CDL would engage and not come out. The wiring into the CDL had a broken wire and would only come out if the loom was wiggled.

 

[Towpack]

Can you hear the actuator operate when you select disengage? A separate switch on the xfer box operates the diff light on the dash. A bit of a pain but try jacking all four wheels up which will completely unload the transmission. If that doesn't cure it and you can hear the actuator operating, I'd say it's a mechanical fault.

 

[Shayne]

Working away right now , and just broke my laptop screen grrr . Need the truck so shall i remove front or rear prop for 2wd ?

 

[Shayne]

Either i know gives 2wd i meant in relation to current problem i mean

 

[Towpack]

The rear is the stronger of the two axle diffs so I'd remove the front prop.

 

[Gav missin]

You can jump the cdl via 12v on the plug. There's 2 pins and 3 pins in rows in the plug. The 2 pins on their own are the power ones. Put 12v direct to them for no more than 4/5 seconds. If it doesn't make any noise then reverse the polarity on them again for no more than 5 seconds. You will hear it run. I've unjamed mine recently using this method.

 

[Shayne]

I'm not sure I'd hear actuator anyway i'm half deaf . Connect 2 big grey sockets and dash cdl light behaves as it should .

Could wind up just have it so tight that it can't mechanically release ?

 

[Gav missin]

Its possible but you would really know about it if it was that wound up. Mine physically stops the truck in a matter of a few yards at even a slight turn when locked in high range. You can disengage the switch so cdl light is out. Its possible to unbolt the cdl (4 xm12) easier if body lifted and by hand turn back the wheel inside to unlock it. Dont wind it back until its tight though it needs a little tolerance.

 

[Gav missin]

Jacking a wheel will tell you if its wound up. It will spin back. This should also release it.

 

[Shayne]

Traveled all night and been busy all day so i'm not even going to try work out the mechanics of it but looking at the props had me remove the rear one which was hydro locked and fought me . A quick lap i removed my fear of doing more damage before i get the chance to look deeper .

 

[Gav missin]

You will have a viscous coupling on your transfer box Shayne as yours is a later truck isn't it. They have been known to seize. I believe they can be removed altogether. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will either confirm or dismiss.

 

[Shayne]

That seems a fair bet Gav locked but not exactly locked runs fine at speed and then suddenly a hair raising hiccup wobble

 

[frank rabbets]

When taking the prop off release the grease nipple and this will allow you to pull the flange off easily as locked grease comes out.
I removed my Viscous Coupling over fear it might seize. Cannot tell the difference. Have to be careful to align the oil pump drive? with grease to hold in place when putting cover back on. No change to driving characteristics at all and have done thousands of miles.
Have you tried a good distance in reverse. Mine seizes unless I do this. In forward windup the only way to release it is to reverse and do a few turns as well if this does not work straight away.

 

[Shayne]

Thanks for that Frank done a few laps flat out in reverse in a large gravel car park that probably holds about 300 cars just one day a year and all is good .

Refitting the rear prop though I wonder if i just couldn't see the forest for trees because it came to mind that the last time it was refitted it was after 10pm freezing cold dark and pissing down , did i fit the prop the wrong way around , slider at the rear ?

I will never know now but its a possibility .

 

[frank rabbets]

Slider usually goes to the front. Just better protected there I guess.

 

[Shayne]

Yeah i can't really figure the mechanics of it i'm just left wondering if the prop was wrong way then perhaps it was binding , perhaps stressing the transfer viscous . I took it off about a week ago thinking something didn't look right and guessing it was hydro locked so maybe i just didn't twig it was the wrong way around .