4wd vs 2wd

[Carl_NH]

I agree with Art on tire size which brings up a point. I have R4s on the B21 and I know the fronts are wearing faster than the rear due to turning/scrubbing/load wear and the number of RPM vs rear is much higher thus they wear faster.

I likewise only use 4WD as needed and in snow, but what I have noticed the 4WD on disengagement is harder/ has more tension in the gear train (than when new) and I presume this is primarily the fact that the front tires have worn down more?

So is there any merit to replacing the front tires before they are "worn out" to minimize the torque stress?

 

[TripleR]

I just put new tires on my L5030 and can't tell any difference in 4WD engagement/disengagement.

Sometimes I believe we tend to over think these things.

 

[TonkaToy]

TripleT "sometimes I think we try to over think these things".......isn't that our nature being guys?

isn't that what happens when your wife says "honey please check the light switch in the bathroom, I think it's sticking" turn into gutting the whole bathroom for a complete remodel...and of course it doesn't get finished

 

[TripleR]

TripleT "sometimes I think we try to over think these things".......isn't that our nature being guys?

isn't that what happens when your wife says "honey please check the light switch in the bathroom, I think it's sticking" turn into gutting the whole bathroom for a complete remodel...and of course it doesn't get finished

Yeah and it doesn't get better with age, trust me.:laughing:

 

[wrooster]

It isn't bad to run in four wheel drive as long as the tractor is set up right. Yes you do have more parts driving, but they would be spinning anyway while driving just not in gear.
The biggest thing here is having the proper balance of tires from front to rear. There are plenty of machines that are directly connected between front and rear axles.
The biggest sin that is done to tractors is replacing tires and not installing the right size!
This doesn't just mean whats written on the side of the tires but what is the outer diameter as well as style of tire so the casing is the same height from the outer diameter.
You can fine tune with air pressure! Many times that is all that is needed to adjust the lead lag ratio to assist with easy disengagement of the four wheel drive which is normally the first thing noticed when the ratio isn't correct.

All of this would be a useful approach if the surface you are working on is billiard-table flat, if you never make a turn, if the outside air temperature never changes, if the load on the four tires is constant regardless of FEL contents and TPH attachment, and if your weight stays exactly the same.

To that end, placing a bottle of beer in the cup holder will create an imbalance.

You are over-thinking this. Driveline windup/binding and resultant tire slippage/scuff will happen in every case with a locked center differential, which is typical of the type of tractors we are playing with here. No amount of massaging the air pressure in the tires (or any other measure taken) is going to prevent this. There is no possible way to eliminate driveline windup/binding in a locked center differential implementation.

Wrooster

 

[Carl_NH]

All of this would be a useful approach if the surface you are working on is billiard-table flat, if you never make a turn, if the outside air temperature never changes, if the load on the four tires is constant regardless of FEL contents and TPH attachment, and if your weight stays exactly the same.

To that end, placing a bottle of beer in the cup holder will create an imbalance.

Wrooster

I put a 6 pack on ice in the BH bucket as this reduces the weight on the front end but eventually this gets distributed to the center of the tractor and reduces tension and bind ups.

 

[CHDinCT]

I put a 6 pack on ice in the BH bucket as this reduces the weight on the front end but eventually this gets distributed to the center of the tractor and reduces tension and bind ups.

That there's funny, I don't care who you are!

 

[crash325]

I put a 6 pack on ice in the BH bucket as this reduces the weight on the front end but eventually this gets distributed to the center of the tractor and reduces tension and bind ups.

At times I have that same problem. Should I shift into or out of 2WD. :thumbsup::licking:

 

[Code54]

Here in the mountains, we always leave it in 4x4. My neighbor took his out and forgot and went over his back hill only to start sliding, and eventually turning his Kubota over. Once you start sliding it in 2 wheel it is too late. If I burn up an extra set of tires or even have to fix something down the road I figure it as the cost of doing business as they say...

 

[Carl_NH]

At times I have that same problem. Should I shift into or out of 2WD. :thumbsup::licking:

Same for me after three its 0WD enjoying the results of the day!