L4240 4wd binding on pavement

[wcampbell47]

I have a friend that sometimes drives my second tractor for me. For the life of me I can't get him to make wide sweeping turns when in 4wd. Sometimes this hard packed dry clay will cause the front to bind if you constantly are turning sharp in 4wd. At any rate one day he couldn't shift into 2wd. I had to back the tractor in a straight line several feet to free the front end enough to shift into 2wd. So if you were turning sharply in 4wd a lot on some dry packed dirt "might" have been the cause for feeling the front end bind. Back up in a straight line several feet to unbind, then shift into 2wd or make wide sweeping turns. At least you were aware of the binding ... my friend had no clue.

 

[LD1]

Actually you are less likely to bind the 4wd if turning on pavement than going straight.

The way its geared, and tires sized, the fronts are actually spinning a little faster.

When turning, The front axle makes a wider arc than the rears, (covers more ground). Which is just how its geared.

A 4wd automobile/truck is just the opposite. Front and rears should spin the exact same speed. So a truck in 4wd going straight dont have much binding, but turning you notice the bucking.

I dont always dis-engage 4wd when I should. But good general rule, if you notice the binding, put it in 2wd

 

[Grandad4]

Actually you are less likely to bind the 4wd if turning on pavement than going straight.

The way its geared, and tires sized, the fronts are actually spinning a little faster.

When turning, The front axle makes a wider arc than the rears, (covers more ground). Which is just how its geared.

Front/rear gearing seems to vary from tractor to tractor. On my larger tractor, the fronts actually lag slightly vs the rear... not good, but that's how she came from the factory. The little one is more as you describe... fronts lead the rears. Tractor manufacturers and tire manufacturers evidently don't coordinate this stuff all that well, I guess. :confused3:

 

[landpride64]

Guys. Great points and I appreciate them. Last question is do most people put the tractor into 4wd on the fly? I always did it on the go in my 3240 but the 4240 seems a little more stiff. I'd prefer not to have to stop each time. Let me know. Thanks!

 

[ovrszd]

Guys. Great points and I appreciate them. Last question is do most people put the tractor into 4wd on the fly? I always did it on the go in my 3240 but the 4240 seems a little more stiff. I'd prefer not to have to stop each time. Let me know. Thanks!

No worries engaging 4wd if off the throttle. Don't want to engage 4wd while spinning the rear tires in 2wd. The two mechanisms are running at a different speed in this scenario. Engaging 4wd will be rather violent. For me, if I'm stuck and require 4wd, I stop forward movement and then engage. To avoid this critical situation I normally engage 4wd when I see an approaching situation where I will need it. If I have to stop and then engage 4wd it's a situation that totally catches me offguard.

 

[4570Man]

I engage it while moving as long as all 4 wheels are turning. If the rear wheels have started to slip I stop before engaging. Same goes for the diff lock.

 

[PILOON]

By design front wheels are about 5% or so 'faster' than rears as they are smaller and will wear faster so as they wear they get closer to being equal.
You probably would wear out 3 sets of fronts B4 ever wearing out rears.
A tractors purpose in life is generally to pull or work from the rear with the front serving to steer and it is easier to steer a small wheel especially back when power steering was not standard.
Those that ore designed for HD front work you'll notice have much bigger frt wheels, in fact a few sport all 4 the same size.

 

[Fallon]

I engage it while moving as long as all 4 wheels are turning. If the rear wheels have started to slip I stop before engaging. Same goes for the diff lock.

I do the same to engage or disengage 4wd or the diff lock. Although disengaging 4wd or the diff lock when wheels are slipping isn't typically a scenario people worry about.

Problems only show up when one gear is moving at a noticeably different speed. Actually engaging on the fly can be easier to on the operator & the gears as things often just take a nudge to line up & they get that from things already rotating at about the same speed.

 

[kevin37b]

Here is another one .

 

[Jay4200]

2012 4240 hstc tractor. Currently R3 Titan turfs with 29x12.5 front and 44x18's rear. When I was in 4wd on pavement, it seemed to bind or buck the other day. I was going in M gear, turtle on the column slow and straight. I have never felt this before. Tractor is fairly new to me. Previous was a 3240 with same tires but I don't remember feeling this. My question is do other people with these tires and similar tractors experience the same binding or bucking? Thx

Normal. Don't do that.