Differential lock inop

[kryten]

The way it was explained to me years ago was in normal conditions each wheel will put down 25% of the load. If in this configuration 1 wheel looses traction 100% of the power will go to that wheel. Engage the power divider and each diff will receive 50%. If one wheel now looses traction all the power of that diff will go to that wheel. But you still have 50% of the trucks power still going to the other axle, 25% per wheel. If the loss of traction is bad enough you can have 1 wheel spinning on each axle.

Now to get into the diff locks. Most trucks that run the mountains will have a diff lock of some kind. I have what I call a "3 way" diff lock. Only 1 axle on my truck locks the wheels together so if I get into trouble only one wheel will let loose and as long as one of the other 3 wheel has traction I keep moving. With my setup I can still turn with it engaged. I would think most train trucks run a "4 way" locker. Both axles will lock giving maximum traction. With this set up you can't turn, all that will happen is you push the front end in whatever direction you're pointed.