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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
Comments: To: stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM
In-Reply-To:  <0d1401d3842d$4fc4ab00$ef4e0100$@gmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

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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