4wd lever (DK)

[Anonymous Poster]

mike
Since making the modification it operates very easily. i would not like to do what you suggest, your approach puts even more lateral stress on the shaft and ultimately could cause problems in the future
vin

 

[northcreek2624]

<font color=red>"i would not like to do what you suggest, your approach puts even more lateral stress on the shaft and ultimately could cause problems in the future"</font color=red>

Vin,Apparently the DK50 is different than the the DK35/40 as far as the 4wd engagement lever is concerned.
True the lever is slightly overhung but,I believe the stiffness is due to the fact that you are trying to mesh gears that will always have a slight speed difference.
On the 35&40 the shift lever linkage is dead nuts in front of the 4wd engagement shaft so your fix would have to be modified but,I really don't feel it's needed on the 35/40.
The fact that it easily slips out of 4wd when tickling the throttle indicates to me that it is a meshing thing rather than lateral stress............Mike

 

[kodiac]

While I have only had my DK35 for a few days, I probably would not want to do either of the previous suggestions. First, a modification while under warranty, and second attempting to use ones foot to "stomp" the lever down...mine is made of plastic! I have found that if I pull or push depending on whether going in or out of 4wd and work the clutch a little it seems to be much eaiser to engage/disengage.
I guess whatever works for the individual.......there certainly are no "tips" in the users manual!
Oh is that a "users" manual or tractoring for dummies manual?
Dave

 

[northcreek2624]

Dave,Many times when you realize that you need to be in 4wd you are already in trouble,this is no time to let go of the wheel or gear shift to fumble for the 4wd lever.
Take it from someone who has done it a hundred times this summer,a little boot pressure on the plastic handle will not hurt it,you've probably kicked it a dozen times getting on and off with out realizing it.
Remember, this is your tractor,not your Lexus........Mike

 

[DK35vince]

Mike,
On my DK 35,I stop to engage 4WD.
I disengage on the fly.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Since my modification i can engage and disengage much easier. However the more that is said on this thread i am starting to think that it is acceptable to engage and disengage while on the move, is this correct. One other thing , can anyone tell me what then physicaly hapens in the gear box, I mean it mode of action.
vin

 

[northcreek2624]

<font color=red>"i am starting to think that it is acceptable to engage and disengage while on the move, is this correct."</font color=red>

Vin&vince,I guess if the owners manual was clear on this matter we wouldn't be having this discussion(actually the manuals is backwards and wrong).
If you think about it,everything is spinning at the same speed wether you are stopped or moving(in a straight line)so the gears don't know the difference.
I had to go in&out of 4wd so many times this summer that I lost count,much of it was with a 6' bucket loaded with gravel and I never got any grinding or any indication that I was doing anything out of the norm.
Not trying to throw a blanket over your ideas on the matter,just sharing my experiences....Mike

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Mike
i got a little game today and disengaged +engaged on the move. i think you are right

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Hi fella's
It's now three weeks since i modifed the gear lever and started this thread so i thought i would report back on the matter.
I have pulled 2 tandemed 1.5 ton trailers full of oranges almost every day since from the orchard to the juice factory which is about 2 miles away on sealed roads. Around the orchard i always use 4wd. As a consequence i disengage 4wd leaving and engage on return. Instead of stoping each time to do this as in the past i have progessively inceased my speed in High 3 to change in and out of 4wd with no noticable adverse effects, in fact it changes ever so smoothly. So knowing this makes tractor work much more enjoyable. Maybe i wasted my time with the modification.