Did you try doing this "unlocked" to see what happens?? I think you should try my suggestion.

 

I did it both "locked" and "unlocked" with the same result.

 

OK Well let me think..... I am fairly sure (via the working out which directions the diffs and pinions turn.. that the drive shafts.. unlike the axles.. will always turn the opposite direction of each other because that is how the truck drives. Otherwise the rear axle would go backwards and the front axle would go forwards.. Does that make sense???

I think the reason why PT said they will spin the same way if locked or the opposite way if unlocked is because thats how an axle works when locked or unlocked and I assume he was thinking it works the same way. (and it might and I may be COMPLETELY wrong) So this is why I suggest leaving one end on the ground and spinning the drive shaft with the trans in neutral.

 

I should add.. the reason I think this.. is because the front pinion rotates down and the rear pinion rotates up during acceleration.. IIRC.. meaning they are turning different directions. Locking this just means they spin at the same amount of rotations instead of path of least resistance..

I vote put the front on jackstands.. locked the CDL and hit the gas.. If you dont move your cdl doesnt lock. If you go flying off the jackstands it works

 

When locked both driveshafts will turn in the same direction. The differentials are specific for front and rear. It's not just the same axle flipped around the other way. The center diff internals function pretty much the same way as a locking differential in a third member.

 

Uhh actually it's the exact same axle flipped around.. the diffs are interchangeable front and rear.. With the front running on the coast side of the gear unless you have aftermarket reverse cut gears. Which would make sense that the shafts turn the same direction. Like I said I'm not 100% on the directions in which the drive shafts turn because I have never tried it myself just trying to imagine how it worked in my head.

 

For the sake of everyone who might come across this. Heres a vid to the inner workings of the LT230 difflock mechanism.

 

if you need any parts I have a dismantled LT230

 

I stand corrected about the diffs, I did not know they would interchange. I am however positive that the driveshafts rotate in the same direction.

 

OK, well, I think we all agree that it is F'd up and that was the answer I was seeking (although not the result I wanted). I will have to keep it as it is right now. I can't be without a truck right now and it doesn't clear the garage door which means working on it outside. I will have to wait until warmer weather.

Jake, I will let you know what I plan to do. I may just opt to swap it for a known working CDL.