Take it easy on me, I'm new to this 4x4 business

[anonymous-user]

Stoopid question alert

Ok, I have to ask it.... Can someone explain to me what the H/L gear stick does on a Disco 2, and where and how one might go about using the advantages it brings? I understand it alters the gear ratios?

Cheers

Iain

[100SRV]

Hi,
the H/L gear lever controls the two-speed transfer gearbox which is bolted to the back of the main gearbox, "H" is the high ratio you use normally, "L" has a reduction of 3.32:1 so you travel a third of the speed for a given engine speed in a certain gear - also it acts as a torque multiplier allowing you to pull, climb or descend heavy or steep hills - assuming you have traction. It helps to be able to go slow in tight terrain such as woods...


100SRV

[anonymous-user]

Nice one, thanks for your answer.

To engage this do you need to be at a standstill and double de-clutch? Do you then just drive as normal?


Cheers

Iain

[JWH]

Mac. said:

Nice one, thanks for your answer.

To engage this do you need to be at a standstill and double de-clutch? Do you then just drive as normal?


Cheers

Iain

Not absolutley necessary to be at a standstill, some double de-clutching and rev matching makes it possible on the move but, for now at least, I'd stick with doing it while you're stopped. If you try while moving clearly it's going to be easier to go from low to high on the move than the other way round.

[ilaishley]

Or as in many cases it is for hanging the strap of your Gucci or Prada handbag from to keep it secure whilst negotiating speed bumps on the school run :-)

[thinfourth2]

It is also very useful when towing as instead of slipping the clutch for reversing stick it in low and just slowly crawl along


Also useful for confusing folk as you have a second neutral on the High Low lever

[Zumbruk]

ilaishley said:

Or as in many cases it is for hanging the strap of your Gucci or Prada handbag from to keep it secure whilst negotiating speed bumps on the school run :-)

Surely it's for hanging the poly bag with the Indian/Chinese takeway in it from?

[ilaishley]

Zumbruk said:

ilaishley said:

Or as in many cases it is for hanging the strap of your Gucci or Prada handbag from to keep it secure whilst negotiating speed bumps on the school run :-)

Surely it's for hanging the poly bag with the Indian/Chinese takeway in it from?

You're quite right but that's for serious off-roaders only. No school runner would even consider that cunning use of the stick.

[Steve_D]

As a lad we had a car into the garage on three occasions with the complaint of rough running but could find nothing wrong. When the customer came to collect it the boss asked the lady to take him out and demonstrate the problem.
She got in, pulled out the choke, and hung here handbag on it.
She genuinely believed that was what the knob was for.

Steve

[Blackpig2]

ilaishley said:

Zumbruk said:

ilaishley said:

Or as in many cases it is for hanging the strap of your Gucci or Prada handbag from to keep it secure whilst negotiating speed bumps on the school run :-)

Surely it's for hanging the poly bag with the Indian/Chinese takeway in it from?

You're quite right but that's for serious off-roaders only. No school runner would even consider that cunning use of the stick.

Mines already got a special 'Curry Hook' !! on the left side of center console..

[anonymous-user]

I've got the 'curry hook' too

Cheers guys, I popped it into Low Ratio the other day just to experiment. It's a strange sensation doing 15mph flat out in fourth gear

I'm loving Disco ownership, 370 miles to half a tank of diesel, dogs in the back, wafting along at 60mph at 1500rpm. Happy days.

[100SRV]

TVR Moneypit said:

I'm sure that I read somewhere that it wasn't a good idea to change at anything more than 5mph.

With practice you can shift between ranges up to maximum speed in Low ratio - for a 1.2 ratio transfer box (as in manual Discovery) 5th low is very close in ratio to 3rd in high...I can shift between ranges between 10 - 20mph depending upon conditions.

Chances are that your vehicle will have never been out of HR diffs unlocked, so expect the lever to be very stiff..... No, you dont understand. I mean VERY, VERY STIFF.

...but the H/N/L lever on my truck has had plenty of exercise...


Also, unless you are in some really deep mud, or really slippery snow / ice, it's not such a good idea to lock the diffs.

Lock the centre differential whenever there is a risk that one or more wheels will lose traction - I heard it explained that you engage centre diff-lock when you are "going further than you'd take a saloon car"!

[100SRV]

TVR Moneypit said:

100SRV said:

TVR Moneypit said:

I'm sure that I read somewhere that it wasn't a good idea to change at anything more than 5mph.

With practice you can shift between ranges up to maximum speed in Low ratio - for a 1.2 ratio transfer box (as in manual Discovery) 5th low is very close in ratio to 3rd in high...I can shift between ranges between 10 - 20mph depending upon conditions.

Chances are that your vehicle will have never been out of HR diffs unlocked, so expect the lever to be very stiff..... No, you dont understand. I mean VERY, VERY STIFF.

...but the H/N/L lever on my truck has had plenty of exercise...


Also, unless you are in some really deep mud, or really slippery snow / ice, it's not such a good idea to lock the diffs.

Lock the centre differential whenever there is a risk that one or more wheels will lose traction - I heard it explained that you engage centre diff-lock when you are "going further than you'd take a saloon car"!

80% of the time off road, I find that diff lock aint needed.

The only time I do use it is in icy / snowy conditions, very, very steep gravel inclines, (as in you'd need to scramble up it on your hands and knees), or in thick, gooey mud.

I agree but the necessity for engaging the centre diff-lock depends upon the tyre type, surface, how even the terrain is and the gradient - if you are inexperienced you are better off engaging centre diff-lock sooner rather than later.

Tom Sheppard suggests using it whenever low ratio is engaged to reduce the liklihood of wheelspin resulting from the increased torque in low ratio.

[Pink_Pencil]

I think I've only had to use Difflock a couple of times on mine on my field through the winter and I had to force the lever with my foot!

I use low ratio for some of the heavier towing as already explained above.

Always remember to take it out of Difflock before proceeding with normal driving otherwise you'll wind up.

[Lefty Guns]

thinfourth2 said:

Also useful for confusing folk as you have a second neutral on the High Low lever

I never thought of that, that's fecking funny! I'm going to do that to my FiL, he's got a Shogun Sport and barely understands what the "second stick" does

[Black VXR]

I always use diff lock and low box on my TDi300, when pushing heavy loads up on to our low-loader - gives me much more control. The main snag with wheelspin in a four by four is that it will travel to the left (nearside) when you get to that wheel slip moment. Not much fun when you are half way up a set of ramps with a four ton trailer on the front tow bar. The reason they travel to the left is that one wheel will often spin forwards and one backwards (on each axle) giving a corkscreew type sideways motion.

Whenever you think you want to undertake a tricky manouver go for low box as that will give best control (things happen a lot slower in low box, giving more time to react).

Diff lock is not so good if you are manouvering round a series of objects or corners as the steering will be effected, the car will want to travel forwards and not turn so well with the diffs locked.

As already mentioned its very important to un-wind the prop shafts once you have finished playing with the diff lock, sometimes reversing around a few corners will do the trick. Make sure the light is out before you set off on a run.