4WD (dis)engagement lever?

[S854]

Getting used to the new tractor, I’ve found when, and when not, to use 4WD (what’s the correct term for 4 wheel assist?)…

I’m typically in 2WD, then engage 4WD (when needed) by pressing down on the engagement lever with my heel… easy-peasy…

What I’ve found inconvenient is going from 4-to-2WD… I need to reach down and pull up on the lever… sometimes while driving/weaving to get the gears to release tension… not necessarily easy on this old back…

Is there an easier way to use the OEM lever? Something I’ve overlooked?

Right now I’m rolling around in my mind a small, “teeter-totter” style lever…place one end of the teeter-totter under the selector lever and use my heel on the other end to raise the selector back to 2WD…

 

[scootr]

The Kubota is the same. Contemplating a vertical lever extension to change this to a hand operation. Same with the park brake lever... too low.

One rocker pedal on the Kubota drive pedal is more than enough. Has taken me 80 hours to get close to in harmony with the teeter totter go pedal set up. lol

 

[Roadworthy]

The tractors with which I'm familiar used a lever depressed with the heel to engage the differential lock. This is used to put power to both rear wheels to help eliminate one spinning alone. The 4WD lever on my tractor (Kubota L2502) is pulled up to engage then disengages by pushing back down. You should never engage the differential lock while the wheels are turning.

 

[scootr]

The tractors with which I'm familiar used a lever depressed with the heel to engage the differential lock. This is used to put power to both rear wheels to help eliminate one spinning alone. The 4WD lever on my tractor (Kubota L2502) is pulled up to engage then disengages by pushing back down. You should never engage the differential lock while the wheels are turning.

Right you are. The lock is not what the OP was inquiring about. He's asking about the 2WD/4WD lever.

 

[Hoss710]

I think he has his leavers mixed up. what model and type tractor are we talking about?

 

[rScotty]

I think he has his leavers mixed up. what model and type tractor are we talking about?

If his is like our Kubota, it could have the differential lock and the 4wd lever both next to each other under the left heel. So the OP could be referring to either one.

Both are engaged by pushing down with the left heel. Neither on should be engaged unless sitting still, because pushing either lever down while the wheels are turning is an even better way than inflation to spend a lot of money really quickly.

The first photo shows the tractor as it was new.... The problem I had with the 4wd lever was it kept being engaged by accident getting on and of the tractor. The solution was to mount the black gate latch you see in the photo.

rScotty

 

[S854]

It’s a Kioti CK2610 HST... very similar to the Kubota pictured above... my 4WD and diff-lock levers are reversed with the 4WD lever being closer to the tractor centerline...

The diff-lock is spring loaded... I take my foot off the lever and the lock is released... (once the engaged splines are no longer binding...)

The 4WD lever "stays" wherever it's placed... which is the way it should be...

I'm just looking for an "easy" way to get from 4WD (lever down) to 2WD (lever raised)...

 

[Billrog]

I leave mine in 4wd .

 

[rScotty]

It’s a Kioti CK2610 HST... very similar to the Kubota pictured above... my 4WD and diff-lock levers are reversed with the 4WD lever being closer to the tractor centerline...

The diff-lock is spring loaded... I take my foot off the lever and the lock is released... (once the engaged splines are no longer binding...).
The 4WD lever "stays" wherever it's placed... which is the way it should be...

I'm just looking for an "easy" way to get from 4WD (lever down) to 2WD (lever raised)...

Those sure are popular tractors. My neighbor has an early version.

Think of it this way: Most of the time you will be in 2wd. These tractors are 4wd assist; NOT full time 4wd. Compact and Utility size tractors under about 90 hp don't have a center differential, which means that the only way they have of getting rid of the built in "wind up" that happens to the drivetrain in 4wd is to slip a wheel.

Use 4wd when needed, and once through the rough spot put it back into 2wd. You can get by with leaving them in 4wd in slippery conditions if you are careful and especially without a FEL. Basically as long as a tire can easily slip, you are OK.

