Enhanced 4WD Braking

[NewToy]

Earlier this year I was pulling a trailer mounted, PTO driven straw blowing machine down my fairly steep, gravel driveway with my new Farmtrac. The wife was riding on the trailer and we were casually chatting when the tractor kicked out of gear. I immediately hit the brakes and found out they were not adjusted very well, the left one locked up and the right side kept going. I'm guessing the trailer with the straw loaded on it was probably around 2000#, we slid probably 50 feet while feathering the brake pedal frantically. The first thing I did was adjust the brakes so they worked together. Then I tried going down the drive with the trailer and even with the brakes working in unison it still wants to slide a bit. After reading something in the forum's about braking with the 4WD engaged I tried that. I couldn't believe how much better the brakes work while in 4WD. It's like having brakes on all 4 wheels. I had no idea! From now on I'll always be in 4WD while taking a heavy load down the drive.

 

[AndyMA]

Your're right. On most machines braking in 4WD is much safer. On my TN75, with the electro hydro trans, when you apply the brakes if you are in 2WD, it immediately switches into 4WD and the 4WD indicator lights.

Andy

 

[GaryM]

I discovered better braking in 4WD while moving loads of dirt in the FEL downhill on a friends asphalt drive. Guess I didn't have enough ballast on because when I'd hit the brakes the rear wheels would start to slide on the asphalt. Engaged 4WD and it worked much better because the front wheels were able to supply resistance.

 

[BB_TX]

Same here. I normally don't run in 4x4. But when I mow the ditch along the hwy, there are some areas where there are some pretty steep slopes. I usually use the 4x4 there for the braking, especially if the grass is wet.

 

[RedRocker]

If I'm off pavement I'm in 4WD, better control in all areas.

 

[JeffRey30747]

In 4WD, you can also use the added traction for more effective engine braking. This is even more important if a load in the FEL reduces traction to the rear wheels. If I'm dealing with an incline, I'm operating in 4WD.

Jeff

 

[jd0716]

I learned that 4wd is much safer real quick. When I first got my tractor I was mowing straight dow the bank in my front yard without the 4wd engaged. Tractor started sliding down the hill and start to go sideways just as I reached the bottom of the hill. Needless to say, I make sure it is in 4wd always when I am mowing.

I don't understand why my father-in-laws old 8N can go down the hill without sliding???

Dom

 

[Defective]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I don't understand why my father-in-laws old 8N can go down the hill without sliding???)</font>

Most likely the brand name... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif