2520 popping out of 4WD

[Gobblin Tom]

Well its now been a week since they started working on my tractor. They could not find anything wrong internally and they took pictures of the internals of the transmission and sent to JD. I feared that this would be the case. Now John Deere is telling the dealer that they believe it is not internal and it is a ballast issue. They think more rear weight is needed to disribute the weight more off the front axle. That sounds like complete crap to me. I think it is a design issue and they dont' have a fix for it. I say that because I previously had a JD 4110 which has basically the same drive train and it was set up just like my 2520 and I never had a problem with that tractor popping out of 4x4.

That being said, John Deere recommended adding a ballast box for additional weight with my loaded tires. They also recommended putting max pressure in the front tires (I think 35) and reducing the rear tires to 10psi. I guess the thought on that is to change the gear ratio slightly between the front and back. The mechanic told me to try the recommended actions from JD and if that doesen't work he can reopen the warranty claim. I'm not

holding my breath, but I will give these things a shot. Hopefully I will get my tractor back by tomorrow because my lawn is looking like a hay field.

That is exactly why I didn't let them take mine!! When mine was popping out, I had my rear blade on and my tires are filled... I know its not 800-900 pounds but that shouldn't matter!!! You should be able to go down a hill with the rear wheels off the ground without it popping out!!!!! The bottom line is that JD is ignoring the fact that these tractors have an issue and putting it back on the owner, the easy way out.... Somebody will get seriously hurt on one and then they will have a lawsuit from it. Even from how many people on here that has posted about the problem you think they would pay attention, after all I did tell JD about the forum and the thread!!! I think you should call JD and report your issue like I did and ask to talk to a supervisor like I did and see if they give you the same answer they gave me..." We are not aware of any problems with the 2520 and we will log your complaint in our records.... but you will have to take it for service so they can see what is wrong with it." Which you have already done that!!!! I really want to hear the answer they tell you? If they say they never heard of it you tell them that a friend on the forum reported it and you know they are lying!!!!

Oh yeah when they lie to you tell them to look up Tom Young's 2520 that was just reported a couple of weeks ago!

 

[kennyd]

John Deere specifies the use of a ballast box for many tractor models when using the front end loader --- don't recall whether in the tractor manual or front end loader manual. In fact on some tractors they specify using both ballast box and weighted tires (check your manuals).
Correct tire pressures are also very important when using loader in MFWD mode to prevent extreme stresses on the drive train. I'd try what Deere recommends and see what happens.

edit/add: I was surprised once when I had a power steering issue on a 4320 with weighted tires and with FEL. Turned out that the power steering relief valve was popping when the fel bucket was full of wet heavy gravel and I couldn't turn the front wheels. Ballast box was the answer and the manual did state using both weighted tires and ballast box when using fel. Sometimes we find out things the hard way (or at least I do).

The ballast info is in the FEL manual. A lot of people mistakenly think that filled tires are a substitute for rear ballast when in fact this is NOT true at all-you need weight behind the rear axle to effectively unload the front axle. I know that my dealer won't even sell a loader without including a ballast box.

 

[glc24]

That is exactly why I didn't let them take mine!! When mine was popping out, I had my rear blade on and my tires are filled... I know its not 800-900 pounds but that shouldn't matter!!!

Hey Tom,
Boy I sure hope you guys get this 4WD deal remedied.

I have to disagree with that statement though Tom. Yes it does matter,and it matters ALOT. Like kennyd stated,filled tires don't do squat for weight transfer (front to back). You definitely need more weight than what a rear blade can offer. When you're doing heavy loader work, and/or in your case on an incline also,that is just compounding the problem of weight transfer.

Max ballast weight is a must under these circumstances. Wouldn't that be something if that was the problem all along. That is an easy fix to boot. No messy teardowns. I would sure give the ballast deal a shot,you may be surprised.

Greg

 

[Gobblin Tom]

Hey Tom,
Boy I sure hope you guys get this 4WD deal remedied.

I have to disagree with that statement though Tom. Yes it does matter,and it matters ALOT. Like kennyd stated,filled tires don't do squat for weight transfer (front to back). You definitely need more weight than what a rear blade can offer. When you're doing heavy loader work, and/or in your case on an incline also,that is just compounding the problem of weight transfer.

Max ballast weight is a must under these circumstances. Wouldn't that be something if that was the problem all along. That is an easy fix to boot. No messy teardowns. I would sure give the ballast deal a shot,you may be surprised.

Greg

I am sure it will help and I understand that it might help or solve the problem but either way it should never pop out of 4wd by itself.... Wouldn't you agree with that?

 

[Fordman1981]

I completely agree with you Tom a tractor or any equipment for that matter should no pop out of 4 wd for any reason

 

[glc24]

Wouldn't you agree with that?

Yes,I tend to agree with that,and with what Fordman posted,that nothing should pop out of gear like that no matter what.
It is possible though,that the way the 4WD mechanism is engineered,under certain stress,the failure ( 4WD disengaging) may be occurring.
Not that there is anything mechanically wrong with it,just that when the front differential gears are severely stressed,is when this ratio mismatch is probably happening causing it to disengage.

Greg

 

[Gobblin Tom]

Yes,I tend to agree with that,and with what Fordman posted,that nothing should pop out of gear like that no matter what.
It is possible though,that the way the 4WD mechanism is engineered,under certain stress,the failure ( 4WD disengaging) may be occurring.
Not that there is anything mechanically wrong with it,just that when the front differential gears are severely stressed,is when this ratio mismatch is probably happening causing it to disengage.

Greg

I would totally agree with that if JD had it in their manual etc. about it disengaging under extreme stress... I guess I will have to fill up the ballast box.... When I was taking the dirt and dumping it I was using the rear blade to grade it, that would really stink to have to go back and put it on inbetween runs... between the rear tires and blade I am around 800#....

 

[kennyd]

between the rear tires and blade I am around 800#....

Read the FEL manual Tom...the blade will not be heavy enough.

 

[glc24]

that would really stink to have to go back and put it on inbetween runs... between the rear tires and blade I am around 800#....

Tom,maybe you could come up with something that's 4 or 500 lbs that you could hang on the blade,just to see if that would make a difference.
I don't know,just guessin'.


Greg

 

[ZR7400]

Tom, what number did you use to call JD? Was there a specific department or extension that you spoke to? I have to agree with you that these tractors shouldn't pop out of four wheel drive under any circumstance with balast box or not. You have a good point, it seems absurd that JD would require you to switch between rear blade and ballast box each time you need to move a bucket full of dirt. Loaded rear tires and rear blade should be plenty of ballast for most applications on these smaller tractors.