Regarding 4x4...

[Gary Fowler]

I've been told that AWD is completely different than 4WD.

My Olds Bravada is AWD but only kicks into 4WD when it senses the rear tires slipping. It was a real PIA when going up an icy hill side road. It would kick into 4 WD then back to 2WD then back again to 4 WD. It sure made steering a bear to control. I wish it had some way to lock it in 4 WD when needed. Also I think the AWD cars are designed for only one wheel on each axle to be powered and that is in a cross as in left rear and right front.

 

[bigtiller]

Large ag. tractors like this bad boy are 4WD all of the time.

View attachment 515697

Steve

That is a 4WD tractor.

Using the term 4WD with our tractors is a common mistake. But we have been doing it for so long that is has become the norm and some even think it is now factual. If your lawnmower or tractor is articulated and all 4 wheels are powered, it probably is 4WD. Everything else is Four-Wheel-Assist (FWA).

 

[smstonypoint]

That is a 4WD tractor.

Using the term 4WD with our tractors is a common mistake. But we have been doing it for so long that is has become the norm and some even think it is now factual. If your lawnmower or tractor is articulated and all 4 wheels are powered, it probably is 4WD. Everything else is Four-Wheel-Assist (FWA).

Just curious. I understand all true 4WD tractors have the same size wheels front and back, but are they all articulated?

Steve

 

[daugen]

Gary, replace the clutch packs in your Bravada yet? Mine was built wrong, had assembly tarry goop clogging up half of suction line for front wheel differential, clutch packs burned out, until they finally took the whole thing apart and found the bad pickup. Nice looking SUV too...I never had that on-off problem you have though.

aren't tractors their own special acronym, MFWD, multi function wheel drive? probably have this screwed up, but that was always the JD designator.
I think for most of us we would consider 4wd something you shift into, and awd as something you leave on. Sure have been a lot of variations on that, starting from manual front hubs.

Does a 4wd tractor power three wheels until the rear diff lock is activated, then four?

 

[bigtiller]

Just curious. I understand all true 4WD tractors have the same size wheels front and back, but are they all articulated?

Steve

In a word, yes.
Also, MFWA (Mechanical-Front-Wheel-Assist) is a Deere term to define the difference from a short lived hydraulic drive option. The hydraulic part went away but they kept the "M" part of MFWA. Sometimes people get things mixed up and MFWA becomes MFWD, which has different meanings to different people.

 

[TerryR]

Hmmmm - wondering. For those of you that leave your tractor in 4WD "most of the time". Do you leave your pickup in 4WD "most of the time" also? And if not, then why not?

No, because it is on pavement most of the time. But I do put it 4WD every time I drive up my driveway because if I don't it throws the gravel a lot worse.

 

[teg]

...Does a 4wd tractor power three wheels until the rear diff lock is activated, then four?

I think most are just 2 wheel drive when 4x4 is in gear (one front and one rear tire is powered). Can't tell you how many times I get high centered rear left and front right just spinning in the air!

I also (think) the front is only one wheel drive... even if you lock the rear differential. Anyone knows for sure?? So why have we not been calling these 3wd?!?!

 

[Creamer]

Large ag. tractors like this bad boy are 4WD all of the time.

View attachment 515697

Steve

There are a lot of differences between this and an FWA. #1 is weight distribution there is very little weight on the rear until it starts getting drag on the drawbar which is not when it is going down the road. #2 articulated steering which means the rear tires follow the same path as the fronts, i.e. the wheels have to go around the same number of times vs a front wheel steer where the rear takes a shorter path around a corner. #3 the entire driveline is built much heavier to take the slight variation between the axles. #4 Ag tires - the lugs flex a lot more than R4s or others.

To answer another question there were some early 4WDs that were not articulated - IH 4166, Case 70 series and a few others - but they all had drivetrain issues. Steiger and Versatile were articulated and the others soon copied.

 

[Creamer]

I've been told that AWD is completely different than 4WD.

AWD drives have a limited slip differential between the front and rear to remove the driveline bind.

 

[Creamer]

I'm not driving off road all the time... and yes, I've driven to my friends house more than a few times in 4x4 with my truck, too.

Also, you have heard of All Wheel drive, they are in 4x4 all the time...

Did that by accident one time and it cost me a front hub in my 92 Ford F150.

 

[smstonypoint]

To answer another question there were some early 4WDs that were not articulated - IH 4166, Case 70 series and a few others - but they all had drivetrain issues. Steiger and Versatile were articulated and the others soon copied.

This reminded of a County tractor that I saw on a show from the UK that used to air on RFD-TV.

Steve

 

[Creamer]

This reminded of a County tractor that I saw on a show from the UK that used to air on RFD-TV.

View attachment 515761

Steve

I'll bet that thing would hop around the corner!

 

[redman135]

I don't recall windup being a problem on the counties. I think the driveshaft to each front wheel had a lot to do with it.

 

[redman135]

Daugen, In my area the hills are ridges and mainly flat topped and the best ground was on top. The ridges are 500-700 ft high. Yes the view awesome.
Find the central north island volcanos and draw a line due west, and half way to the coast is the area I farmed in.

