When do you use your CDL?

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Gottagetone

Gottagetone

10 Year
Joined
May 27, 2011
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1,020
Location
Austin, Texas
I rode with a Bill Burke trained certified offroad instructor recently in his 80 series LC. He shifted in to L and then turned on his CDL and left it on the whole time we were on dirt. So when do you use your CDL? Do you leave it on all the time while offroad?
 
Unless I'm making a tight turn.

Doesn't hurt anything and makes everything easier. Same with the rear, just cycle it in the tight stuff.
 
I always try to remember enable the CDL whenever I leave the pavement. I usually end up using low to have more control breaking going down inclines.
 
I leave mine unlocked until I get to a part on the trail where I may need additional traction. Otherwise I leave it off. If the trail is twisty and the drivetrain feels like it's still in a bind I won't unlock until I can drive in a straight line for a little bit to release any built up tension from a difficult section or a very tight section where it's required to be locked.
 
ENGINE er said:
Unless I'm making a tight turn.

Doesn't hurt anything and makes everything easier. Same with the rear, just cycle it in the tight stuff.
Click to expand...
x2 regarding the CDL... otherwise, I sometimes forget to lock it when I need it. Keeping it locked seems to preserve trail a little more too.... or so I suspect. But the F&R, only locked when needed.
 
Anytime you are not on paved terra firma. I say this only so that it gets used and everything stays in good working order. I will only use front lock when I'm looking at possibly getting stuck, same with low. Although I'll use low for steep inclines, up or down and for control going over very techical sections (read: big rocks, stumps etc.).
 
Bill Burke has an 80 now? That is sweet. When he did his training in Uwharrie he brought his Green D90.

I lock the CDL when I think the power transfer front to rear is going to negatively affect my progress. This is most of the time off road unless I am in a tight turn. I have it locked 99.999% when I am climbing. the .001% is when I forget. ;<)

I will say it needs to be exercised (along with the rear if you have it). Two weeks ago, we were at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, driving in sand and it took a while to engage which I did not like.

Have fun!
 
I leave mine locked all the time. That way I never forget to turn it on. When I started wheeling the 100 I used to forget to turn it on all the time so now I just leave it on permanently. Seems fine.
 
^ you leave yours on on the road?
 
I'm confused?

If low range is selected via the shifter (on 1998) I thought the CDL button (center lock activated) does not do anything?

I thought the CDL button only works in the high range, but not the rear diff lock.

The 7 pin mod has been done for a few months now.
 
Look in the FAQ for how it works on the 98 & 99 my. On 2000+ years it is completely selectable in high or low.

Sent from my phone using IH8MUD
 
I use it when the trail starts to get a little nastier or I lose a little bit of traction. I generally only lock the rear for particularly s***ty parts of trails or when I'm otherwise stuck. That damn rear locker has kept me from ever getting to use my winch :bang:
 
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