Curious non-issue

[Been there]

Greetings,
I'm hoping some of you can assist me with something I don't understand.
BACKGROUND
I have a Massey Ferguson 1635 that I bought new about 10 years ago. It has generally been very reliable and problem free (knock on wood). It lives in a dry barn when not being used. Well maintained and not abused.

Last summer, I could not get it out of 4WD. The actuation lever just wouldn't move. I tried everything short of brute force. Being in 4WD wasn't a big issue for the way I was using it, but over the fall and into the winter I would try to disengage it occasionally - with no result.

About the same time last summer, the temperature gage stopped functioning. Regardless of the heat outside or how hard I was working it, it never registered any temperature. I checked the engine temp with an infrared thermometer, and everything was ok. I checked all the accessible connections and the temperature sender on the head, but everything seemed ok. I did not want to tear into the instrument panel.

A few weeks ago, when it was below freezing, I was using it and discovered that the 4WD lever was working fine and smoothly. Also, the temperature gage was working again. They've both been working fine since then.
??????????

Any thoughts? (Other than "Gremlins".)
I'm not complaining, but I am mystified.
So, given the expertise I've witnessed on this forum over the years, I thought I'd try tapping a few centuries of accumulated wisdom.

Thanks for any constructive thought.

 

[bcp]

Things shrink when cold. Something binding the 4wd lever shrunk a bit. Some electrical connector shrunk, making a better contact. They may quit working again in hot weather.

Bruce

 

[Bavarian]

Your tractor likes the winter.

 

[big bubba]

the real test for the problem will be this summer

 

[RayIN]

Most 4WD tractors actually have front wheel assist, which is not designed for continuous use.

 

[Texasmark]

Greetings,
I'm hoping some of you can assist me with something I don't understand.
BACKGROUND
I have a Massey Ferguson 1635 that I bought new about 10 years ago. It has generally been very reliable and problem free (knock on wood). It lives in a dry barn when not being used. Well maintained and not abused.

Last summer, I could not get it out of 4WD. The actuation lever just wouldn't move. I tried everything short of brute force. Being in 4WD wasn't a big issue for the way I was using it, but over the fall and into the winter I would try to disengage it occasionally - with no result.

About the same time last summer, the temperature gage stopped functioning. Regardless of the heat outside or how hard I was working it, it never registered any temperature. I checked the engine temp with an infrared thermometer, and everything was ok. I checked all the accessible connections and the temperature sender on the head, but everything seemed ok. I did not want to tear into the instrument panel.

A few weeks ago, when it was below freezing, I was using it and discovered that the 4WD lever was working fine and smoothly. Also, the temperature gage was working again. They've both been working fine since then.
??????????

Any thoughts? (Other than "Gremlins".)
I'm not complaining, but I am mystified.
So, given the expertise I've witnessed on this forum over the years, I thought I'd try tapping a few centuries of accumulated wisdom.

Thanks for any constructive thought.

I have a 2007 6530 Branson that goes into 4WD ok. It just is reluctant to come out ever since it was new. What works is to put the shift lever in reverse and pop the clutch while putting mild pressure on the lever. Comes right out. Apparently the coupling that slices over the shafts, connecting or disconnecting the two shafts needs some grease but no way to get at it.

You might give that a try.....not necessarily how I did it but shock the coupling with any load off the junction while putting mild pressure on the lever.

 

[Texasmark]

Most 4WD tractors actually have front wheel assist, which is not designed for continuous use.

I find several postings of broken front axles on small HP compacts and if you investigate the details, the operator was using the front axle as the main propeller.....which, as you said, wasn't designed for that.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

My experience with most tractors with a mechanical lever to actuate 4x4 has been to reverse tractor while putting pressure on the shift lever. On the flip side you have the very tractor that every one of us wants " one that fixes itself ".

 

[RayIN]

I have a 2007 6530 Branson that goes into 4WD ok. It just is reluctant to come out ever since it was new. What works is to put the shift lever in reverse and pop the clutch while putting mild pressure on the lever. Comes right out. Apparently the coupling that slices over the shafts, connecting or disconnecting the two shafts needs some grease but no way to get at it.

You might give that a try.....not necessarily how I did it but shock the coupling with any load off the junction while putting mild pressure on the lever.

What you described used to happen to 4WD pickups. The front differential turns slightly faster then the rear differential in 4WD. This is purposely designed this way for best handling on slick roads. (keeps the front axle in the pulling more)
When these pickups were driven on dry roads, the front differential would get in a bind. Reverse and pressure on the manual transfer case shifter would get back to 2WD, it "unwound" the front differential gears/released pressure on the gears to allow shifting the transfer case to 2WD.