Hello from New Jersey. New here, 1st post. Welded the spider gears on the rear differential. What could be the actual difference between the CDL locked and unlocked with an open front diff? I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around it. Would it just become front wheel drive spinning the front tires locked or unlocked CDL either way? 1997 Discovery 1, 4' Lift. Stock otherwise. Got it for free from folks with money who wanted it taken off their property.
Thanks in Advance!

 

Wow! Nice folks.

Maybe this will help with wrapping of the head: The CDL locks the front and rear drive shafts together, so one tire off the ground does not cause the others to loose traction. It is a bit difficult to visualize, but works really well.

 

Thankx JohnZo. Most simple explanation on the entire web! So I should have 3 wheel drive when CDL locked with a welded rear diff. I lifted the frontend with the excavator yesterday and found only the front driveshaft/tires spin in gear with CDL locked or unlocked. I had gone completely through the High/Low/CDL Unlock/Lock internals and linkage last year under the console/tunnel and shifter plate cover. Nothing moved at the time cuz it sat for 11 years. I suspect the linkage it is not engaging the CDL although moving freely. I'll tear it down again. The rear driveshaft wanted to spin slightly (with no noise). I assume because CDL is not locking with shifter and the slight movement of the rear driveshaft is the open spider gears in the transfer case. Correct me if I'm wrong. BTW, this thing is pretty cool!

 

Recommend a good video on line that shows all TC internal gears and lock mechanism (including correcting stuck levers) by Britannica Restorations. He's very knowledgeable and funny too. Many short videos about Rover maintenance will save time and effort. Bear Mach Trailfitter videos are also very good.

 

Thanks again Buddy. I'll post my conclusion when I get to it. It's a side project for wheeling only. I'm familiar with the Britannica Restorations guy on YouTube. Cool, older gentleman with experience! The Thread is open for anyone else to chime in.

 

It’s only 3 wheel drive if you lose all your traction on one front wheel. CDL unlocked = All Wheel Drive, CDL locked = Four Wheel Drive.

 

Ok, so I got it on 4 jack stands. Linkage is free. Lever on transfer case from CDL unlock to lock is fictional end to end (out to in and in to out).The linkage on the transfer case is in the CDL locked position. Even checked position with a socket to be sure it was all the way in locked position. Started it up, put it in drive, in high/low for quite a while. I understood when actually locked the driveshafts should be locked together through the CDL driving both driveshafts at the same time. It is not. What now? I'm thinking of removing the inspection plate on the side of the transfer case to see if the fork is sliding on the shaft and the pin is working correctly. What say you guys?

 

I removed the transfer case inspection plate for the CDL shift mechanism to find the CDL lock switch screwed in to far or had hyper extended to the point that the CDL linkage was blocked or held from sliding on the shaft. ALL FIXED! Incredible traction with the welded rear with CDL engaged now. Next for the front is an Eaton Detroit Truetrac Differential.

 

Oh, and thanks to JohnZo for the simple explanation of CDL lock. CDL locks the front and rear driveshafts to drive both differentials. Easy to determine if locked when on a lift or jack stands. BTW, that inspection plate was a real bugger to remove but sure am glad it was there!