Is Full Time Use of 4WD a Problem?

[s219]

I stay in 2WD unless I know I will need 4WD. The tractor is certainly a lot easier to steer and handle in 2WD, and doesn't tear up the ground nearly as much as 4WD does.

I preemptively shift into 4WD when doing any heavy loader work on soft ground, when pulling a ground-engaging implement, or when I know I need the improved braking of 4WD.

I remember one project where I was scooping gravel off a trailer on the paved road, then going down the street onto grass/dirt and dumping the gravel into an excavated ditch to create a culvert. I had to be in 2WD to maneuver on pavement without torturing the front tires. But I absolutely needed 4WD for braking when I got over near the ditch to dump the load. So I had to shift back and forth from 2WD to 4WD for every bucket load. If I forgot to put it in 2WD on pavement, it was a hassle to steer but not the end of the world. However, if I forgot to put it in 4WD when braking near the ditch on soft ground, it was pucker time. I only forgot once before that lesson was burned into my mind.

 

[Beltman60]

I leave mine in 4wd until I get close to the pavement

 

[/pine]

I have a gear tractor and the only times I am on flat surfaces is on stretches of our gravel road...

I am in 4wd most of the time but anytime I can run in a higher gear (than low) I switch to 2wd...

 

[90cummins]

Not a good idea! Would you leave your 4wd truck locked in all year?
The only time it is ok to leave a vehicle in 4x4 full time is if it has a center differential that permits the front & rear wheels to turn at different speeds such as when turning a sharp corner.
If you have a front end loader on it with loaded tires you will eventually break something and it will be expensive!
Try the following; with the tractor in 4x4 get moving along in high range and take a sharp corner and make note of the loss in speed.
Then put the machine in 2wd and perform the same operation, you should notice less loss in speed.
Take the advice your friend gave you.

90cummins

 

[/pine]

Not a good idea! Would you leave your 4wd truck locked in all year?
The only time it is ok to leave a vehicle in 4x4 full time is if it has a center differential that permits the front & rear wheels to turn at different speeds such as when turning a sharp corner.
If you have a front end loader on it with loaded tires you will eventually break something and it will be expensive!
Try the following; with the tractor in 4x4 get moving along in high range and take a sharp corner and make note of the loss in speed.
Then put the machine in 2wd and perform the same operation, you should notice less loss in speed.
Take the advice your friend gave you.

90cummins

IMO...this is a good way to "break something? or worse...more so depending on the tire style...

BTW I don't ever drive the tractor on paved surfaces...for the short durations I don't actually need 4wd...I would wear out the shift lever moving from 4x to 2x and back...!

 

[TurkeyHerder]

If you get stuck in 2 WD you always have 4X4 to get out but if you get stuck in 4X4 plan on a long day.

 

[Bird]

I also only used 4WD when I needed it, but way back in 1995 one of the Kubota dealers I visited when shopping for a B7100 had a B7100 that was a rental unit (then for sale) with a tiller on it, and I noticed it was in 4WD. When I mentioned that, the salesman said they just leave the rental units in 4WD all the time.

 

[tcreeley]

I leave mine in 4wd all winter- plowing - ice and snow. In summer I use 2wd unless I'm pushing gravel or bush hogging in wet spots. I find I just need 4wd most of the time. Doing gravel- when the bucket is full 4wd is best, then I switch to 2wd to go get some more (on long runs).

 

[mguitas]

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

 

[MHarryE]

Our 5 mfwd tractors are in 4wd all the time except when on the roads. Never have had a problem. Actually 2 of our tractors automatically shift into mfwd on sharp corners and speed up the fronts to make a shorter turn than possible in 2wd (you can select not to have this happen).

I see you have a L3800. Not sure if this is a problem with all basic L's but my brother-in-law's L3000 didn't have grease fittings on the front axle trunions (front and rear pivot points). They wore severely resulting in drive shaft misalignment that wore out the splines on the shaft and couplings. Not really a 4wd problem - the misalignment wore the splines whether or not it was in 4wd but of course wore faster under load.