I drove 700 miles with the power divider lock in

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by usatrucker01, Jan 2, 2012.

  1. Semi Crazy

    Semi Crazy Road Train Member

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    fixed it for ya!
     
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  3. EZ Money

    EZ Money Road Train Member


    Good point!!
     
  4. Bill104

    Bill104 <b>Pepsiholic</b>

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    I will never admit that I drive with my feet, elbos, or knees while driving.
     
  5. gravdigr

    gravdigr Road Train Member

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    I was wondering about this as well. It seems my power divider makes both rear axles drive, but it seems they both have open differentials rather than lockers or positraction (learned this backing out of my driveway yesterday in a snowstorm). In this case driving any distance really shouldn't cause any mechanical damage correct? Was driving in some bad snow yesterday in PA up 22 and 422 headed towards erie and just kept it locked in on the snow covered roads.

    btw also learned bobtail is total poop for traction in snow. Got much better once I got to my empty trailer and hooked up.
     
  6. Infosaur

    Infosaur Road Train Member

    Of course it is, you're basicly driving "Half" a vehicle. Tractors are designed to work WITH trailers as a full unit. You'll find the brakes don't work so good-er in snow when bobtail too, so watch yourself.

    Actually I ran with the PDL locked the whole 150 mile run home from NYC once in snow. Ugh. That partucular truck has an alarm on the PDL that sounds like a low air warning. And it took 4 hours! It didn't break the truck, but I was ready to rip that alarm out by the time I hit the yard!
     
  7. Kittyfoot

    Kittyfoot Crusty Ancient

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    Sorrento, Louisiana
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    I will do this one more time and then I give up.

    In normal driving, your rear axle is your main drive axle. Both axles are open type unless specifically equipped with a locker (positraction) which is put in the rear axle.

    Your Power Divider transfers power to the front tandem so both axles are driven equally for more traction. It does not lock either axle side to side.

    The Power Divider is for use in low-traction situations only. It can be engaged while rolling (EG when approaching a slippery hill,etc) as long as your wheels are not spinning or on a curve. Flip your switch and depress clutch briefly; likewise to disengage.

    That's it, that's all. Bye now.
     
    Boardhauler Thanks this.
  8. bender

    bender Road Train Member

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    Don't Kid Yourself
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    A power divider is a way to allow two drive axles to share the same power input equally and coexist in the same vehicle without causing each others destruction in the process.

    A power divider could be compared to a marriage of sorts. Lets say a man and a women just cannot be without each other, but at the same time do not get along so well (tandem drives or rear ends) so they search for a way to stay together without all the friction (open marriage) and this allows for cohabitation without destruction because of the introduction of a power divider.

    Now when you flip the switch and lock the power divider, the open marriage element is removed.
     
  9. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    if and when you ever get a bad rear end. let me know which one you get fixed.

    cuz the first one i had replaced. was when i got stuck and popped the shaft. that was the front.
    the second one i replaced. was old and losing it's teeth. it was also the front.

    next time you get stuck in snow. watch which tire spins before you kick the divider in. cuz i always see the front tires spin.

    and i don't see any reason why a rear end would go out with the divider kicked in. it's the same rear end as the front. and if the front can go over 1 million miles. the rear can go forever. cuz it never gets used. it's just a floater till the switch is kicked in.
     
  10. FLATBED

    FLATBED Road Train Member

    cuz i always see the front tires spin.:biggrin_25521:

    Thats the front drive axle RIGHT
     
  11. Superhauler

    Superhauler TEACHER OF MEN

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    Jan 30, 2010
    keep stroking.
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    if it aint broke dont worry about it until it does!!
     
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