Mowing Mowing in 4x4

[Kubota Possum 2018]

Just thought of a quick question. I purchased my first tractor a Kubota BX 23 S back in July. I've been using it to mow my 2.5 acre steeply sloped lawn. I always keep it in 4 wheel drive and low range. Is it okay on the transmission to stay in 4 wheel and low. I've tried high range, but the tractor doesn't seem to like climbing my hills in high range, and don't trust it in 2wd because of the steepness of the terrain. Any suggestions would be helpful.

 

[Diggin It]

Be prepared, I kind of got lambasted a bit for asking the same question: https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/ls-tractor-owning-operating/403633-thoughts-full-time-4wd.html

General consensus seems to be the little guys need 4WD to be safe on slopes. On level ground I can mow in 2WD High.

 

[nybirdman]

Any tractor is safer in 4WD on slopes;continue with common sense.

 

[Mowbizz]

Yes! I mow my hilly yard in 4wd low and the rest I high range 2wd. My BX25D is very stable uphill and down.

 

[Jay4200]

Just thought of a quick question. I purchased my first tractor a Kubota BX 23 S back in July. I've been using it to mow my 2.5 acre steeply sloped lawn. I always keep it in 4 wheel drive and low range. Is it okay on the transmission to stay in 4 wheel and low. I've tried high range, but the tractor doesn't seem to like climbing my hills in high range, and don't trust it in 2wd because of the steepness of the terrain. Any suggestions would be helpful.

I always shift into 4x4 when climbing the steep parts of my lawn - rears spin if I don't. The only downside is the lawn gets chewed up in turns, so I take it out during most of the mow. I keep it in high range and keep the pedal mashed the whole time.

 

[ericm979]

High range + "pedal mashed" is the highest gearing available. it's what you'd use on a flat road. On a hill you want to use less HST pedal. That's like shifting into a lower gear. If your tractor has linked HST and throttle you may need to bump the throttle up manually.

Since tractors only have brakes on the rear wheels and no center differential the only way to get braking on the front wheels is to put it in 4wd. It's a good idea to use 4wd on hills as sliding down hill with the rear wheels locked is more excitement than most people would like. Take it out of 4wd on pavement.

 

[Thomas]

Shouldn't be problem and its safe plus less damage to the ground.

 

[JWR]

Hey there Moatsville! The last time I was in Moatsville was in the 1950's and got stuck in the mud road with the old '53 Ford. Thought it was a shortcut from Parsons toward Harrison County ...Back to the topic at hand:

First, a 2wd tractor is a stuck tractor. Second, as others said use 4wd anytime you are on enough of a slope to bring traction into question. On our BX2200 here in So. MD I only use 4wd when going to the edge of creek banks and places where survival depends on being able to back up. Back in WV where the ground is often steeper, I run in 4wd nearly all the time using a Kubota B2150. On larger farm tractors I had/have similar concerns to your question because I run a very large % of the time in 4WD. I pay more than average attention to lubrication of the driveshaft and U-joints to the front differential, etc. but other than that...no worries.

Do not worry about running in low range and 4wd constantly. It will still outlast you. Sounds to me (2.5 acre steeply sloped lawn) you are already doing the right thing -- 4wd and low range much if not all of the time.

 

[diesel85]

I use 4wd in the spring or when we get lots of rain. Or else my lawn/field gets obliterated. During the winter, it pretty much stays in 4wd, unless I'm on cleared pavement.

You can feel it in the steering wheel when the front binds up. So you can gauge it that way too.

Grass and wet dirt is super forgiving, so you can run it more than you think.

 

[Kubota Possum 2018]

Thanks JWR!! Your info was very helpful. It's funny you said that about your Moatsville experience. I just happen to live on a road which is technically a short cut from Parsons to Harrison County/ Grafton area. I absolutely love my Kubota. Where do you live in MD? Have you every eaten at the Casselman Inn? It's a wonderful Amish restaurant we ate at in Grantsville I think.

