New member intro and couple questions

[Fordtech86]

Hi y’all,just found this forum about a week ago and amazed at the wealth of knowledge on here, I’m not really new to tractors,grew up on my grandparents 600 acre farm back in the late 80s-early 90s,finally able to move our new family out of the city about a year and half ago,will tell y’all about the best penny I ever spent later,don’t want to lose friends so soon lol,but to my question or two,have l3200,question with diff lock,is it supposed to stay engaged after pressing on foot lever or do I need to keep my foot down on it to stay engaged,have no manual for tractor,second question,broke a tooth on LP box blade,can I replace just the tooth or have to get the whole scarifer?

 

[mdhughes]

You have to keep your foot down on it. Make sure that the wheels aren't turning when you engage the diff lock.

You can replace just the "tooth". They should be two dimples holding it on, drill them out and you can know the tooth off. Then use a punch to dimple the new one.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

The diff lock is spring loaded and for temporary use, so yes you need to keep your foot on the pedal to keep it engaged.

 

[Fordtech86]

Thank y’all for the fast response,kind of what I figured,but just thought it’s a pita with a gear tractor in certain situations where I’ve needed the lock to keep it engaged

 

[D2Cat]

Remember, when you have the differential lock engaged you have very little steering because both rear wheels are turning equally.

 

[Fordtech86]

The times I’ve needed it have been pulling a two bottom plow and pulling my f250 out or the mud buried to the doors,live in some low ground,spring time it’s very soft here,right now it’s concrete,was prepping for deer plots last weekend,had a good rain the day before but still needed 4wd to pull the plow,wish the diff would stay locked

 

[troverman]

I don't see a problem with engaging the diff lock with a wheel already spinning, especially in a low gear. The diff lock doesn't engage instantly anyway, at least one wheel revolution is required to get the pin to engage in the differential. I've engaged my diff lock for years in this manner...I start slipping in gear with a wheel spinning...step down on lever...other wheel begins to spin. No problem.

I can engage the rear diff lock on my Ford Super Duty at speeds of up to 15mph...and it basically uses an electric solenoid to accomplish the same thing your foot does on the tractor. No worries about breakage.