Do R1 and R4 tires have more impact on the wheel bearings?

[Reddogs]

I was running my Kubota L3301 on the open road when I noticed the front tires jumping up and down, so I slowed down but they still continued to jolt, so I went into the soft sand, and then they ran smoothly. But wouldnt the harsh jolting caused by the design of the R1 and R4 cause major internal 4WD damage. I am seeing a lot of videos showing this issue.....

Is this a concern?

 

[Reddogs]

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[Reddogs]

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[sd455dan]

I would worry more about forgetting to disengage 4 x 4 and doing any turning on dry pavement.

Sharp turns over bumpy ground with little or no 3 point weight while repeatedly carrying a max load on the FEL.

Front axles that utilize a double shear outer hub pivot mount are a tougher design as well "jmo."

Also pushing the wheels out farther (increasing track width) beyond factory recommendations and adding hub spacers generally will put more load on the outer wheel bearings as well.

 

[Reddogs]

I would worry more about forgetting to disengage 4 x 4 and doing any turning on dry pavement.

Sharp turns over bumpy ground with little or no 3 point weight while repeatedly carrying a max load on the FEL.

Front axles that utilize a double shear outer hub pivot mount are a tougher design as well "jmo."

Also pushing the wheels out farther (increasing track width) beyond factory recommendations and adding hub spacers generally will put more load on the outer wheel bearings as well.

Well, I have to go a couple of miles to the lots to clear them so may be doing a couple of those things....

 

[5030]

So long as bearing pre load is correct should be no issues. What impacts bearing failure besides low lube level is loading on them from the FEL.

 

[azbinder]

Run in 2WD when driving on pavement. When in 4WD, the front wheels actually "pull" the tractor and puts a strain on the drive train. It also will "scuff" rubber off the front tires.

 

[Bill Guenthner]

I would worry more about forgetting to disengage 4 x 4 and doing any turning on dry pavement.

Exactly. And yet, my GMC pickup, which will nag you incessantly about the windshield washer fluid being low, will not make a peep or give you any warning that you’re running 40MPH in 4 wheel hi.

As far as my tractor, I (somehow) always remember to get out of 4wd as soon as I no longer need it, but I can’t count how many times I’ve driven around with the darn brake engaged.

 

[sd455dan]

Exactly. And yet, my GMC pickup, which will nag you incessantly about the windshield washer fluid being low, will not make a peep or give you any warning that you’re running 40MPH in 4 wheel hi.

As far as my tractor, I (somehow) always remember to get out of 4wd as soon as I no longer need it, but I can’t count how many times I’ve driven around with the darn brake engaged.

Yep, lent my 3500 4x4 Ram and 20 foot 5th wheel trailer to my brother to haul a vehicle to his house. It just has the dial with little LEDs. Apparently it was a bit muddy in the back area and he engaged the transfer case 4x4.
He unloaded the vehicle, but forgot to put my truck back in two wheel drive.
He then drove it 12 miles on dry pavement (still with the 10k rated fifth wheel rated trailer attached) , Turns and all.
Leaves the truck and trailer and gets a ride home.

Go to move the trailer to disconnect it, immediately notice the front wheels trying to hop while turning.
Disengage the 4x4 and disconnect the trailer.

Moving the truck back to park it and still hopping when in a turn.

Put the truck up on the lift and discovered Both front outer u joints ruined and binding with missing needle bearings and broken cap. That was a bit of labor to fix.

Brother " I am sure i took it out of 4 x 4...." plus your truck already has close to 100k on it. Those u joints must have been worn out.

ps. The main outer unit bearings were both fine no damage at all.

On a tractor front axle, those outer bearings are usually ball bearings and my bet would be that the failures start in most cases with the bearing cage "failing" since they are just a sheet metal piece.
If the cage fails, the balls are free of being held in correct equidistant load supporting location, and they can Migrate out of the race, unfortunately usually into the ring and pinion teeth which results in carnage because the ball bearing Chrome steel is much harder than the pinion or ring gear metal.

 

[RalphVa]

The MFWD on the B2601 with r14T tires is the best of 4 tractors I've owned. The fronts and rears seem very closely matched in their rotation such that I get almost no loop de loop when turning sharply on pavement in 4wd. Guess maybe the R14Ts are smoother, too, more like an R3 or R34 (think the R14Ts are more like that).

Don't feel it too necessary to take it out of 4wd when going down the driveway any more. There's no whine when putting it back into 4wd if I take it out.