Transfer box, difflocks etc

Hello w4hsa,

On a W460 Chassis there is no centre Diff. lock. This vehicle is part time 4x4, hence does not need any centre Diff.; or for that matter, a centre Diff. lock.

All you have is low and high ratio gear selection and a neutral gear selection to enable other utilities to be powered off the transfer box.

The fact, you were able to move more easily after your single wheel spin was to do with you, going into either four-wheel drive mode and, or, you engaged low ratio gear selection as well. The steering wheel wanting to go in a straight a head position was to do with the front diff. being engaged and locked-in.

Since your diff. lock light did not light up, confirms, either, the bulb not working or there is a circuit failure of some sort that needs investigation.

The front lever you pull works the front diff. lock and the rear lever operates the rear diff. lock.

The transfer box gear selection works in an “n-shape”.

Unfortunately, my attempts to represent this diagrammatical has failed. I hope, I can come across in explaining, what would have meant, a “thousand words”.

If you imagine the n-shape as havening the following given, numbers as the gear stops; the key-table below tells what these positions mean.

Where 1) is the bottom left side of the n-shape, 2) is the top left, bend of n-shape, 3) is the top-right, bend of the n-shape, 4) small way down ward of the right side, of the n-shape, finally, 5) represents the bottom right of the n-shape.

1) 2 wheel drive, in high ratio. Basically, street driving only.
2) 4 wheel drive, in high ratio. Off road use, where there is loose or soft ground surface. (Gear lever moved forward, from bottom, left to top, left).
3) Same as 2, expect the gear lever is now lined up to select neutral or low gear ratio selection. (Gear lever moved right ward, from top left to top right).
4) Neutral gear, for power take off (PTO) to other utility units like pumps, generators etc. The car can be engaged in normal gears, but when neutral is selected at the transfer box, then, there would be no vehicle transmission at all, the vehicle remains stationery. (Gear lever moved rearwards, but only part way rearwards, approximately, less than half way of total, rear wards movement allowed.
5) 4 wheel drive, in low ratio. (Gear lever moved the full and final stop rearwards).

Regards,