That's why the gate latch in the photo. It isn't to keep it in 4wd, a bit of unavoidable shaft windup will do that for you. The latch is keep something - like my heel - from knocking it into 4wd when it shouldn't be. Like when I'm traveling with a load in the FEL.
enjoy,
rScotty

 

[S854]

…Use 4wd when needed, and once through the rough spot put it back into 2wd. You can get by with leaving them in 4wd in slippery conditions if you are careful and especially without a FEL…

That pretty much sums up what I’ve been doing…

I’m currently working on getting our driveway back in shape after winter… most times I can pull the BB full but occasionally I’ll need 4WD to keep going… then back to 2WD…

Dig into the pile of road base… sometimes I need extra traction…

I find myself leaving it in 4WD even when unnecessary… until I need to make a sharp U-turn and the tractor starts bucking…

I’ll continue to explore options to get the lever at a more user friendly level… or possibly work on the teeter-totter mod to make shifting into and out of 4WD a foot control affair

 

[scootr]

On my MX Kubota I have to reach down to the floor and lift the lever to engage 4wd. I can then select 2wd by stepping on the lever. So I'm dreaming about a Z extension that will allow me to to select 2 or 4 WD without putting my face in the steering wheel.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I can't help but feel you ought not be using your foot, but I can't think as to why.

My user manual is in the garage and the workshop manual next to me feels like using a hammer to swat a fly, so I might just be creating this out of nothing.

 

[S854]

Dunno if the foot method is correct or not.. it just seems intuitive…

I don’t reach down and use my hand when engaging the diff-lock…

I don’t stomp on either peddle… engagement is gentle if one does it right…

 

[old and tired]

I personally, would just leave it in 4x4 unless you have hard pavement. You have a HST so don't make tight turns, do a 3 or 4 point turn since backing up is so easy.

If you have to constantly disengage it, Tie a rope to the tip of of the 4x4 lever, and put a handle on it so you can give it a good pull without bending over. Maybe run the rope up to the ROPS to tie it off with the handle halfway down.

Does it lock into place?

 

[bigtiller]

My jd 2720 has a lever like the one rScotty posted earlier. I made an extension out of .5" plywood to raise and lower the front wheel assist lever. I also glued on 2 magnets so it will stick to the ROPS to be handy and yet out of the way.

The 1.25 cut-out near the end makes it possible to push/pull that lever.

Question, why do they put that hand-only lever so far away from our hand?

 

[chim]

On the L4240 the 4WD position is down, and to disengage is up. It stays in 2WD unless needed. I never tramp the lever down, but gently engage it with my hand. To disengage, I either use the loader to lift the front wheels, or if running without the loader trun from side to side while applying upward pressure on the lever.

In the odd occasion I use the diff lock, I do use my heel, but don't stomp it down. You can feel when it willingly engages.

Although some may say keeping the tractor in 4WD all the time won't increase wear, I don't buy that. Even in the yard, you can feel the binding when turning in 4WD.

 

[SmallChange]

Interesting, never heard of the lever being that low.

I think there are so many times it's definitely better to be either in 4WD or 2WD, you want to be able to do it easily. I don't see leaving it in either position. Unless you can get by with a cheaper 2WD only tractor from the start!

Not to suggest something dumb, but could you just tie a rope around the lever and tie the other end up high (seat suspension, handle on the fender, bottom of ROPS, someplace like that)? You could pull it up from anyplace along the rope.

 

[chim]

Interesting, never heard of the lever being that low.

When my 4WD lever is engaged (down) it's almost against the floorboard.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

That pretty much sums up what I’ve been doing…

I’m currently working on getting our driveway back in shape after winter… most times I can pull the BB full but occasionally I’ll need 4WD to keep going… then back to 2WD…

Dig into the pile of road base… sometimes I need extra traction…

I find myself leaving it in 4WD even when unnecessary… until I need to make a sharp U-turn and the tractor starts bucking…

I’ll continue to explore options to get the lever at a more user friendly level… or possibly work on the teeter-totter mod to make shifting into and out of 4WD a foot control affair

Leave it in 4x4 and it will eventually not have 4x4. Usually wears out ring and pinion if nothing breaks first. Pulled a many of them. I worked at Kubota. New Holland had a triangle piece at the wheel hub that would shear. Kubota was a worn out gearset or a broke something else.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Dunno if the foot method is correct or not.. it just seems intuitive…

I don’t reach down and use my hand when engaging the diff-lock…

I don’t stomp on either peddle… engagement is gentle if one does it right…

The diff lock is spring loaded....