Linear Actuator For DSII CDL

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Author Message   Kim S (Roverine) Posted on Friday, May 03, 2002 - 04:40 pm:    Just curious, ... Crash, how are things coming along? Did you receive the new actuator yet? Anyone else fiddled with this yet? I'm dangerously close to fitting SOMETHING on the CDL. Maybe solenoid. I have a suspicion that the possible "retrofit kit" for the DSII from LR is essentially just the linkage from the old D1 and will cost an arm and two legs. (Not to mention labor intensive). As far as used linksges go, "Someone" bought all the old D1 linkages around here from the wrecking yards around here .... Kim   pwp Posted on Friday, May 03, 2002 - 05:31 pm:    No Crash here, lol. But I fitted my DII with a linear actuator a while back. I've been very happy with the result. I agree full mechanical is probably a more reliable way to go, but I just didn't want the hassle, and personaly I realy like buttons ! Have done some moderate water but nothing long term like over 1/2 min. Only time will tell. Peter   Roverine Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 01:37 pm:    Thanks for the feedback Peter. To all who are familiar with this, please keep it coming ... I have a bad habit of posting questions like this on a Friday around quitin' time. So far, here are the opinions I've gathered: -mechanical: probably more reliable, but harder to get parts, more labor intensive and invasive on your interior, and more expensive (usually, with the exception of A. Skerrit kit). -solenoid: less expensive, cleaner/less invasive (i.e. activated simply with a push of the button neatly installed inside interior cabin), however it is electrical ... -linear; much like solenoid, but theoretically could be stronger and more reliable (I forgot why already) Comments please? Kim   Curtis N (Curtis) Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 02:02 pm:    Kim, I was in a time crunch when I did my CDL. I made a lever out of aluminum flat bar that took no more than 30 minutes to fabricate and install. In short, there is a 4� long ¾� x 1/8� piece of flat bar bolted to the CDL shaft. At the end of this piece is a hack pivot using nuts and washers with another piece of the same gauge flat bar set at 90 degrees. It comes out just behind the sill on the drivers� side and rides between the body and frame rail. I bent this flat bar 90 degrees to make a handle. I had always planned on doing something different when I had the time, but this set up works really well. The main inconvenience is when you shut the rig off you must remember to get out and disengage CDL or you won�t have ABS/ETC. Big deal. I don�t want either 90% of the time. You have to do this anyways; it just requires more exercise with this set up. I will say that this set up does not take much time to hassle with compared to the other CDL options available. I would spend more time installing and adjusting anything else out there as opposed to the occasional inconvenience of getting out of the rig. Off road I always run CDL. Simple, reliable, stealthy, and easy to do�what more could one want? Curtis   Roverine Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 02:27 pm:    Hey Curtis, The set up you described, is what I was origionally thinking about ... Like you, I have several other friends that just use this kind of set-up. Here was the concern that someone else voiced to me about it, when I inquired to get some help rigging it up: a) the bar may be vulnerable to breakage and it is very hot on that undercarriage (repair and activation wise), and b) I, Kim, am "mechanically challenged" (i.e. pretty much a retard), and the possibility of me getting stuck, injuring myself, or breaking the lever may be greater ... (?????) So far, I haven't heard of anyone breaking their's yet, but then again, all the guys I know that have them rigged that way, are mechanically more capable than I (don't get me wrong anyone, I try, I really do ... baby steps, I'll learn more about my electronic luxury liner ...) Thanks, Kim   Greg Davis Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 02:28 pm:    Kim, I made my own linkage to engage the CDL. It provides a third knob in the console, and is fully manual. You can also rewire your CDL switch so that you do not lose ETC/ABS if the CDL is engaged when you start your vehicle. Total cost was less than $30. I can e-mail you details if you like.   Curtis N (Curtis) Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 02:48 pm:    Kim, I should shoot a pic for you. There is no risk of heat because it does not come near anything hot. It also will not likly break unless you seriously mess up other parts of the rig. It is easier to install than any other solution so it is perfect for the mechanically declined I will shoot a pic for you this evening if I can get a few unoccupied moments. If I can get another few spare minutes I would be willing to make one and ship it to you. The trick is finding the time... Curtis   Curtis N (Curtis) Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 02:51 pm:    ...Gregs solution is good also. I think it is like the Adam Skerrit kit? You do have to drill a hole in the console, but you can always pull the lever and put in a replacement mat to cover it up if needed. Curtis   Curtis N (Curtis) Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 02:53 pm:    ...and I forgot to mention: There is no heat when activating mine. The handle is just behind the sill and pretty tucked away from damage.   Rick Lindgren Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 03:48 pm:    Greg, Did you manage to get a disconnect switch wired into the CDL so that it won't report to the computer during start-up? How did it go? Rick   Greg Davis Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 03:57 pm:    Rick, I actually started on that last night, but was stopped by a connector that refused to disconnect. I've got friends coming in to town tonight for the weekend so I won't get to try again until Sunday afternoon. Shouldn't be too hard though. There's a discussion about this going on at the Yahoo board right now. Look under "Attn: Horto".   Roverine Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 04:03 pm:    Thanks for the feedback! If it would not be any trouble, I will take you up on the offer of a pic(s) ... and explainations (at your convienience, of course). I inadvertantly lost a file folder of info for CDL mod that I had been gathering a while back. :-( I'd also love to hear some opinions on the pros and cons of a solenoid set up ... Thanks agiain, Kim   Crash (Crash) Posted on Friday, May 10, 2002 - 08:53 am:    The actuator should be here early next week. I have all the linkage prepared, and the cut off switch faking the computer. Should be a slam dunk install. I have a digital camera, so I will take some photos of the install and post them. I am looking forward to it, but since I just bought a 1988 Range Rover, my repair attention has drifted a bit.