LINK AS-TRACK 3230958 - Caterpillar

Personal injury or death can result from limited steering control.Engaging the differential lock when the machine is moving can limit steering control.Do not engage differential lock when machine is moving at high speed because steering control will be limited.
Do not engage the differential lock with one wheel spinning.Reduce engine rpm, until the wheel stops spinning, before depressing the differential lock pedal.
Illustration 1 g01623439
Differential lock (1) Jaw (2) Jaw (3) Spring (4) Hydraulic cylinder (5) PistonWhen one drive wheel has poor traction, the wheel turns freely. This action causes a loss of power which is stopped by the differential lock. This is done by sending power to both wheels through a jaw clutch.The operator must keep the differential lock switch depressed in order to keep the jaw clutches engaged. When the differential lock is engaged, both wheels rotate at the same speed. Power is divided proportionally by the traction of the tires. Loss of power is prevented by not allowing one wheel to turn freely. Releasing the switch releases the differential lock.Pressurized fluid is allowed to go from the differential lock valve to hydraulic cylinder (4) when the differential lock switch is pushed down. The pressurized fluid pushes piston (5) to the inside. The piston pushes jaw (1) to the inside. Splines connect jaw (1) to the axle shaft. Jaw (1) engages jaw (2). Splines connect jaw (2) to the differential housing. The pinions can not move in relation to the differential housing. This gives the same effect as one solid axle drive.When the switch is released, the pressurized fluid to hydraulic cylinder (4) is stopped. The force of the springs push piston (5) to the outside. Jaw (1) moves to the outside and jaw (1) is not engaged with jaw (2). The springs keep the jaws from being engaged, until pressure fluid is sent to the hydraulic cylinder. When the differential lock is not engaged, the operation of the differential is normal.