Is Full Time Use of 4WD a Problem?

[orezok]

I used to keep my B7800 in 4WD all the time as there are no paved streets anywhere near me, but I've noticed after 300 hours that the fronts are wearing 2 or 3 times faster than the rears. I now attribute that to the desert "soil" which is more like sand paper.

The rears are loaded and have more traction so the fronts slip and are ground away. I now use 4WD when needed.

 

[repete]

I used to keep my B7800 in 4WD all the time as there are no paved streets anywhere near me, but I've noticed after 300 hours that the fronts are wearing 2 or 3 times faster than the rears. I now attribute that to the desert "soil" which is more like sand paper.

The rears are loaded and have more traction so the fronts slip and are ground away. I now use 4WD when needed.

That is exactly the lesson I learned. If you want to eat them fast use 4wd all the time. The wear gets exponentially faster as the fronts lose height as well. If you need 4wd use it. If you don't then don't. 3000' gravel driveway here.

 

[ovrszd]

I used to keep my B7800 in 4WD all the time as there are no paved streets anywhere near me, but I've noticed after 300 hours that the fronts are wearing 2 or 3 times faster than the rears. I now attribute that to the desert "soil" which is more like sand paper.

The rears are loaded and have more traction so the fronts slip and are ground away. I now use 4WD when needed.

I'm sure there is some additional wear on the front tires if ran in 4wd a lot. Especially if ran in 4wd on solid footing when not needed. A contributing factor to that is the 1.2% to 1.5% overrun of the front axle on MFWD tractors. But beyond that, the front tires are smaller than the rears, thus they make a full revolution many more times than the rears to travel the same distance. Only natural for them to wear out quicker.

Here's an example. My front tires are 12.4x24 Radials with an approximate 11.83 foot circumference. My rear tires are 18.4x30 Radials with an approximate 15.75 foot circumference. Doesn't sound like much difference does it??

Let's say I hitch onto my 10' brush cutter and cut a square 40 acre pasture. 1/4 mile long, 1/4 mile wide. It'll take me 132 passes to get the job done. I'll travel 33 miles in the process. Here's where the difference really shows up.

To cover that 33 miles my rear tires will make 10,720 revolutions.

To cover that 33 miles my front tires will make 14,272 revolutions.

Which tire will wear out quicker??? Shocking huh.

 

[k0ua]

Even our 2WD tractors would wear out the fronts way quicker than the rears.

 

[jdtractor]

Hi I myself have owned 4x4 tractors for 26 yrs. I used to farm heavy with several hd of beef cattle . I run over 200 acres of steep and some flat ground. Ive baled , bush hogged very steep rough hill sides, with a fnl on 3 of these tractors of the 4 Ive owned. The tires are loaded all the way around ,and rear wheel weights added to the rear of 2. The four wheel drive is in always. I drive on hard ,soft, wet over the axle deep mud to the point the belly pans are dragging, moving large round bales , manure, etc.... in the front buckets or on the bale spears. Ive carried 2 sometimes 3 round bales at a time .(note the round bales weigh approx. 1000 lbs ea.) Ive NEVER had any problems with my front end drive.The tires are all loaded like I said earlier Four wheel drive is ment to be used , I don't care what the dealers say , as far as Im concerned , they sit behind a desk and have the time don't know as much as they think they do. My tractors are seldom out of being in 4x4 unless im tramming a few miles to my other farm, and then I don't always disengage then. You do what you want with your tractor ,its yours but I don't take mine out. If it wont stand it then its not much of a tractor. IMO.

 

[Bluegill2]

I have great ballast until I start using it such as a box scraper, to compensate I will need to add wheel weights then I'll be carrying unneeded weight the rest of the time; seems like there's always something.

Yes there is that. No such thing as Perfect in anything!

 

[Bluegill2]

I have great ballast until I start using it such as a box scraper, to compensate I will need to add wheel weights then I'll be carrying unneeded weight the rest of the time; seems like there's always something.

But, this is were I usually take the loader off.

 

[ovrszd]

A friend of mine bought a 6xxx JD MFWD tractor used a couple years ago. Wasn't familiar with it's operation. Said it had a 4wd indicator lamp in the dash but it was burned out. He had it in 4wd and not being familiar with the tractor didn't realize it. Roaded it several times from his house to his farm on pavement, 4 miles round trip. Knocked the front differential out of it. He's very picky about when it's in 4wd now. :ashamed:

 

[TripleR]

But, this is were I usually take the loader off.

I am kind of in a danged if I do danged if I don't situation, with steep hills, going up one with an 1100 pound box scraper to get to level ground is scary as heck and sometimes just not possible. As you mentioned earlier, no such thing as perfect in a practical sense, to do so I would be adding and taking weights away and removing my loader a LOT.

I take my loader off when practical, but more than twice a day gets old. What I need is more tractors, yeah that's the ticket.

 

[Bluegill2]

I am kind of in a danged if I do danged if I don't situation, with steep hills, going up one with an 1100 pound box scraper to get to level ground is scary as heck and sometimes just not possible. As you mentioned earlier, no such thing as perfect in a practical sense, to do so I would be adding and taking weights away and removing my loader a LOT.

I take my loader off when practical, but more than twice a day gets old. What I need is more tractors, yeah that's the ticket.

Yes Sir, more tractors would be nice!