to lock, or not to lock?

Im having trouble deciding whether to lock my transaxle. I was wondering if anyone has had success running an unlocked trans on an offroad mower? Also, if anyone could let me know the pros and cons of both a locked and unlocked transaxle it would be awesome. Thanks guys.

Offroad, a locked transaxle is close to essential. When hill climbing or driving in mud, an open diff will severely limit your ability.

The only real drawback to locking a transaxle (as long as its done well) is tire wear / slightly more difficult steering on pavement.

My group run all locked axles (actually our axles are straight through go kart axles but that is neither here nor there) and we have no real trouble with steering.

Mine are unlocked and i run turfs, ive only been stuck once or twice but im thinking about ideas for a select-able locker

Selectable lockers are going to be near impossible, unless you just have an extra set and replace them.

Locking isnt hard and while it puts on a bit more stress its necessary. I havent had issues with mine other than the fact I run turfs on the rear and my frint tires are near bald and round.

i was just gonna put a pulley on each output shaft and then have a belt from each pulley to a jackshaft with a pulley on each end the jack shaft will be mounted to the frame with bearings and a clutch type mechanism on each belt tension the clutches you lock your diff release tension open diff!

You would only need to have a clutch on one side, and the jackshaft would spin regardless, but only affect the drivetrain when the clutch is tightened.

I locked mine and don't like it. My turning radius was significantly wider and I actually bent my steering drag link. For the Amoy of offloading I do it isn't for me. It tears up my driveway too.

I just locked my spare transaxle. When I was unlocked and stock turfs where a buddy and I go offroading you spin tires fairly easily and forget about going if it rained and things are wet. With better tires I got alot more traction. I'm hoping the locker will help even more with traction, but if not I can swap it out back and forth for my spare that ill leave unlocked. To Redlinemotorsportts is the steering that significantly reduced? I know that steering won't be as good but is t really that bad

The degree to which your steering will be negatively affected involves a lot of variables. Much of it is based on how good your frontend geometry is in the first place. If your setup is the pits, then locking the axle could cause it to steer like an oceangoing freighter. Points to examine include the Ackermann effect, Kingpin Inclination, toe angle, and your caster angle. Other factors include front to rear weight bias, front and rear tire size, type, and air pressure.

I just largely improved the steering on a go kart by moving the weight bias forward a bit, applying the Ackermann principle, and realigning it.

At a glance, it's too close to call. Locking it up could have very little effect on your steering, or it could cause you to drive in a straight line whether you want to or not.

redlinemotorsportts wrote:

It tears up my driveway too.

A metal garden rake with a piece of angle on the opposite side of the tines will fix that.

Doug Fackler wrote:

redlinemotorsportts wrote:

It tears up my driveway too.

A metal garden rake with a piece of angle on the opposite side of the tines will fix that.

It was just one thing I get yelled at and have to do that I wouldn't want to do.

Drag a 2x4 behind your mower  

joshualee3d wrote:

Im having trouble deciding whether to lock my transaxle. I was wondering if anyone has had success running an unlocked trans on an offroad mower? Also, if anyone could let me know the pros and cons of both a locked and unlocked transaxle it would be awesome. Thanks guys.

My off road mowers are always unlocked and I never have a problem getting around, steering, etc. Rarely get stuck either. And I almost never, if ever I can remember... never break a thing.

i get stuck unlocked when my flex maxes out. otherwise i was fine. havent really gotte to use my moweer locked yet. still workin on kinks. but goin slow theres no problem turning locked.

Really depends on what kind of riding you do, neighborhood cruising and mild trails unlocked would be better. Easy on everything, transmission tires steering etc. how ever with that being said I will never run a open rear axle offroad. The trails I run can not be run open rear, plain and simple. There just to rough (logs hills mud rocks) And a huge thing is the brakes. With a open rear on a steep hill if one tire loses traction you pretty much lose all your braking ability. Locked rear end stops both tires all the time

Creepycrawler wrote:

Really depends on what kind of riding you do, neighborhood cruising and mild trails unlocked would be better. Easy on everything, transmission tires steering etc. how ever with that being said I will never run a open rear axle offroad. The trails I run can not be run open rear, plain and simple. There just to rough (logs hills mud rocks)  And a huge thing is the brakes. With a open rear on a steep hill if one tire loses traction you pretty much lose all your braking ability. Locked rear end stops both tires all the time

I have never taken the brakes into consideration. Once I get some more aggressive tires I do plan on just offroading it amd I never thought about the tire slippage on an unlock transaxle. I was on fence before but now im 100% sure im locking it!