Traction Kubota BX 2370 out of control on hill in 2W drive

[rehreh52]

My Kubota BX 2370 works very well belly mowing up and down fairly steep hills in 4WD. (no FEL)
Yesterday unbeknownst to me my tractor came back from the shop set in 2WD.
Since I never checked the drive setting I went out and started mowing on the hills in 2WD.
The next thing i knew the tractor was jamming freewheeling down the hill... i hit the brakes hard to no avail... The tractor was going full speed down the hill and did not stop until it hit level ground.
This is completely different than in 4WD where if i take my foot off the drive pedal on any part of the hill it stops immediately and stays completely in control.
My question is this: is it normal for the tractor to be unstoppable in 2WD on a hill?
thanks,
reh
I realize the braking is going to be better in 4WD... but it seems odd to me that I was not able to stop the tractor at all in 2WD...and I am thinking something may be wrong with this tractor.

 

[jlgurr]

Tractor brakes only affect the drive wheels. In your case the drive wheels were only the two rear wheels. If they are not in good contact with ground you can press the brake pedal to India but it won't slow the tractor. When you use 4WD then all four wheels are braking when the brake pedal is pressed.

You learned a valuable lesson and are fortunate to be able to ask about it. A local man here was using a FEL driving forward and down slope. The load lifted his rear wheels off the ground and he two-wheeled it all the way to the bottom of the hill and smack-dab into a tree. He lived but he was banged up pretty bad. The tractor is a near total loss. In a panic it is hard to remember to drop the FEL and get the drive/braking tires back on earth.

 

[k0ua]

We get one of these reports about once a week here.. Pressing on the brakes of tires that have lost traction with the ground is useless or even less than useless. Since you had no FEL on the machine, then your best bet would have been to floor the Hydrostat foward pedal in attempt to speed up the rear tires enough to match your ground speed to regain control. But I doubt it would have helped as you would have likely lost traction again.. Praying, checking to make sure your life insurance is payed up and focusing on steering straight and keeping the shiny side up were probably your only options. Next time put it in 4WD. But you already know that. Valuable lesson learned, and you are still alive to tell about it.. it's gotta be a good thing.

 

[rehreh52]

thanks guys.
So... I don't mind keeping it in 4WD... if you are saying it is basically normal I will live in 4WD mode and not take it back to the dealer for inspection.

 

[bcp]

...i hit the brakes hard to no avail... The tractor was going full speed down the hill and did not stop until it hit level ground.

thanks guys.
So... I don't mind keeping it in 4WD... if you are saying it is basically normal I will live in 4WD mode and not take it back to the dealer for inspection.

When you hit the brakes hard, did the rear wheels stop turning and skid? Or did they keep turning.

I believe the brakes should be able to lock the wheels. Get it checked if they can't.

Bruce

 

[k0ua]

thanks guys.
So... I don't mind keeping it in 4WD... if you are saying it is basically normal I will live in 4WD mode and not take it back to the dealer for inspection.

If you have mostly hilly terrain, to operate safely you will need 4wd.. There is nothing wrong with your tractor. If operating on asphalt or concrete and you will want to shift to 2wd especially if you are turning much. (different wheel tracks when turning) as you will "bind" in 4WD and cause excessive tire wear and strain on the axle components. If you are mowing on flat ground it is OK to mow in 2WD, but be sure to put it in 4WD if there are any hills. But even a gravel road can cause you to slide if it is very steep unless you are in 4WD. I live in Branson, Mo, and it is very hilly here, and if I have a load in the bucket and go down an asphalt hill here that has some gravel covering, the rear tires will break loose and slide, and down the hill I go.. Whee...

 

[k0ua]

When you hit the brakes hard, did the rear wheels stop turning and skid? Or did they keep turning.

I believe the brakes should be able to lock the wheels. Get it checked if they can't.

Bruce

I am sure the wheels were locked. That is the problem... sliding down the hill..

 

[k0ua]

Actually a video of both of the rear tires will often reveal one rear tire slowly rotating forward, and the rear tire slowly rotating backward due to the differential action. When you press on the brakes, the rotation of both tires stops but the sliding just keeps on going. Kinda like the gift that keeps on giving.

 

[dodge man]

Yeah its normal and yes it actually is better to step down further on the HST pedal to get the wheels turning again but that's not your first reaction.

 

[jlgurr]

Actually a video of both of the rear tires will often reveal one rear tire slowly rotating forward, and the rear tire slowly rotating backward due to the differential action. When you press on the brakes, the rotation of both tires stops but the sliding just keeps on going. Kinda like the gift that keeps on giving.

So does this mean the "brake" is actually not on the axle but rather on the "drive shaft" with the differential between the brake and the wheel? Boy, I can't wait to look at my service manual tonight to be sure. I assumed the brake was on the axle. Always learning at TBN!!!