4WD not engaging?

[brunswick000]

I have a Kubota L245DT and when I was pushing back some snow banks this morning I think that the 4wd might not be engaging. In my pickup if you're in 4wd and you get stuck, and you're giving it gas it will jump around a bit as all 4 wheels are trying to move you. But with the tractor, if I get up against the snow bank and it doesn't want to move the tractor just stops. I can rev it till the cows come home, it just doesn't seem to even try to move any more. I haven't owned any tractors prior to this, so maybe this is normal? Im thinking not. Does anyone have any advice?

 

[arrow]

I have a Kubota L245DT and when I was pushing back some snow banks this morning I think that the 4wd might not be engaging. In my pickup if you're in 4wd and you get stuck, and you're giving it gas it will jump around a bit as all 4 wheels are trying to move you. But with the tractor, if I get up against the snow bank and it doesn't want to move the tractor just stops. I can rev it till the cows come home, it just doesn't seem to even try to move any more. I haven't owned any tractors prior to this, so maybe this is normal? Im thinking not. Does anyone have any advice?

First thing to do is to see if your suspicions are correct. With the tractor simply in the driveway with no load on it whatsoever, put the tractor in 2wd. Do you move? If not, does the tractor move in 4wd? If it only moves in 4wd, then your rear differentials are indeed not engaging.
If the tractor does move in 2wd, jack the front end up with the loader and engage 4wd. See if the fronts are moving as you skid along being pushed by the rears. If you do not see the front tires rotating while suspended in the air, then you know its the fronts not engaging. I do not know how the Kubotas engage in the front so it could be a switch or something like a shaft spline or a front housing gear if indeed the fronts are not moving.

 

[kebo]

Not quite sure what you mean by this statement: " if I get up against the snow bank and it doesn't want to move the tractor just stops. I can rev it till the cows come home, it just doesn't seem to even try to move any more."

Are you saying that neither the front tires nor the rear tires will spin??? Or do you mean that only the rear tires spin? Is that a gear drive or HST drive tractor??? If the rear tires were spinning, you need to jack the tractor up on blocks, put in 4x4, and give it some slight throttle and see what happens. If the fronts don't rotate then you have problem in the driveline obviously. That would be the best way to try and narrow down where the problem is. Good luck.

 

[machmeter62]

I have the L295DT of the same vintage, that I purchased new in Jun.'78! It has been trouble free, and spent most of it's life in 4WD, without any problems; also the 4WD was engaged on hard surfaces too. The owners manual states no restrictions on the use. I also purchased a loader with it.

They are a tough tractor, and very well engineered. But, if your tractor prior life was in a rental yard....they can destroy anything there!

If the 4WD isn't working properly, I would contact "TRACTORSMART.COM." They are a good group of guys selling parts only, and manuals too,... I think, for Kubota Tractors. They also won't sell you anything you don't need, and are very helpfull also.

 

[brunswick000]

I guess ill have to put the whole tractor up on heavy axle stands to check if the 4wd is working or not as I don't have a loader......yet. What I meant by the tractor not moving is that I was surprised the tractor didnt give me any "feedback" if you will when it got up angainst a snow bank it couldnt move. I just figured in 4 low, the tires would bind or spin. Well not spin, but I thought that I would at least see that it was trying to do something it couldnt. I dont know if you'll all understand that, cause its confusing to me. Ill check once I have some spare time and post back. Still a great tractor irregardless.

 

[MikeInEburg]

You haven't mentioned what type of transmission is in the tractor. Although I'm not sure that I totally understand, it sounds like you didn't see the wheels spinning. If they did not spin then you're right, you have some type of trouble. A tractor in "4 low" will generally have one rear and one front wheel spin when traction is lost. If you engage the differential lock, you'd have both rear wheels and one front wheel spin. If manual transmission, likely a clutch issue. If hydro, I don't really know where to point.
Mike

 

[Carl_NH]

L245DT is 4 hi/lo so 8 speeds with a clutch. Sounds to me you have a clutch issue.

Push in the clutch, put it in the highest gear - 8th, tach around 1200 RPM, and foot on the brake and let the clutch out - it should lug down and stall the tractor. If it doesn't bad clutch.

If I recall you recently purchased this unit also? Did you test this out plowing? The only other thing is if you are off balance one wheel on both axles will spin and the other one wont - this happens to me in snow.

The other test - find a patch of ice and put the back wheels on the ice and raise the front end off the ground with the loader then let the clutch out - the fronts should spin along with the back wheels.

Good luck and I hope for your sake its not the clutch, but they are not too complex to split.

 

[kebo]

L245DT is 4 hi/lo so 8 speeds with a clutch. Sounds to me you have a clutch issue.

Push in the clutch, put it in the highest gear - 8th, tach around 1200 RPM, and foot on the brake and let the clutch out - it should lug down and stall the tractor. If it doesn't bad clutch.

If I recall you recently purchased this unit also? Did you test this out plowing? The only other thing is if you are off balance one wheel on both axles will spin and the other one wont - this happens to me in snow.

The other test - find a patch of ice and put the back wheels on the ice and raise the front end off the ground with the loader then let the clutch out - the fronts should spin along with the back wheels.

Good luck and I hope for your sake its not the clutch, but they are not too complex to split.

I was leaning towards the clutch slipping as well, at least when under heavy pushing/pulling, if it was a gear drive model. The OP stated he didn't have a loader, see post #5.

 

[brunswick000]

posted this on OrangeTractorTalks too and they are all saying its a clutch issue. So pissed right now. I did plow with it when I tried it out. It will plow, its only when im pushing right into a bank of snow, putting a lot of load on the tractor that it stops. Then i raise the blade a bit to take a bit of load off and it starts pushing again. Must be a clutch issue in the works. Snow was light where I tried it. Pushed the banks there no problem. Still has a lot of ummphh in it but it is definitely going to need addressing this summer. Bummer

 

[sunnyside360]

I'd say your clutch is slipping and either needs adjusted or replaced. Try adjusting the clutch (adjusting rod) and if that doesn't fix it is the clutch disc. The pressure plate may need to be replaced also. I once owned the same tractor. Bought the L245DT new in 1979 and had it for 12 years. Never had an ounce of trouble --- great tractor for it's size.