Power divider/axle interlock

[Copperhead]

I cured the traction problem with my recent purchase. I spec'd full lockers in both drive axles. So I have interaxle and lockers. I get into some interesting locations during the winter. I bought the truck in August. With the recent storm in the midwest, I have had to use the lockers about a dozen times so far in a few lots. And I live rural and have a driveway to my house that is a problem in the winter. Just lock up and head up the driveway. Prior to this, It was almost a regular occurence to have to get the wife on an ag tractor and pull me up the drive when I was bobtail and everything was iced over. The $250 additional cost per axle was worth it. And I have to say, that the Michelin XDN2 wide based I put on this truck do a better job overall than many of the tires I used before on standard duals. They bite in pretty good in snow and don't slide as bad on ice. Doesn't mean I plan on setting land speed records on bad roads. Just that in that occasional drop lot that is a challenge, they do a pretty good job.

 

[Tazz]

And I have to say, that the Michelin XDN2 wide based I put on this truck do a better job overall than many of the tires I used before on standard duals. They bite in pretty good in snow and don't slide as bad on ice. Doesn't mean I plan on setting land speed records on bad roads. Just that in that occasional drop lot that is a challenge, they do a pretty good job.

How do they handle being wide based on ruts? We may be trying some on the next round of trucks and that is one of the concerns voiced by drivers.

Down in Florida we had been running Ag tires on most of the harvest trucks due to sugar sand conditions. But when you got up on asphalt they felt squirrelly if the road was rutted up.

 

[Racer X 69]

plus my short term memory, makes me forget.

You don't forget how to breathe, do you?

 

[stonefly]

You are thinking of a posi-lock setup for something like a single axle. On a twin screw the power divider just engages the front rear so it will work constantly. Turning is not a problem with it on. Now you can get full lockers for a twin screw, I think thats what ThatGuy had on his KW.

The power divider is nothing more than a differential with a driver-controlled lock. Once you lock it, it is no longer a differential.

Yes, you can get driver-controlled diff locks for the front and rear axles. I think that's what Injun has on her truck. I wish I had at least one on mine. I've checked out what it would cost for just the rear axle. If I had more disposable cash, I'd probably go for it. I tend to get the tractor stuck at home once in a while. Nothing is paved or graveled; everything is lumpy; and in winter, after a thaw, it's like two kinds of owl ****!

 

[GAnthony]

You don't forget how to breathe, do you?

uh.....let me think.......

i can't recall doing any of that.....breathing stuff.....

 

[Les2]

The power divider is nothing more than a differential with a driver-controlled lock. Once you lock it, it is no longer a differential.

Yes, you can get driver-controlled diff locks for the front and rear axles. I think that's what Injun has on her truck. I wish I had at least one on mine. I've checked out what it would cost for just the rear axle. If I had more disposable cash, I'd probably go for it. I tend to get the tractor stuck at home once in a while. Nothing is paved or graveled; everything is lumpy; and in winter, after a thaw, it's like two kinds of owl sh!t!

That first sentence really makes no sense... But since you don't believe me, just go out and jack up one side of both your drives and try to take off...LOL.

 

[Tim]

That first sentence really makes no sense... But since you don't believe me, just go out and jack up one side of both your drives and try to take off...LOL.

Jackem all off the ground and 2 will be going forward and 2 will be going backwards.

 

[Les2]

Jackem all off the ground and 2 will be going forward and 2 will be going backwards.

Yep! If it was a full locker it would be like posi traction and they all would go forward.

 

[2xR]

I have to say, that the Michelin XDN2 wide based I put on this truck do a better job overall than many of the tires I used before on standard duals. They bite in pretty good in snow and don't slide as bad on ice. Doesn't mean I plan on setting land speed records on bad roads. Just that in that occasional drop lot that is a challenge, they do a pretty good job.

Those tires are the bestest, ever... practically eliminates the need for chains.

 

[Racer X 69]

Those tires are the bestest, ever... practically eliminates the need for chains.

Tell that to the Revenue Ranger when he stops you on Eisenhower when the chain law is active and you don't have chains on.

 

[Racer X 69]

Those tires are the bestest, ever... practically eliminates the need for chains.

Tell that to the Revenue Ranger when he stops you on Eisenhower when the chain law is active and you don't have chains on.

 

[stonefly]

Yep! If it was a full locker it would be like posi traction and they all would go forward.

The spiders in the rear axle allow the left and right wheels to turn at different speeds while receiving equal torque from the drive shaft.

