Operating tractor in 4wd all the time?

[kthompson]

So apparently the SCUT I've ordered drives the fronts faster (ground speed) than the rears when in 4WD to improve steering.
Even so, I believe it still steers worse in 4WD than 2WD.
No wonder they wind-up drivetrains and wear out front tires!

Is that common to all or most machines with optional 4WD?

It is my understanding that unless the front and rear wheels are the same size they always have the front tires running little faster so they are pulling and not being pushed by the rear ones.

As to my experience in steering while in 4WD difference I notice is will not turn as tight. Or at least I don't think either of mine would. I understand 4WD drive does make steering easier on tractors with NO power steering or hyd steering which all of my tractors have been, at least my 4WD ones.

This I know, 4WD has saved me more than once in the field now in pickups...has given me too much confidence at times. My wife use to say I could bog anything down and I did my best to prove her correct.

 

[rScotty]

So apparently the SCUT I've ordered drives the fronts faster (ground speed) than the rears when in 4WD to improve steering.
Even so, I believe it still steers worse in 4WD than 2WD.
No wonder they wind-up drivetrains and wear out front tires!

Is that common to all or most machines with optional 4WD?

It's very common - probably universal - on tractors where the front and rear tires are so different. I believe it is done that way to make sure that you will always have the front wheels doing the steering no matter how deep the tires sink or what the traction is like.
I've heard it is a safety issue because steering is more important than windup and front tires wearing out.

With fairly smooth tires the same size I think they could all turn at the same rate. I say that because I deliberately changed wheels and tires to a tractor once in order to make the front and rear ratios equal. It worked fine for the next 15 years & I sold it that way. In fact, it worked so well that it had no windup at all and I ended up adding a spring to the 4wd lever to hold the shifting collar in 4wd.
rScotty

 

[ning]

I notice the difference in my tractor's steering when in 4wd, but only in a fairly tight turn.

My fronts will whatever is trying to grow under them when turning in 4wd; I've learned when and where I *need* to use it and otherwise avoid it, but then for the most part the tractor seems to have good traction (may be related to relatively high weight).

I've noticed that my truck's steering is affected by 4wd as well near steering lock, probably because of the front u-joints.

 

[WM75Guy]

My TC40DA stays in 4WD, it does mostly loader work or pulling an arena drag. It rarely hits pavement so no issues with it. The WM75 stays in 2WD, except for the occasional need doing loader work. The WM75 auto shifts into 4WD when you step on the brakes to increase stopping power.