Power Divider/Inter Axle on Ice

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Pinner, Feb 27, 2015.

  1. Pinner

    Pinner Medium Load Member

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    Occasionally I read an "Advice" type thread and have noticed some drivers give advice I wouldn't agree with...

    Power divider on slick roads for example, why would you not want it engaged ?
     
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  3. Ebola Guy

    Ebola Guy Heavy Load Member

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    Maybe you don't need it at the time. Slick roads does not automatically mean wheel slippage.
     
  4. Pinner

    Pinner Medium Load Member

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    Also I've read drivers don't think it's useful at speed
     
  5. rank

    rank Road Train Member

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    Worried about wrecking it.
     
  6. Freddy57

    Freddy57 Road Train Member

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    I don't run mine locked on ice simply because of what happens when you let off the throttle. If both drive axles stop rolling, you will start to jackknife rather quickly. I only engage to get rolling on the road and then release it.
     
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  7. Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

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    I'm not sure I understand your logic, unless you are also using your jack brakes set on high. Normally when you let off the throttle you coast with very little or no resistance from engine compression (without the jake on), the wheels don't "stop rolling"... at least from my experience engaging the inter axle lock when underway. If you have the jakes on and you let off the throttle without the IAL engaged, then you are slowing one side of the drives and in my experience that will begin a yaw and unless you take corrective action (like getting back on the throttle and steering into the yaw) you WILL jackknife. I've used the IAL for getting over mountain passes, chained or unchained, using the jake on descents (with low jake and paying careful attention to any tendency for the trailer to come around, ready to cancel jake and correct it). I'd NEVER want to try that without IAL engaged.

    I've driven for extended periods with the IAL engaged in ice storms and icy conditions. I disengage once the roads are bare and dry. Some of our friends from the Great White North note they engage when the snow starts falling and disengage come springtime.
     
  8. Prairie Boy

    Prairie Boy Road Train Member

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    I used to lock my Interaxle Lock Power Divider) in the fall and turn it off in the spring. Now, axle locks is a whole different story. Years ago Interaxle was not recommended over 50 MPH but new designs you can run at any speed.
     
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  9. Fajo

    Fajo The Dark Knight

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    Why just break 4 tires loose on the ice when you can break all 8 loose... I hear a ditch calling peoples name.
     
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  10. Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

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    ??? Are you saying that with power to all 8 drives you have a greater tendency to lose traction?

    Doesn't make sense to me, and doesn't square with my experience driving with and without the IAL. Without it there's a greater tendency to break traction on one side and begin a yaw. With it it's much harder to break traction, even if I'm trying to test the limits of traction during acceleration.

    Try driving over ice in a parking lot in 2nd or 3rd or 4th on low rpm, then goose it without IAL engaged and see the results. Compare it when you engage IAL. Try it with and without the jake set on high and let off the throttle at about 1500 rpm. Try to break traction in both situations and compare whether you yaw or not.

    I'll take IAL engaged over not engaged for better control of EQUAL traction across both sides.
     
  11. Ezrider_48501

    Ezrider_48501 Road Train Member

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    its not about a greater tenancy to loose traction its a greater tendency to loose control.
     
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