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Quick fix: Defender diff lock linkage

I had a bit of a problem with my diff lock, in that it wouldn’t engage. The transfer box lever would move to the left one “notch”, but not into another by the time it hit the far side of the lever assembly. I removed the gearbox tunnel and saw a vertical lever which transmitted the movement to the diff lock switch located on top of the transfer box front output housing.

When you move the transfer box lever left to engage diff lock, the top of the linkage moves away from the gearbox. As it pivots at the middle, it pushes the bottom away from the gearbox and thus pushes the diff lock switch.

Land Rover Defender diff lock linkage

I tested the switch by levering it with a prybar and it moved through two “notches”. I jacked the front wheel up, took it out of gear and turned the wheel. It locked and the diff lock dashboard light came on. This showed that the diff lock actually worked but the linkage wasn’t moving the switch far enough.

The solution

The middle pivot point wasn’t far enough away from the gearbox to make the bottom move across far enough. The pivot is screwed into the gearbox, so I removed the clevis pins top and middle, and unlinked from the bottom, and then unscrewed the pivot a turn.

The diff lock linkage problem

On refitting it worked. The linkage now moved the switch through the two full notches. See the video below of the diff lock linkage working as it should.

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5 Responses to “Quick fix: Defender diff lock linkage”

  1. 21 Jan 10 at 8:08 pm

    [...] the original:  Quick fix: Defender diff lock linkage | Land Rover Expedition By pivot | category: pivot, pivot point | tags: across-far, bottom-move, clevis, [...]

  2. 5 Apr 10 at 8:30 am

    any one interested to sell landrover 110? call me at 0125605704

    [Reply]

  3. 7 Oct 10 at 11:21 am

    very good thread,thats all most people need when theve got a problem,nice pics,
    straght forward and to the point,very helpfull indeed 10/10

    steve…..

    [Reply]

  4. 30 May 11 at 1:49 pm

    i have a 95 disco 1 and i cant unlock the diff lock now . trying new tires on muddy hill and backed off when satified and now it wont unlock . ill look at this but dont know if it will help me out i think my button on the switch is stuck. the linkage moves like always has.

    [Reply]

  5. 2 Jun 11 at 8:23 pm

    great stuff on this web site every time i am looking for info on my land rover i get good clear info with good clear pics to help me on my way cheers tony

    [Reply]

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