 

[JWR]

I'm in St Marys County on the edge of Chesapeake Bay water (a creek off the Patuxent River.) Yes, I have eaten at the Casselman several times. Yes, it is in Grantsville in Western MD which is on the way to/from my farm in Harrison County. Did not know there was Amish connection. Had heard that originally a family from Indiana came there and founded the place. They have an outstanding buffet but that might only be certain days.

 

[MHarryE]

Out of curiosity, is a 1400 pound BX23 in 4wd a lot worse on a lawn than my lawn specific 1000 pound GR2120 which is full time 4wd? Granted my larger tractors will rip up a lawn but I didn’t think there would be much diff between a GR2120 and BX23.

 

[diesel85]

I'm wondering the same thing about my little BX too, but in a slightly different context.

I'm wondering when I upgrade to a bigger (thus heavier) tractor, if it would destroy my lawn.

So going from a BX2200 or say a L3901/40. Granted, on the new tractor I'd likely be running turfs.

In comparison, my neighbor has a NH TC33 with loader and finishing mower with turfs and it doesn't mar up either of our lawns. So I don't think the weight matters, but it's a great question!

 

[atsah]

Out of curiosity, is a 1400 pound BX23 in 4wd a lot worse on a lawn than my lawn specific 1000 pound GR2120 which is full time 4wd? Granted my larger tractors will rip up a lawn but I didn’t think there would be much diff between a GR2120 and BX23.

There really woundn't be much difference, the width of the tires seems to distribute the weight really well, I don't mow with mine but I do drive on my lawn a lot and never see a mark on it..

 

[zoltanthegypsy]

Out of curiosity, is a 1400 pound BX23 in 4wd a lot worse on a lawn than my lawn specific 1000 pound GR2120 which is full time 4wd? Granted my larger tractors will rip up a lawn but I didn’t think there would be much diff between a GR2120 and BX23.

There's a huge difference. The GR has glide steer. That de-clutches the inside rear tire on tight turns to prevent trashing the lawn.

My GR does a beautiful job, and keeps me out of trouble on a steep lawn. My BX would trash said lawn.

Z.

 

[Kubota Possum 2018]

Out of curiosity, is a 1400 pound BX23 in 4wd a lot worse on a lawn than my lawn specific 1000 pound GR2120 which is full time 4wd? Granted my larger tractors will rip up a lawn but I didn’t think there would be much diff between a GR2120 and BX23.

My BX has never been hard on my turf in 4 wheel drive

 

[4570Man]

I can feel a difference in the way the machine steers and it definitely rips the grass up worse in 4wd so I only use it when required. I don’t mow with a tractor because my Grasshopper is way better, but as long as it’s dry I’ve never had any problems driving tractors on the yard. I’ve even driven my 8+ton backhoe on the yard with no damage. That will wear a trail quick though. You have to drive in different places with it.

 

[JWR]

My BX has never been hard on my turf in 4 wheel drive

My BX2200 is not rough on the lawn whether 4wd is engaged or not EXCEPT when making tight turns. Tight turn spots are the ones that get skinned by the tires, esp if you cut around the same corners the same way every time you mow. In open areas and where there are no sharp turns I never see problems.

 

[Fallon]

I only put my machines in 4wd when needed on turf or pavement. This goes for my old 3,000lbs L3200 & newish 5,000lbs L4060. Both with loaded R4s. I could easily see tracks when turning in 4wd on either machine. Rarely much damage or tracks in 2wd.

Bigger machines than the Bs, but still somewhat relevant.

The L4060 is rock solid stable with moderate 3pt ballast no matter the load on the loader. The L3200 could get really light on back with a heavy loader load no matter the ballast. So you needed to be more diligent on the lighter machine engaging 4wd so you had brakes up front when using the loader.

 

[diesel85]

Thanks Fallon for the info.