frank_f15
Super Member, Rest in Peace
snowman . i am from upstate ny also, buffalo area. u can probably understand why i need an orange to help me out/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif please register so we can get to know u!
Diff Lock / 4wd
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RobS
Super Member
<font color=blue>Now just how serious it is, I really don't know. </font color=blue>
This story isn't about a tractor but it's related... One of my first vehicles was an old chevy half ton 4X4 with 4 speed, locking hubs and manual shift transfer case. I was not too kind to the truck and probably drove it too much in 4WD on dry surfaces. I also had big mudder tires on it. One time I went to "grab an handful of transfer case" to help with my spinning rear tires. When I let out the clutch, I could hear a metallic whirring sound. Turns out the slip joint splines in the front driveshaft had worn and finally gave out due to all the stresses of abuse.
It was a relativly cheap lesson as I picked up a used driveshaft at a junkyard, but I did learn to use 4wd only when needed. Same applies to my tractor. Besides, I paid a whole bunch more for my tractor than I did for that old truck /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
This story isn't about a tractor but it's related... One of my first vehicles was an old chevy half ton 4X4 with 4 speed, locking hubs and manual shift transfer case. I was not too kind to the truck and probably drove it too much in 4WD on dry surfaces. I also had big mudder tires on it. One time I went to "grab an handful of transfer case" to help with my spinning rear tires. When I let out the clutch, I could hear a metallic whirring sound. Turns out the slip joint splines in the front driveshaft had worn and finally gave out due to all the stresses of abuse.
It was a relativly cheap lesson as I picked up a used driveshaft at a junkyard, but I did learn to use 4wd only when needed. Same applies to my tractor. Besides, I paid a whole bunch more for my tractor than I did for that old truck /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
scruffy
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RobS, now if (with lesson learned) you didn't swing too far the other way on your 4WD usage. When I used to work as a gas mechanic in another life, I found many people just ignored their 4WD totally. Inspections? Why? They never used it! Servicing? Never got used, so why service it? These types of attitudes soon found u-joints, cvc joints, etc giving problems because of lack of servicing.
I am not meaning to imply that you would do the above, but just wanted to note here for everyone, that it is important to maintain service, and inspections on the hardware, even though it may not be used very often.
I am not meaning to imply that you would do the above, but just wanted to note here for everyone, that it is important to maintain service, and inspections on the hardware, even though it may not be used very often.
RobS
Super Member
Good points Scruffy. I've always said the worst thing you can do to any mechanical thing is not use it.
I'm still a fan of manual transmissions and manual hubs (call me old fashioned). In winter I'll keep the hubs locked during snows but only engage the t-case when I need it. In other seasons I try to lock the hubs about once a month for a short trip to keep the seals lubed and pliable. Now that we have our property it's not a problem as I'm out there in 4wd quite often /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Same applies to the tractor and I'll have to make it a point to spin my yet-to-be-used mid-PTO this weekend. Thanks for the reminder /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
I'm still a fan of manual transmissions and manual hubs (call me old fashioned). In winter I'll keep the hubs locked during snows but only engage the t-case when I need it. In other seasons I try to lock the hubs about once a month for a short trip to keep the seals lubed and pliable. Now that we have our property it's not a problem as I'm out there in 4wd quite often /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Same applies to the tractor and I'll have to make it a point to spin my yet-to-be-used mid-PTO this weekend. Thanks for the reminder /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
scruffy
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Sounds like you've developed some good habits! Don't forget to turn on the air in your cab for 10-15 minutes once a week, in the wintertime! Helps keep all the seals pliant and in good shape! IF you have a cab complete w/air that is! 
)
That works well for autos and pickups also. Sure gets my spouse in an uproar every so often...she don't like the air on when its down to zero!
)That works well for autos and pickups also. Sure gets my spouse in an uproar every so often...she don't like the air on when its down to zero!
RobS
Super Member
<font color=blue>Sure gets my spouse in an uproar every so often...she don't like the air on when its down to zero!</font color=blue>
I'll have to remember that one /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif My wife likes it very warm in the car/truck so this'll give me an excuse to cool things down every now and then /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
I'll have to remember that one /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif My wife likes it very warm in the car/truck so this'll give me an excuse to cool things down every now and then /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Bird
Rest in Peace
Scruffy, I certainly agree with everything you've said about using, or at least turning on, those things periodically, but don't all the later model cars and pickups turn on the air-conditioner compressor when the defroster is turned on? That negates the need to run the cooling periodically in the winter.
Mid-PTO? Hmmm, I've never used it on either of my tractors, so I've never turned it on. Maybe I should some day just to see if it works.
Bird
Mid-PTO? Hmmm, I've never used it on either of my tractors, so I've never turned it on. Maybe I should some day just to see if it works.
Bird
skent
Platinum Member
I know for sure that Ford and GM cycles the AC when set for defrost. It helps keep the windows clean and keeps the AC compressor 'loose'!
Steve
Steve
scruffy
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Bird, Skent, while I will agree with you that it 'turns on' the air compressors in a lot of the newer models, I won't go so far as to say that it circulates the 'freon' throughout the system. The freon is what lubricates the hoses/seals etc, and is very important to whole system circulation to evenly distribute the freon through the system for maximum lubrication and protection. The hoses can rot when dry, and the seals can definately dry out when not lubricated. With just one seal reaching the 'dry' stage, you can suffer a leak and subsequently have to recharge the system. This may or may not restore the leaking seal. Cheaper to let it run for a few minutes once a week or so.
Besides, its not often that I have been 'caught' by the wife, course its never fun when I have been, as I am stubborn and want to finish my chore before I quit.
Besides, its not often that I have been 'caught' by the wife, course its never fun when I have been, as I am stubborn and want to finish my chore before I quit.
The A/C system does activate - it's being used to condense out any moisture in the air within the system. By doing this the air that finally hits the insided of the cold windshield is dry and it doesn't get fogged. Saves you having to run the heat up to 100F on a cold rainy day to clear the windshield.
Don't know about the lubrication properties of Freon or R-12 (or whatever) - it may actually be somewhat corrosive - but I'm sure it helps for mechanical parts that don't come into contact with the refrigerant to be cycled once in a while.
Don't know about the lubrication properties of Freon or R-12 (or whatever) - it may actually be somewhat corrosive - but I'm sure it helps for mechanical parts that don't come into contact with the refrigerant to be cycled once in a while.