 

[daugen]

I'll bet that thing would hop around the corner!

sweet looking tractor though...looks like a Ford built in England
most of us have never heard of County tractors

Redman, bet you sure kept away from the edges of a 700 foot drop...I hate heights...better you than me.

 

[17 Oaks]

Some of you guys must have no faith in the any Kubota engineers... or you might be thinking these tractors are "delicate".

The one or two time I've driven in 2 wheel drive.... I go on a run-a-way slide!!

My JD pops out of 4wd and it will pop out of 2wd on occasion. I live on a hill and was clearing up behind the house and had a good load in the FEL bucket and was driving down the road to dump in my burn pit when it popped out of 4wd and took off like a rocket, then it popped out of 2wd and I am still flying and racking up frequent flier miles, brakes are worthless and my efforts to get it back in gear are fruitless, I cross another road and go over the dam on my pond and land down in the middle of it it. With luck it was dry season and pond was dry, I was thankful the seat in my JD is JD Yellow and how me and that tractor stayed UPRIGHT I have no earthly idea, but I can assure that ride would rival anything at any 6 flags park.

 

[N80]

This has been debated here on TBN for years. Road vehicles like pick-up trucks are not the same as a tractor unless your tractor spends most of its time on the road.

Leave it in 4wd all the time or only when you need it all comes down to a matter of preference. There is no wrong answer _except_ when it comes to pavement.

However, I do not buy into the philosophy that keeping it in two wheel drive most of the time is conserving anything at all or promoting the longevity or reliability of your tractor. A good 4wd tractor is designed to be used in 4wd. 4wd is not an afterthought or a patch job on a good tractor. Yes, of course there is wear on the system but other components wear when 4wd is not engaged unless conditions are extremely mild.

The only downside to using 4wd all the time, that I can think of, is front tire wear. The fronts on my tractor are slightly overdriven compared to the rears. Leaving it in 4wd probably adds a miniscule amount of extra wear. But in ten years of being in 4wd all the time, my fronts have easily got another 5-10 years of wear on them. Plus, when in 2wd and turning tightly the fronts will often 'plow' so that is some degree of additional wear (and poor handling) you get from running just in 2wd.

Moral of the story: do what seems best....except using 4wd on pavement...........especially if your fronts are slightly overdriven like mine.

 

[N80]

My JD pops out of 4wd and it will pop out of 2wd on occasion. I live on a hill and was clearing up behind the house and had a good load in the FEL bucket and was driving down the road to dump in my burn pit when it popped out of 4wd and took off like a rocket, then it popped out of 2wd and I am still flying and racking up frequent flier miles, brakes are worthless and my efforts to get it back in gear are fruitless, I cross another road and go over the dam on my pond and land down in the middle of it it. With luck it was dry season and pond was dry, I was thankful the seat in my JD is JD Yellow and how me and that tractor stayed UPRIGHT I have no earthly idea, but I can assure that ride would rival anything at any 6 flags park.

Sounds like your tractor's 4wd needs a repair. As has been mentioned here many times, 4wd, when engaged, gives you front braking. If you live and work on hills, 4wd is your friend when it comes to safety and control. A tractor that pops out of 4wd would be very dangerous on my place...as it sounds like it was on yours!

 

[17 Oaks]

Sounds like your tractor's 4wd needs a repair. As has been mentioned here many times, 4wd, when engaged, gives you front braking. If you live and work on hills, 4wd is your friend when it comes to safety and control. A tractor that pops out of 4wd would be very dangerous on my place...as it sounds like it was on yours!

Bought it new and its never not popped out of 4wd, was told that was normal at the JD place...go figure. My BET is that now that its out of warranty I would hear a different story and it would cost $$$$

 

[Ortimber]

This has been debated here on TBN for years. Road vehicles like pick-up trucks are not the same as a tractor unless your tractor spends most of its time on the road.

Leave it in 4wd all the time or only when you need it all comes down to a matter of preference. There is no wrong answer _except_ when it comes to pavement.

However, I do not buy into the philosophy that keeping it in two wheel drive most of the time is conserving anything at all or promoting the longevity or reliability of your tractor. A good 4wd tractor is designed to be used in 4wd. 4wd is not an afterthought or a patch job on a good tractor. Yes, of course there is wear on the system but other components wear when 4wd is not engaged unless conditions are extremely mild.

The only downside to using 4wd all the time, that I can think of, is front tire wear. The fronts on my tractor are slightly overdriven compared to the rears. Leaving it in 4wd probably adds a miniscule amount of extra wear. But in ten years of being in 4wd all the time, my fronts have easily got another 5-10 years of wear on them. Plus, when in 2wd and turning tightly the fronts will often 'plow' so that is some degree of additional wear (and poor handling) you get from running just in 2wd.

Moral of the story: do what seems best....except using 4wd on pavement...........especially if your fronts are slightly overdriven like mine.

I tend to agree with this.

My dad generally leaves all of his tractors in 4WD from the time the dealer drops them off. He has 10s of thousands of hours spread out on several tractors. Never, not even 1 issue with the drivetrains. He also has a paved driveway about 1/2 mile long that accesses various areas of his property. He has many many miles on pavement.

Front tire wear is more than normal.