Glad you got it fixed. That piece of steel is thick, but it's quite long and has a half dozen bends in it, so it probably bent along the section that's being twisted. I've found that to get mine to go into 4wd a bit easier, I touch the reverse pedal just slightly to take the pressure off the gear train, then when I release the pedal that helps it go into 4wd without putting any pressure on the lever. I've never had a better machine in my life, hope yours works out for you.
B2710 Slipping out of 4WD?
- Thread starter FreedomFamilyFarms
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Glad you got it fixed. That piece of steel is thick, but it's quite long and has a half dozen bends in it, so it probably bent along the section that's being twisted. I've found that to get mine to go into 4wd a bit easier, I touch the reverse pedal just slightly to take the pressure off the gear train, then when I release the pedal that helps it go into 4wd without putting any pressure on the lever. I've never had a better machine in my life, hope yours works out for you.
OP
FreedomFamilyFarms
Silver Member
Several years later this problem isn’t completely solved. The tractor kicks out of 4WD when under load at higher speeds such as plowing snow with a rear blade. Any ideas for a fix?
If you have an inspection camera that attaches to your smart phone, you can probably find a way to look at the shift fork and the 2 gears that control whether the front axle is engaged. They're cheap and worth their weight in gold for a million things. Go on Amazon and search for "DEPSTECH Wireless Endoscope", that's the one I bought but there's lots of other ones to pick from. I see two ways you might get the camera in there. The hydraulic filter on the right side of the tractor just below the 4WD lever is below the shift fork and the gear that slides back and forth. The HST filter on the left side of the tractor is also close to that area and might be a way in if you take the filter off. Other possible ways in are the hydraulic oil dipstick opening just in front of the seat, and the hydraulic oil fill opening between the 3pt arms. If you drain the hydraulic oil you might get the camera up through the drain hole, and strain the fluid and look for metal contamination. That would be bad news but would probably confirm that either the shift fork or bearing for that gear has gotten chewed up. You could also cut the HST filter apart and check for metal particles.
One of the other posters mentioned the detent, I can't find it in the shop manual but there must be one and that would be a good place to check. It looks like there's a bolt right above the 4WD lever, if you've lived a good clean life that might be the detent ball and spring. If you take them out (hopefully without dropping them) you can check their condition and also possibly get the camera in that hole. That would allow you to look directly at the shaft.
I've been out plowing snow with mine, there is a distinct detent for both 2WD and 4WD and I can feel it drop in. It's not quite as pronounced as the detent on the float position of the loader. So if you don't feel that, probably pursue the detent as the source of the problem.
The fact that your original problem was related to a bent lever might indicate something happened to force the 4WD into gear. I've run into branches that forced a lever to change position. I'm also embarrassed to say the back of my coat has gotten hooked on the PTO lever when I get off the tractor and I've hung there like a knucklehead before I could do my break dancing routine and wiggle free. Maybe something like that happened to the 4WD lever and did some kind of damage.
One of the other posters mentioned the detent, I can't find it in the shop manual but there must be one and that would be a good place to check. It looks like there's a bolt right above the 4WD lever, if you've lived a good clean life that might be the detent ball and spring. If you take them out (hopefully without dropping them) you can check their condition and also possibly get the camera in that hole. That would allow you to look directly at the shaft.
I've been out plowing snow with mine, there is a distinct detent for both 2WD and 4WD and I can feel it drop in. It's not quite as pronounced as the detent on the float position of the loader. So if you don't feel that, probably pursue the detent as the source of the problem.
The fact that your original problem was related to a bent lever might indicate something happened to force the 4WD into gear. I've run into branches that forced a lever to change position. I'm also embarrassed to say the back of my coat has gotten hooked on the PTO lever when I get off the tractor and I've hung there like a knucklehead before I could do my break dancing routine and wiggle free. Maybe something like that happened to the 4WD lever and did some kind of damage.
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Henro
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2003
- Messages
- 4,982
- Location
- Few miles north of Pgh, PA
- Tractor
- Kubota B2910, BX2200, KX41-2V mini EX
Or just buy a stand alone unit. I bought one that has good color resolution quite cheap, I think under $40, and it works real well...AND no smart phone needed! (I do have an iPhone but find the stand alone preferable to using my phone as an interface)
The thing I like about the phone models is they use wifi for the connection. I find it easier to prop the phone up somewhere that I can see it and not have to worry about knocking it over when I manipulate the cable.
OP
FreedomFamilyFarms
Silver Member
Plowed a few inches of heavy wet snow last night. Was a great learning experience. Turns out I’ve been doing it all wrong. My blade angle wasn’t steep enough to properly “roll” the snow out of the way. I had been dragging the snow around in the mid range gear and it was taking forever to get it cleared often requiring multiple passes.
With the correct blade angle I was able to blast through it in high range!
I held my hand on the 4WD lever during most of the session. It only slipped into 2WD a couple times when my hand was needed elsewhere. On this machine 4WD is the “higher” lever setting meaning gravity is working against it. Given that I never felt the lever get pulled out of position I’m hoping it’s just a lazy detent. I’ll dig into it and report back when I’m able.
I suspect that at higher speeds under heavier load the long lever just wiggles more and works its way out of the detent (fingers crossed).
With the correct blade angle I was able to blast through it in high range!
I held my hand on the 4WD lever during most of the session. It only slipped into 2WD a couple times when my hand was needed elsewhere. On this machine 4WD is the “higher” lever setting meaning gravity is working against it. Given that I never felt the lever get pulled out of position I’m hoping it’s just a lazy detent. I’ll dig into it and report back when I’m able.
I suspect that at higher speeds under heavier load the long lever just wiggles more and works its way out of the detent (fingers crossed).
Henro
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2003
- Messages
- 4,982
- Location
- Few miles north of Pgh, PA
- Tractor
- Kubota B2910, BX2200, KX41-2V mini EX
That makes sense. Never considered using my phone so that could be an advantage I overlooked. My luck though, my phone would end up falling in the mud! :laughing:
Yeah, I hear you, there's like a magnetic force that pulls phones into the wrong place. My wife has now dropped 4 phones in the toilet, but who's counting.
The other nice thing about the cameras that connect to a phone is they will work with a chromebook because a chromebook can run android phone apps. So with mine I can use my chromebook laptop which has a 15" display, so it gives a better view and it's easier to see from a distance while I'm upside down under the tractor with oil all over my hands.
