front wheels freewheeling

[GaryS]

I have a mf 1428v hydro tractor and I've noticed the front wheels do not stop when I take my foot off the pedal when on a hill. I had quite a scare on a steep hill a couple days ago. I called the dealer and he suggested doing a oil change of the hydro. I changed the hydro & the oil in the front axel - and it's doing the same thing. While going down a hill with wet grass, I take my foot off the pedal and the rear tires stop dead. The front tires keep rolling. I've had the tractor since 2004 and only have 360 hours on it. It's the same old land that I'm cutting.

Any ideas on what is wrong? I assume that since the rear tires are stopping that the hydro is ok. Is there a linkage to the front axel that can be the issue?

 

[texasjohn]

Gary... a few questions....

Is this a 4 wheel drive tractor....if no, then there is every reason to expect the wheels to free wheel.

If it IS 4 wheel drive, did you have it engaged... if no, then every reason to expect the wheels to free wheel.

If it IS 4 wheel drive AND you had it engaged, are you SURE that it is engaged, meaning, is the link between the lever and the transmission disconnected? If disconnected, then not in 4 wheel drive, thus no connection between transmission and front wheels, thus free wheeling.

I doubt, strongly, that you have brakes on the front wheels, most tractors don't, mine doesn't, thus brakes will NOT stop front wheels from free wheeling.

Net....we need to understand why you believe that the front wheels SHOULD be applying any kind of braking force. If there is no transmission to engage or brakes, then there is no way they can be expected to apply any braking force, by design.

 

[pat32rf]

Any chance that its jumping out of 4wd when the forces on the drivetrain are reversed (braking instead of pulling) or the front drive shaft has a worn coupling that is slipping?
Do BOTH rear wheels stop? If one is still turning then the fronts could still turn as well...
My buddies little Massey always seems to jump out of 4wd at the wrong time...

 

[GaryS]

I did a bunch of tests and I found a couple of things.

• I found that the lever was in the mfwd position and yet it wasn't really in 4wheel drive.
• The manual is wrong. It states that to engage 4wd, the lever needs to be up. It needs to be down to engage mfwd.
• The international symbols on the label make no sense whatsoever.
• I am an idiot for not checking this 40 times before posting here and proving that I'm an idiot

On a hill, the rear tires would lock up but the fronts kept rolling. When I engaged/disengaged/engaged mfwd it started working.

I worried that something was going wrong with the transmission and I didn't want a costly repair. It's something that I'll check every time I get on the tractor.

 

[Chooglin]

The international symbols on the label make no sense whatsoever.

I have to agree,they make very little sense to me to.

Glad you figured it all out.

 

[texasjohn]

Gary..... you're being too hard on yourself.....I often get a mindset on something and can check it and not see what is wrong.....no embarrassment in asking a question and sleeping on it overnight....it's understandable to be concerned when things aren't working as you think they should....this is what TBN is for...to assist in getting problems solved and enhance our operational safety. Am glad it's solved... and bet you took a black marker and made your own additions to the signage so it's now clear to both you and others!!!

 

[GaryS]

....this is what TBN is for...

It sure is & the community is the best!

It was driving me nuts and I worried that something serious wrong. When I got it working, it was a real head slapping moment "How could I have not tried that!".

thanks again