Is Full Time Use of 4WD a Problem?

[k0ua]

Too difficult of terrain around my place to risk life and limb vs. premature tractor wear.

Yep I have seen pictures of your place.. No screwing around in 2WD for you!:thumbsup:

 

[2458n]

There is a good chance the guy operating equipment has learned some things over the years. Now wether he chooses to share this information- - -

 

[RBA50]

BTW, all tires are loaded on both my tractors. I don't think loading is a factor.
Mike

Well, it's your tractor, but the Kubota manuals, both owner's and WSM specifically state to NOT load the front tires. Must be a reason.

 

[vetteman46]

"Must be a Reason . . ."

So, what's the reason? "I dunno" doesn't count.

 

[dstig1]

Bottom line, Leave it into 2WD until you need it.. Thing is a lot of us "need it" just about 100% of the time except when we are on pavement, and some of us need it even then. Everyone's operating experience is different. Everyone's terrain is different, Everyone's loads and usage is different. As I pointed out leaving a tractor in 2WD would not be very useful, and even dangerous on my place, but be perfectly acceptable 90% of the time elsewhere. But in general terms, if the surface you are operating on, will allow you to feel the tire scrubbing or binding as noted by other posters, then it is time to switch to 2WD. If you never feel that because you operate on soft dirt or loose gravel or wet leaves,.. Well use your own discretion.

Hard to argue with that logic, but I am in the camp of needing it in 4wd almost always. Only when I am on dry pavement do I take it out of 4wd, and that is minutes worth of use so far. I have found on occasions when I am on pavement and then forget to go back to 4wd that I am reminded of it immediately..by spinning rear tires and no forward progress. Now I don't do any lawn mowing or things of that sort with it so far, so that may have an effect on this, but I do not know so far.

 

[rScotty]

"Being a pessimist is great. You can't lose. Either you end up being right...or you are pleasantly surprised."

What I'm learning from this thread is a indeed a pleasant surprise...

Back decades ago when we first started using compact 4wd tractors with loaders for heavy work we tended to use them in 2wd most of the time and only used 4wd when necessary. Over the years that has just about reversed itself. Now I find myself leaving it in 4wd as the normal condition and only switching to 2wd for high traction or high speed surfaces.
Nice to find out from this thread that I'm not alone in that way that my tractor usage has changed, and even nicer to find that using 4wd most of the time doesn't seem to have caused mechanical problems for other folks either.

When the manufacturers decide to include a lockable differential between the front and rear axles we'll all be living in fat city.
rScotty

 

[SmokemanGRP]

Thanks for everyone’s contributions. I forgot to mention my terrain and typical working conditions. There are no paved roads for miles. Our property is basically flat; a 2 degree slope with several washes which I stay out of most of the time. There is no lawn to deal with, just dirt and high desert wild grasses. I typically stay in Medium gear unless loading dirt (low) or taking the trash can out to the street (high sometimes).

Judging by what I’ve read here and my usage, I cannot really go wrong with either option. I will try it later today in 2WD to get a feel for it and will definitely use 2WD next time I take it down the dirt road to my neighbors.

Thanks again.

 

[RaydaKub]

I agree, use 4WD when needed it. Also save on fuel in 2WD drive. Maybe a lot of people don't care about that.

Interesting thought, but can you prove it? Since most front wheel drivetrains are ground driven even in 2WD, the amount of machinery moving remains the same. You may end up with less binding when you turn, but could you ever even measure it w/o an eye dropper?

 

[k0ua]

Interesting thought, but can you prove it? Since most front wheel drivetrains are ground driven even in 2WD, the amount of machinery moving remains the same. You may end up with less binding when you turn, but could you ever even measure it w/o an eye dropper?

Exactly, I don't think a lot of people realize that. I don't doubt there is some small reduction in fuel usage by going to 2WD, but I can't see how it would be much. And if you had a lot of slippage in 2WD it might even be a negative savings. Of course your 4WD equipped truck is a different story, with the various hub decoupling schemes, in use today, all of the running gear is decoupled and does not add to the friction load on the vehicle. But tractors, not so much.

 

[ovrszd]

My Brother leaves his L3240HST in 4wd all the time. When I get on it the first thing I notice is it's sluggish movement. I usually have to back up or turn the steering wheel back and forth while moving to get it out of 4wd. As soon as I do, the tractor moves more freely.

Almost all CUTs are designed with different ratios in the front versus rear. If operated on solid footing they are bound up at various times depending on that ratio. My Brother's tractor is geared so the front tires travel at a slightly faster ground speed than the rears. So as soon as it starts moving it binds and takes more power to move.

I'm not dictating operational behavior to anyone. It's your tractor. With that said, driving around in 4wd all the time will increase wear and shorten the life of the tractor's powertrain as well as the tires, more front than rear. With that said, is it significant?? Probably not. But it's unnecessary wear. And as I already said,,, it's your tractor.

My uses are severe and mostly in steep timber. I am on a first name basis with my 4wd lever.