Full time 4WD ?

   / Full time 4WD ? #1  

drjay9051

Gold Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2007
Messages
260
Location
Morriston, Fl. 40 miles west of Ocala. More cows
Tractor
Kioti DK 40 HST
Waiting for my new Kioti DK40. On my previous tractor (Kioti CK25) I pretty much left it in 4WD. Maybe once or twice in 5 years I was in 2WD for traveling on an asphalt road. Now with my new tractor I want to do things right.

Is there any problem keeping it in 4WD or should I stay in2WD unless I need 4WD?

I know in my truck every month I run it around the property in 4High and than 4Low to keep it free running.

Just wondering if there is a down side to full time 4WD (set it and forget it). Are there parts in 2WD which don't get "lubed" properly in 4WD?

Thanks
 
   / Full time 4WD ? #2  
I pretty much keep my B26 TLB in 4 WD all the time unless I am on an asphalt surface mostly because it has R4 tires and need 4 WD to have any amount of traction.
On my LS P7010 with Ag tires, I mostly run in 2 WD when mowing and only switch to 4 WD when I need the extra traction or if I get hung up when crossing a steep ditch at an angle. If you get one wheel off the ground you wont go anywhere and sometimes even in 4 WD you can get hung up and have to use the differential lock or FEL to push yourself off.
I don't think you will hurt anything running in 4 wd all the time if you avoid running on dry hard ground and making really sharp turns. On grassy surfaces you wont hurt a thing other than maybe the grass a bit.
 
   / Full time 4WD ? #3  
About any time my loader is on, I am in 4wd except for driving on a road.

It only takes once of forgetting to put in back in 4wd and going down a hill to realize that whatever harm may be done, is well worth the insurance of being able to stop.
 
   / Full time 4WD ? #5  
Wears the front tires quicker when in 4WD. I only use it when in muddy ground or pulling a heavy load on uneven ground.
 
   / Full time 4WD ? #6  
About any time my loader is on, I am in 4wd except for driving on a road.

It only takes once of forgetting to put in back in 4wd and going down a hill to realize that whatever harm may be done, is well worth the insurance of being able to stop.
Amen to that... speaking from experience sliding/hopping down a hill. With hydrostatic and 4WD you have extra built in braking on downhill slopes.
 
   / Full time 4WD ? #7  
your q is very tricky.on my mx5100 hst i pretty much left it in 4wd if i was working it.then it was took out of 4wd drive unless its needed.i have yet to put the 7040 in 4wd drive.
 
   / Full time 4WD ? #8  
I run my M6040 in 2WD all the time - except - when I need the extra traction or pulling power. Its in 4WD when I backblade snow in the winter. Its in 4WD when I try to cross the moat - in the spring - before I should really try. Its in 4WD when I use the come along to get it out of the moat after I get it stuck.
 
   / Full time 4WD ? #9  
In my tractor manual it is called 4wd assist, I take that to mean it is for assisting the rears when needed and not for use all the time. I only use the 4wd when I need the added traction because it will rip grass out and when on hard surfaces it will make the front "jump" (bind) when turning. I can't believe that is a good thing!
 
   / Full time 4WD ? #10  
I pretty much leave ours in 4WD. But then we also leave the FEL and BH on it. Rarely take either off. Our ground is not all that hard. If I plan on being on the pavement for a prolonged time I will put it in 2WD. But, just to drive across the road or even from my drive to my brothers drive, we don't bother. Keep it in 4WD to load/unload also.

I do plan to remove the BH and use a tiller. Haven't done this with this particular tractor yet. When I do, I will probably keep it in 4WD since I will be tilling at maximum depth. However, if I were to put the mower on the back, I might use 2WD for mowing.
 
 
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