proper use of divider lock, spike, engine brakes

Even though this thread was about 4 yrs old until yesterday, I'll throw this out there...
I was told by those in my company, that the Inter-axle Differential Lock, which I think is being called the Power-Divider here, can be engaged/dis-engaged at any speed, so long as the tires are not spinning before you engage it. In fact it states right below the switch "Shift at any speed except if a wheel is spinning"

 

Ok this is my power divider lesson for a new bee. It might get a little long but Ill try to explain the best I can.
The power divider only locks the front drive axle to the rear drive axle. It dont lock anything side to side so in a stuck situation it will only drive one wheel on each axle assembly even with it locked. You can lock the power divider at any speed and do no damage as long as your rolling and not spinning. If your spinning it will cause damage and can even blow it self apart. If your stuck push in the clutch petal and step on the break before flipping the switch. If you dont step on the break your spinning wheel might not actually come to a stop by just pushing in the clutch ( The flywheel effect ) . If you flip the switch with the wheel still spinning even with out power it may destroy the power divide. If your rolling( even at 100mph ) their is almost no movement in the power divider spider gears (all the power divider is a differential) and its just like locking it with the truck at a stop. Dont go 100mph in a big rig! LOL. You can run all day long with it locked if its slippery. If your on a snow packed road or icy you can leave it locked and cause no damage. Just dont forget to unlock it when you get traction again. If roads are just wet you have to much traction. dont lock it. The reason tandem axle trucks have a power divider is because ALL tandem axle truck ware out the rear drive axle tires faster than the front drive axle tires. This happens because the pivot point on a tandem axle truck when it turns is the front drive axle and the rear drive axle actually skids sideways as the truck turners a corner. This causes the rear drive tires to ware faster. As the tries ware they get shorter. The shorter the tire the more revolutions per mile. If the rear drive tires get shorter faster than the front drive tires they must turn more revolutions per mile. This means the ring gear in the rear ends will turn at different speed also. The difference is very small but its still their. If they were hooked directly together the driveline would bind up and cause breakage. On slippery surfaces the tires can slip ever so slightly and not cause the binding that would happen on dry ground. Thats why the power divider can be left locked in on slippery surfaces. As other have posted on some new trucks the ABS is disarmed with the power divider locked so I wouldn't use it on the highway even if its snow covered or icy unless it was the only way to keep moving. Its more important to stop than go any day. ATC ( Automated Traction Control ) Is completely different. Its breaking being applied to a spinning wheel trying to get it to grab traction and transfer power to the wheel with traction. ( Buy a computer ) It works great on passenger cars ( My 08 Pontiac G6 has it and its impressive ) but it really sucks on big trucks. It dont do the job it made to do. Trucks have way to much torque and it over comes the breaking effect. The computer just keeps calling for more breaking till it locks up the spinning wheel and your done. The last thing I want to be fighting is the breaks when I'm stuck. Hope this helps.

 

I didnt notice how old the tread was till you brought it up. Oh well hope my ramblings help some one thats not sure how a power divider works. Ive found that most drivers dont or the think they do but their wrong.

 

Exactly! When you gain some experience you can use the Jake's during inclimate weather, but be prepared to shut them off quickly! I use them a lot in the snow, not on the ice. Also, when you use them, don't use all cylinders, try just two, or maybe four, better yet, when you're fresh at the learning curve, only use them when in a straight line, this will help you to not jack knife should they slow your tractor down too much too quickly. Always shut them off before nearing the "end" of your planned stop and rely solely on your service brakes to stop.

 

jack break put me in a near jack knife on I77 southbound, WV turnpike in rain. the road was kinda washboard in a corner and I was real lite. tractor scooted out from under me when I let off "gas" peddle ,dam near jack knifed ,and scared the crap out me !!!!!!! all happened a split second.forgot the jack was on and I'm an old timer , (with old timers ,hmm ??)
Always remember CRAP HAPPENS be ready

 

Haha, yes, I've cussed that darn Jake many times! I miss having the old pedal on the floor for my left foot. Never had that problem when we had the pedal on the floor. Jake's weren't coming on unless we intended for them to be on.

 

that was 1 time the old trolley brake came in handy. pulled me right just as I was hitting shoulder, NOT RECOMMENDED!! .YIKES !!!!

 

Thanks for all the advice here guys, very helpful

 

Inter axle is good for any speed same as 4wd differential lock is low speed only, all tires turn at same speed no matter what. Bad roads no cruise or Jake's. There is a purpose for your spike, if you haven't learnt it the hard way you do not want to find out.
Best bet on ice is slow down and leave bigger safe zones

 

best advise on ice? find some ice skates for the truck or park it !!!!! I'm not talking patchy, when it starts to ice over the road , this ships captain heaves to. really. you are the one ultimately in charge ( hence the captain stuff),better late than never. I've driven Cananda , rockies, still haven't found those ice skates. and no I'm not an O/O that runs like hell cause my payment is a gazzillion dollars a month.