4x4 Question

[Soundguy]

Back when i had a 4wd tractor.. I rarely used it.. because i rarely needed it. i used it when i needed it. if you need it use it.. otherwise.. it is just extra wear on the system.

If I had lots of hills and soft dirt.. I'd be more inclined to use it. Be carefull on hard non-slip surfaces like asphalt or concrete.. etc.. If you are tearing up sod and don't need the traction, you can also disengage it.. etc.

Soundguy

 

[dieselsmoke1]

Depends on the task. Mowing, never. FEL, always. Everything else somewhere in between.

 

[ovrszd]

I wonder if those that reply by saying use it all the time would do the same thing with their 4x4 truck?? Or maybe they don't own anything else 4x4 drive??

As one post said, "I use 4wd just like I do on my truck, when I need it. Then it goes back to 2wd." That's how you should be using your 4x4 tractor.

As another post said, "Back when i had a 4wd tractor.. I rarely used it.. because i rarely needed it. i used it when i needed it. if you need it use it.. otherwise.. it is just extra wear on the system."

These two posts are excellent advice. Don't use your 4x4 unless you need it. You are wearing out your system, tearing up your tires and tearing up your lawn for no reason. You should rarely use your 4x4 and disengage it as soon as you are out of whatever spot caused you to engage it. If it was meant to be used all the time there would be no way to disengage it would there??? Think about that and use it when needed only. Your tractor will thank you!!!

 

[Henro]

These two posts are excellent advice. Don't use your 4x4 unless you need it. You are wearing out your system, tearing up your tires and tearing up your lawn for no reason. You should rarely use your 4x4 and disengage it as soon as you are out of whatever spot caused you to engage it. If it was meant to be used all the time there would be no way to disengage it would there??? Think about that and use it when needed only. Your tractor will thank you!!!

I for one are not sure about this advice...

I should confess that I am one that keeps his tractor in 4x4 all the time except if on paved surfaces. Then again I don't keep the smaller tractor in 4x4 mode all the time, since I use it for mowing the lawn.

We need to keep in mind that whether the tractor is locked in 4x4 mode, or not, the gears and shafts still turn all the time anyway. The only difference is that stress resulting from slight differences in gearing between the front and rear is eliminated. Such stress results from a small amount of overspeed designed into the system, where the front tires are made to turn slightly faster than the rears, by design, not chance.

For me, living in the hills of western PA, there is a safety margin that is increased by keeping the tractor in 4x4. When not in 4x4 braking is by the rear wheels only. If I have something in my loader bucket, going down hill can reducing the amount of breaking available to the rear tires. 4X4 mode gives me better control overall.

The only time I notice that I am tearing up my lawn when in 4x4 mode is when I make a tight turn. Going straight or making gradual turns shows no real ill effects. I take this to mean that the stress felt by the components in the system is not that great. If it were, the front wheels would be fighting the rears, and the grass would show signs of this I expect.

If tractors had hubs that could be locked/unlocked like a 4x4 truck does, I would buy into the idea that taking the tractor out of 4x4 mode saves wear (and some tear) on the front end components. But since they don't, I guess I don't either.

This is the way it looks to me...

 

[ovrszd]

I for one are not sure about this advice...

I should confess that I am one that keeps his tractor in 4x4 all the time except if on paved surfaces. Then again I don't keep the smaller tractor in 4x4 mode all the time, since I use it for mowing the lawn.

We need to keep in mind that whether the tractor is locked in 4x4 mode, or not, the gears and shafts still turn all the time anyway. The only difference is that stress resulting from slight differences in gearing between the front and rear is eliminated. Such stress results from a small amount of overspeed designed into the system, where the front tires are made to turn slightly faster than the rears, by design, not chance.

For me, living in the hills of western PA, there is a safety margin that is increased by keeping the tractor in 4x4. When not in 4x4 braking is by the rear wheels only. If I have something in my loader bucket, going down hill can reducing the amount of breaking available to the rear tires. 4X4 mode gives me better control overall.

