4310 FWD wouldn't engage

LAXPatrick · Dec 19, 2005

4310 FWD wouldn\'t engage

Ok, so it's like 15 below outside, I should just be happy to marvel that it started up at all. I needed to make a run to the poo pile (horses) with the wagon. I let the grid warm up for 30 secs plus, let it run for 5 min or so. Then I head down the o-so-slight hill to the pile of poo. All goes well until it's time to pull away from the pile of poo. My FWD didn't seem to be doing its thing - I got stuck! Again and again! Slight grade, I've got R4's with only air, loader is on, took the ***** wagon off. No love. I try hanging on the back with dead weight (me) hanging off of the I-Match.

Finally with the boss's help (Crazy Horse Girl), and a bunch of perfectly placed poo under the tires, I limp up the slight hill (seriously, it's not a hill, just a vey gradual slope). I'm trying this and that - in and out of FWD, using the diff lock, varying throttle and gears. I get halfway to the barn and give up. Back to picking poo from the stalls. 15 min later, I try again - started right up. Now we're moving - seems like the FWD finally engaged and I'm able to get to the barn no problem.

This happen to anyone? Is it just due to the extreme cold?

Thanks,

LAXPatrick
4310 eHydro, 430 loader, etc.

beenthere · Dec 19, 2005

Re: 4310 FWD wouldn\'t engage

From the description, can't tell if your 4wd was working, but just that the traction you had was such that two or three tires were not getting enough traction.
Was one front wheel spinning when in 4wd mode, or are you sure that it was not?
Maybe you need chains on as the snow and ice are not allowing any traction.

LAXPatrick · Dec 19, 2005

Re: 4310 FWD wouldn\'t engage

The fronts weren't spinning at all. I'm going to look into getting some chains, I guess... I talked to the dealer - he things that things were just too cold for the FWD to engage. I'm wondering if the shut down/restart gave the electronics a chance to reset - then the solenoid or whatever engages it had a chance to work...

dmp437 · Dec 20, 2005

Re: 4310 FWD wouldn\'t engage

If it was seriously 15 below zero, consider getting a transmission heater. From the dealer it's about $60 (as I remember) and it makes a world of difference in how the tractor performs in the deep cold. The tractor responds better, the loader works smoother and I've never had a problem with the MFWD (also a hydraulic function).

RogerH · Dec 20, 2005

Re: 4310 FWD wouldn\'t engage

The MFWD engagement on the Ten Series use spring force to turn it on and hydraulic pressure to turn it off. When the tractor is turned off, the MFWD is automatically turned on by the spring. I suspect that with the cold oil it was taking a long time for the oil to drain out of the cylinder and through the valve to allow the spring to engage the clutch. You can actually watch the engagement cylinder work if you have a second person to operate the switch and to turn the tractor on and off. It is located on the left side, under the footdeck and just ahead of the axle. It might be interesting to compare the speed of movement when cold to after the tractor has warmed up.

cef2lion · Dec 21, 2005

Re: 4310 FWD wouldn\'t engage

My 4410 does this once in awhile when it is real cold out. I run it a bit and then it enages. I was thinking that Deere saw this as an issue and that is why they went back to a manual enagagement on the new 20 series. I thought this was an electric solenoid that engaged and disengaged MFWD.

I have gotten stuck a few times till it kicks in. Not sure if they might be a fix for it. Mine is out of warranty now but I did mention it to my dealer back when it happened the first time. Service said they had no other reports of this but that was awhile ago.

Craig

dicker · Dec 21, 2005

Re: 4310 FWD wouldn\'t engage

Yes, this is common for my 4310 in the cold weather. In the cold weather, I always make sure that I shut down the tractor with FWD engaged. That way it is ready to go on a short warm up. If I forget, 10-15 minutes warm-up, usually does the trick.

Good luck

Richard