The spiders in the front axle allow the left and right wheels to turn at different speeds while receiving equal torque from the drive shaft.

The spiders in the power divider allow the rear axle and the front axle to turn at different speeds while receiving equal torque from the drive shaft.



The differential is not a perfect solution to the problem of wheels or axles turning at different speeds. In the case of a single axle, if one wheel is on ice and the other on dry, the wheel on ice will simply spin and there is no substantial torque for either wheel. That is the shortcoming of the differential. The problem is solved by the use of the limited slip differential, which uses clutches, or by the outright differential lock, which overrides the spiders completely.

Most trucks do not have limited slip differentials in either of the two tandem axles, and neither do they have diff locks. When you spec a truck, you can pay extra and get the diff locks, like Copperhead did. Most tandem axle trucks do have the driver controlled diff lock for the inter-axle differential, also known as the power divider, or chunk. When you lock the power divider, both carriers in the tandem axles turn at the same rpm, exactly the same as if you diff lock a single axle where both wheels would turn at the same rpm.

 

[stonefly]

The power divider is nothing more than a differential with a driver-controlled lock. Once you lock it, it is no longer a differential.

That first sentence really makes no sense... But since you don't believe me, just go out and jack up one side of both your drives and try to take off...LOL.

If the power divider is not locked, then you only have to jack up one wheel, even on dry, level ground, and you ain't goin' nowhere.

If you lock the power divider, then you'd have to jack up a wheel on the other axle in order to remain stationary. You'd have two spinning.

With the chunk unlocked, one spinning wheel (from either axle) will keep you stuck.

With the chunk locked, two spinning wheels (one on each axle) will keep you stuck.

Locking the chunk means the front axle and the rear axle are locked together and must turn at the same speed or something has to break. If you're in snow or mud and/or on lumpy ground, and you throw in the inter-axle diff lock, you'll see two hubs spinning, one on each axle. It could be the two lefts, the two rights, or a left from one axle and a right from the other.

If you throw out the lock, you'll probably see only one hub spinning, any one of the four.

 

[stonefly]

I know you're not going to believe that, but I tried.

Will you explain to me what you think the power divider does? It's there for a reason. What is your take on it?

 

[stonefly]

I apologize.

 

[Les2]

I apologize.

Did you fart...?lol

I think you pretty much got. I just skimmed over your post cause I'm on my phone and my youngest keeps shoving stuff in my face...lol. Gotta love kids.

Actually you explained it better than I did or could.

 

[Copperhead]

How do they handle being wide based on ruts? We may be trying some on the next round of trucks and that is one of the concerns voiced by drivers.

Down in Florida we had been running Ag tires on most of the harvest trucks due to sugar sand conditions. But when you got up on asphalt they felt squirrelly if the road was rutted up.

I have not had any different issues than with standard drive tires on roadway ruts. Have not experienced the "squirrelly" thing you mentioned. The handling is great. They even handled great in dealing with intermittent thick (2-3") patches of ice on roadways during the recent storms in the Upper Midwest. No pulling to the side. Tracked great. I have no regrets having the XDN2 wide based tires put on when I ordered the truck.

To another point, sure, you would still have to chain up when Colorado or whomever decided to put up the chain law. Well, partially true. In Colorado, you can use Autosocks instead of chains. Much easier alternative. But for those of us that do not deal with chain laws and don't carry iron, the XDN2's take you places. For the few times a year I go into Colorado and the potential for chain law going up, Autosocks are my choice.

 

[Tim]

I have not had any different issues than with standard drive tires on roadway ruts. Have not experienced the "squirrelly" thing you mentioned. The handling is great. They even handled great in dealing with intermittent thick (2-3") patches of ice on roadways during the recent storms in the Upper Midwest. No pulling to the side. Tracked great. I have no regrets having the XDN2 wide based tires put on when I ordered the truck.

To another point, sure, you would still have to chain up when Colorado or whomever decided to put up the chain law. Well, partially true. In Colorado, you can use Autosocks instead of chains. Much easier alternative. But for those of us that do not deal with chain laws and don't carry iron, the XDN2's take you places. For the few times a year I go into Colorado and the potential for chain law going up, Autosocks are my choice.

Autosocks?

 

[GAnthony]

Autosocks?

neat idea/invention, but i wouldn't use them for my car....

Autosock

 

[Duck]

neat idea/invention, but i wouldn't use them for my car....

Autosock

Looks like tarps for tires.

"Hey, it's snowing, ... better gift-wrap them tires!"