4wd questions

[kryptic07]

I've recently purchased a ford 1700 4x4 compact tractor, and everything seems to be in good working order, however, i can't get the 4wd to engage. I'm not positive that i'm even shifting the right lever, or combination of levers to engage the 4wd. Can anyone tell me how to put it into 4wd and possible troubleshooting if it is correctly engaged, just not working properly.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

First off welcome to TBN. I am not familiar with the Ford tractors so I won't go there. On the Kubota it is a lever under my seat on the left. Which probably doesn't do you a bit of good. Are all of your decals missing? The place that you bought it from didn't go over that with you? What about checking fluids and such did you get any learning time on that?

 

[kryptic07]

I bought it from an individual, and when i drove it, it seemed that everything was working properly. i tested the hydrolics for the front end loader and 3pt, the pto, and all of the forward and reverse gears. There are two levers below the seat that are not labeled, and I believe one is high/low range, and the other should be two and four wheel drive. I didn't lift the tractor up to see if all four wheels turned when in 4wd, i just assumed that it worked when test driving.

 

[blueriver]

Drive it up against something like a tree and keep shifting those levers until the front wheels enage... may have to double clutch or try engaging with a little movement.

 

[Usta]

Can't help you with the lever issue. Do you understand the 4wd expectations?
As with most 4wd vehicles all 4 wheels will not spin when in 4wd.
In 2wd one rear wheel will have power.
In 4wd one rear and one front wheel will have power.
There is also a differential lock which will lock both rear wheels so both rear wheels will have power. When in 4wd and differential locked you essentially have 3wd.

 

[kryptic07]

I do understand how the 4wd works, with the differential lock pedal for the rear axle, however, when i believe it is shifted into 4wd, i'm not getting any pull out of either front tire. i was trying to clear some snow, and would get stuck on any incline, because only the two rear tires would turn.

 

[/pine]

have you tried free-handing the front drive shaft ? with the lever in both positions?....if there is power (resistance when engaged) at the drive shaft the problem lies in the axle or wheel(s)...
...if the shaft spins in all positions then the problem is likely with the transfer case or the tranny...

[edit]

meant to say drive shaft "yoke"...or front wheels up...

 

[Ray_Fort_White]

you should be able to track down a manual

example:

Ford 1700 Tractor Service Repair Shop Manual Workshop - Download Documents / eBooks

 

[SixHoeBob]

On my 1910 the 4WD lever is on top of the transmission case, behind the gear shift lever. The 4WD lever is horizontal when the tractor is in 2WD. Pulling the lever up about 1-2 inches engages the 4WD. Engine off with the tractor in gear, jack up the front end. When the 4WD is engaged, you should not be able to turn both front wheels in the same direction by hand. If you turn one forward, the other one should turn backwards because of the front differential. Having the tractor in gear and in 4wd should prevent the drive shaft leading to the front axle from turning.

 

[mostly_gas]

SixHoeBob is correct, the 4WD lever is on the trannie case, right in front of the seat. Up is engaged down (flat) is off. I had the dame problem you did and 4WD was broken, major bucks to fix.