Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2018 20:03:12 -0500
Reply-To: "kimbrennan@mac.com" <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "kimbrennan@mac.com" <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject: Re: Locking differential
In-Reply-To: <0d1401d3842d$4fc4ab00$ef4e0100$@gmail.com>
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in the rear and one in the front). Add a front locker and you’d need to spin all 4 wheels (something I managed when trying to cross a frozen snow drift).
Sent from my iPad
> On Jan 2, 2018, at 7:53 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> That is an extreme condition. Not being familiar with Syncros, what does the "locker" do? Lock the VC? The 4x4 drive truck I had years ago with locking front hubs, locking rear diff, and a "hard" coupling between front and rear had the wheels turning and churning equally, each getting 1/4 of the full power, but this is only useable at low speed in extreme conditions. Would the locker mated with a Peloquin limited slip diff equal this on a Syncro?
>
> Inquiring minds want to know.
>
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Alistair Bell
> Sent: Tuesday, January 2, 2018 11:37 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Locking differential
>
> Got stuck on the flat in similar snow. Very hard crust and about a foot or more of soft loose cold snow below. Locker and mod aggressive vc didn’t get me further forward. Got backed out finally.
>
> Maybe chains on the front would have helped but the crust acted like chocks.
>
> Alistair
>
>> On Jan 2, 2018, at 10:53 AM, Mark McCulley <mark.mcculley@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>>
>> I also have Nokian WRG's 215/60/16 and got quite a bit of experience
>> with them on snow and ice this past 2 weeks in Montana. They were
>> really good on hard ice and moderately deep snow (4" or so). However
>> in deeper wet snow (>
>> 6") I encountered some problems. There were several times when enough
>> snow was pushed in front of the tires that the van could not climb
>> over and got stuck. I had to dig out in front of the tires to get
>> moving again. Locking diff and granny low did not help. I did not try
>> airing down the tires. Got stuck going uphill as well as downhill
>> (driveway). The weather situation was 10" or so of powder, that
>> developed a wind-slab crust, then got wet and consolidated when
>> temperature went above freezing for a while. Glad I had a shovel!
>>
>> https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipO-IyI4DPWtobAfb2gBFtf8gQecpfyysg
>> 9gydlG
>> https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNOl3uAVHihRA5Lov8irvNYL6iOYapH7_
>> -lY2PD
>>
>> -Mark
>>
>> On Mon, Jan 1, 2018 at 9:39 PM, Stephen Edwards
>> <chibicyclist@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Thank you Dennis and David.
>>>
>>> What are the other options exactly? I didn’t know there was more than one!
>>>
>>> As to the tires, I have new 15” wheels from Van-Cafe with Nokian
>>> WRG’s, which right now are doing quite well in the Chicago snow
>>> (we’re getting hit with sub zero temps, and I mean sub zero
>>> Fahrenheit - brrrrrr). I don’t really want to go any knobbier if I can help it.
>>>
>>> Steve.
>>>
>>>> David Boan wrote:
>>>
>>>> I had my transaxle rebuilt a few years ago at German Transaxle, and
>>>> did
>>> the "super-differential" upgrade. I dont tow anything, but notice
>>> improved traction when climbing on steep forest service roads, and on snow and ice.
>>> I dont have any hard numbers, just my impression.
>>>
>>>
>>>> On Jan 1, 2018, at 11:07 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> If willing to go for that kind of coin you may want to look at one
>>>> of
>>> the other limited slip differential options. That would offer
>>> something more useful than just locking the rear at low speeds and
>>> extreme conditions. I would also ask what you are using for tires?
>>> Without traction sufficient for the task you could just end up with 2
>>> tires spinning sinking you into the sand even faster. The Syncro
>>> lockers are robust but they do take a little tricking to get them
>>> locked when needed. Engage at low speed while swerving gently side to
>>> side to get the fingers to line up and slide in before you get stuck.
>>> Some side to side is sometimes needed to get them to unlock.
>>>>
>>>> Dennis
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
>>>> Behalf
>>> Of Stephen Edwards
>>>> Sent: Monday, January 1, 2018 11:38 PM
>>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>>> Subject: Locking differential
>>>>
>>>> Vanagon list:
>>>>
>>>> What’s the verdict on lockers? I have an 88 GL with a Subie
>>>> installed
>>> and occasionally need to pull a boat out of the water. The place
>>> where I go has a sandy beach and the rear wheels get stuck every
>>> time. I need a rebuilt tranny anyway, but I’m told that adding a
>>> locking diff will add
>>> $1500 to the cost. Is it worth it? And aside from the cost - are
>>> there any other downsides to having one?
>>>>
>>>> Steve, in Chicago.
>>>
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