Stupid question about diff locks

[Anonymous-0]

Hi, I would only like to know why they didn't put a rear differential lock on old tractors such as the farmall's H and M's. I guess it would have had a lot more traction.
Thanks for any inputs or opinions

 

[Anonymous-0]

good question. rumely had them on their 'lightweight' models in the later twenties. i guess if you want an old ih with a diff lock you will have to buy a B450.

 

[Texas Sand]

I've asked the same question about my 1066, We used it and a Case 1070 to pull some disk plows and it really needed the diff lock. The 1070 had one and could pull a lot easier. Less power, but the traction made the difference.

 

[BOBM25]

Texas Sand, diff lock would have been an option on a 1066. Ours has it.

 

[mkirsch]

1. Were any practical, reliable diff lock designs available at that time?

2. Were the existing diff lock designs patented?

IH refused to pay for to license the 3pt hitch. I would imagine that they wouldn't want to pay to license a diff lock design either.

 

[Harold H]

During that era IHC, and most other manufacturers, considered that independent rear brakes were sufficient for that purpose. If one wheel started slipping or spinning, just add the proper amount of brake on that side. It worked and it kept things simple.

Harold H

 

[Hugh MacKay]

Texas sand: Bob's right diff lock was an option on the 1066. My 1066 had it.

 

[Hugh MacKay]

Harold: Basically I agree, diff lock is not all it's bragged up to be. Unless one has enough front end weight, the wheel that is going to spin, spins anyhow and takes the tractor crossways. I thought they were great on the 30-60 hp tractors doing loader work, here again the front end weight made the diff lock work well.

I had diff lock on my 1066, with single wheels it worked decent if one had enough front end weight. With 20.8x38 duals it was almost useless, one couldn't get enough front end weight for the extra traction, thus the wheel spun anyhow and tractor went crossways.

These guy also have to realize, most manufacturers up to 60 hp used a gear lock, and larger tractors used an oil bath friction clutch. those clutches didn't last very long with duals.