Effect of differential lock use on driving wheels slip and fuel consumption

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of the differential lock on the drive wheel slip and fuel consumption rates for the three tractors made in Iran (ITM399 4WD-ITM285 4WD-ITM285 2WD). In this study, the factors were tillage depth at two levels (20 and 30 cm) and differential lock (use and non-use of differential lock). The experiments were carried out in randomized complete blocks with three replications separately for each tractor. The experiments were conducted in the same conditions and at the Shahrekord university field. Analysis of factors effects were obtained by measuring the parameters of drive wheels slip, fuel consumption of the tractor and the time of way. The results showed that using of differential lock during moldboard plow in all tractors caused to reduce of fuel consumption and the time of way. The use of differential lock had significant effect on the driving wheel slip of tractor, so much with using of differential lock the average of rear right wheel slip 15.57 % and the rear left wheel slip 25.64 reduced. Base on the results of this study, with increasing in plowing depth the driving wheels slip, fuel consumption and the time of way for all tractors increased. ITM285 4WD tractor in 4WD condition had the best and in 2WD had the worst performance comparing to other two tractors.