RE: (ET) Transaxle Service

["Elie, Larry (L.D.)" <lelie ford com>]

I agree Monty, this is becoming an interesting thread; particularly;

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Monty McGraw [mailto:mmcgraw74 hotmail com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2000 5:09 PM
To: elec-trak mailing list
Subject: Re: (ET) Transaxle Service
 " 

This is an interesting thread.  It got me reading the "Peerless Mechanic's Handbook

for the ElecTrak Garden Tractor" that was buried inside my Electrak Service Manual.

<snip>

E-8M      1216

E-10M    1216

E-12        2318 - although only one drive belt instead of the two on the E-15 and -20

E-15        2318

E-20        2318

 

The 2300 also had a Duo-Trak (trademark Illinois Toolworks) limited slip differential

(not a locked differential).  The manual says:

 

"It seems that some people are expecting this differential to perform as a "locked

differential" and the following information is given to clear up any confusion that may

be present.

 

The standard bevel gear differential is a torque balancing device in which the low

tractive and high tractive wheels deliver the same amount of torque.  Therefore, when

you experience low traction on one wheel the other wheel delivers exactly the same

traction.  The extreme example of this is when one wheel spins freely and the other

wheel does not move, or in other words, you do not have any traction to move the

vehicle.

 

The "Limited Slip Differential" is built in such a manner that an internal drag is

developed in the differential gears so that the driving torque is more uniformly

distributed between the two driving wheels.  This gives superior traction (at least

50% more) in marginal situations such as snow plowing, turning on the side of a hill,

hill climbing and operating on wet grass.

 

However, this feature cannot be demonstrated by jacking one wheel off the ground

or placing one wheel in an extremely slippery position.

 

To sum it up, the "Limited Slip Differential" will allow the operator to use his unit in

some situations where the unit with a standard differential cannot be used.  At the

same time there are certain extreme conditions in which the "Limited Slip Differential"

cannot be expected to provide traction.

 

It should be noted that the "Limited Slip Differential" retains the feature of allowing

the outside wheel to rotate faster than the inside wheel when making a turn.  This

is the main disadvantage of a "Locked Differential" which results in very difficult

steering." 

 

<snip>

"

 

Does this mean ALL 2300 series have a limited-slip differential, or that it was an option of 

some sort? It specifically states that you can't just jack up one wheel to find out, but I find is

a bit hard to believe there is anything like a limited slip in my E12. I have spun too many wheels

pushing snow on ice; it's always just a one wheel spin.  Now I have to look up Duo-Track, there

are many ways to do limited-slip, and the bevel gear may only be part of the story.  Some involve

friction clutches internal to the transmission.  If so, mine may be worn.

 

Larry Elie