JD 4300 hits a brick wall????

[Woody65]

I was hoping some of you more experienced tractor owners could point me in the right direction. I have a JD 4300 4wd hydro that stops dead in its tracks like you hit a brick wall. This occurs very infrequently and eventually allows me to start again. I will be driving along at different speeds/rpm and its seems like the tranny locks up. The pedal slams upward and knocks my foot off. It makes a sound as if gears are slamming together or not meshing properly. I always have the tractor in 4wd since it never sees pavement and I have hilly property. If I try to move again, the further I push down on the accelerator the closer to a stall I get. This is both in forward and reverse. Sometimes it does it for a brief moment and I continue without a missing a beat. Sometimes I am stuck for a few minutes. The hydro fluid is within range, the linkage all seems intact and not bent. Other than the above, the tractor performs excellent. I have read other threads which describe having a 4wd problem if the tires are not a stock size which causes the tranny to bind. I bought the tractor used and was under the impression that the tires and rims were stock. Any suggestions would help. Thanks...

 

[George2615]

Here's the choices of tires that should be on your 4300 according to Tractordata.
If yours are different it could be the problem.
If possible, try driving it in 2WD and see if the same thing happens.


John Deere 4300 Tires:
Ag front: 5.00-15 (2WD)

7.00-14 (4WD)

Ag rear: 11.2-24

Ag front: 7.00-16 (4WD)

Lawn/turf front: 25-10.50LLx15

27x8.5-15

7.00-14 (4WD)

Lawn/turf rear: 41LLx18.00-16

11.2-24

41x14.00-20

Industrial front: 25x8.50-14

Industrial rear: 15.00-19.5

 

[Woody65]

Thanks for the info. I have turf tires front and rear. I will check the size when I get to the property next week.

It happens so infrequently that I would have to drive it around for days to see if it occurred in 2wd.

 

[9973720wb19]

Woody65. I have Standard R4 tires and rims off my 4720 Cab they have about 150 hrs on them - let me know if you're interested in them. I switched to R1s for snow and mud reasons. I don't know how I'd get them to NY from MD though.

 

[kennyd]

I would jack up the front end, and inspect the front axle carefully for gear noise, backlash, and general condition of the fluid. The MFWD is not meant to be used full time so I suspect there might be damage in there somewhere.

 

[kennyd]

Woody65. I have Standard R4 tires and rims off my 4720 Cab they have about 150 hrs on them - let me know if you're interested in them. I switched to R1s for snow and mud reasons. I don't know how I'd get them to NY from MD though.

Your 4720 wheels would be to large for his 4300.

 

[Woody65]

I would jack up the front end, and inspect the front axle carefully for gear noise, backlash, and general condition of the fluid. The MFWD is not meant to be used full time so I suspect there might be damage in there somewhere.

Kennyd, I will take a look at the axle and the fluid. I know that it is full, cause I checked it last week. Maybe I will just drain and refill with new fluid.

In regarrds to the MFWD, I thought that it was ok to leave in 4wd. I have read that other members have done it without any problems. Not to say that that makes it ok.

 

[beenthere]

Is the "stop dead in its tracks" the same or very similar to when you are travelling and simply remove your foot from the pedal ?? As the 4300 does stop pretty quick when doing that.

Or is it more like locking up and not the same?

Sounds to me like a linkage adjustment, but may be the 4wd is just winding up so tight (as it can do that on dry ground, similar to being on pavement. Wet ground is different and will give some slippage).

Run it in 2wd and see if it will do the same "stop dead". The mystery to me is the comment that it throws your foot off the forward pedal when it slams up. That is harder to understand unless something is caught in the pedal linkage.

Let us know what you learn as you try things out again.

 

[5030]

4WD is really Front wheel assist and should not be engaged all the time. Everythime you corner, there is a lot of internal strain on the front end components. Sounds to me like sonething went south in the front end.

I rarely use FWA except when I need it.

 

[Woody65]

Is the "stop dead in its tracks" the same or very similar to when you are travelling and simply remove your foot from the pedal ?? As the 4300 does stop pretty quick when doing that.

Or is it more like locking up and not the same?

Sounds to me like a linkage adjustment, but may be the 4wd is just winding up so tight (as it can do that on dry ground, similar to being on pavement. Wet ground is different and will give some slippage).

Run it in 2wd and see if it will do the same "stop dead". The mystery to me is the comment that it throws your foot off the forward pedal when it slams up. That is harder to understand unless something is caught in the pedal linkage.

Let us know what you learn as you try things out again.

It has thrown me out of my seat if I am traveling at any rate of speed

The foot pedal punches me in the bottom of my foot.

Since you mentioned linkage it got me thinking. I have been having a little trouble changing gears. It hangs up and wont smoothly change from A to B to C or N. I don't know if this would cause this too happen.