The only time I notice that I am tearing up my lawn when in 4x4 mode is when I make a tight turn. Going straight or making gradual turns shows no real ill effects. I take this to mean that the stress felt by the components in the system is not that great. If it were, the front wheels would be fighting the rears, and the grass would show signs of this I expect.

If tractors had hubs that could be locked/unlocked like a 4x4 truck does, I would buy into the idea that taking the tractor out of 4x4 mode saves wear (and some tear) on the front end components. But since they don't, I guess I don't either.

This is the way it looks to me...

Then I suggest you keep your tractor in 4x4 all the time. Your parts man will thank you!!!

Very few 4x4 trucks built today have lockout hubs. No Jeep currently being produced does. So by design they turn all of the parts all of the time. That doesn't mean it's okay to run in 4x4 everytime you pull off pavement. My wife and I are Jeep nuts and offroad a lot. Most breakdowns occur when turning, in 4x4, on solid footing. In some circumstances it's unavoidable to make those turns, but to automatically engage 4x4 every time we leave pavement is a recipe for disaster.

For those of you that insist on running in 4x4 all the time, here's my challenge to you. Engage your 4x4 on your lawn, turn your front tires halfway to the steering lock, drive forward until you have completed half a circle. Stop, lower your loader bucket (if so equipped), pick the front tires up until they are off the ground. Notice how they will "spin" as soon as you start lifting weight off them??? That's the torque and twist of axles, driveshafts, gears, etc., that is stored in your front drive system from turning in 4x4. Does that not bother you?? Then continue to drive around in 4x4.

Oh, if you don't have a loader, go get a jack and jack up one front tire after making this turn, you will see the same negative effect.

Another easy example of this torque is to engage 4x4 on a gravel driveway, turn the front wheels to the lock either direction, drive forward and complete a full circle turn around. Notice how the front tires are scratching and clawing at the gravel??? That is happening every time you turn around in 4x4 regardless of what ground type you are on.

Some larger, more expensive farm tractors have a 4x4 system that is traction sensitive and will tolerate full lock turns while engaged. I don't know of any CUTs that have this system so they are fully locked into 4x4 when engaged.

I'm not arguing using 4x4 for downhill runs or whenever needed. I'm just saying it is not good advice to run in 4x4 all the time. That advice is especially bad when given to an owner that might not fully understand the mechanics of what is going on when you do that. Again,,,, that's why they give you the ability to engage and disengage at your discretion. If that wasn't necessary, your tractor would be in 4x4 all the time from the factory.

 

[sandman2234]

My 4x4 never went into 4wd until I needed it, which was usually to get me out of something I had gotten into, or for using the box blade, while spreading piles of dirt. My oversize box blade did a much better job while under 4wd.
I sure am going to miss that old tractor, the newer one doesn't have 4wd.
David from jax

 

[RayH]

I only use 4X4 when needed. Most of the time its not needed.

 

[browns40]

I only use the front drive during loader & box work, or "tricky" mowing...

Even if the gears are turning, they aren't turning with the same load/torque/friction as when they are exerting force to the ground.

 

[Volfandt]

I only use 4x4 when needed i.e. to get unstuck or when digging w/the FEL. My land is pretty flat so I don't need it for traction control and since I primarily mow 4 acres with it, 4x4 would cut down on my turning radius as well as tear the turf up so it's rarely used.
Of course it's there when I needs it and that why I purposely purchased a scut w/4x4

Like my 4x4 truck I'll engage the 4x4 every now and then to give it a workout and make sure it works

Volfandt

 

[Turbys_1700]

I use 2WD all the time mowing except for one steep hill that requires backing up...My land is very hilly but with ag tires very manageable in 2WD mowing...No need to wear the 4WD when unnecessary...I'm gonna get a loader eventually...That will require 4WD...