Salesman said to only to use 4wd....

[N80]

That's why sometimes, you have to rock a little forward/backwards to pop out of 4WD; there is load on gears in the transfer case.

I have to do this with my truck. It also binds terribly when turning. Always has.

My tractor is different. Never have to rock back and forth. Never have to take it out of gear. Can usually shift in and out of 4wd while moving. Occasionally have to turn the steering wheel, as per the manual, to disengage. I think this has to do with the bevel gear design.

The presence of a 4wd lever is hardly an argument for not using full time 4wd. That's like saying the tractor isn't made for driving in a straight line because it has a steering wheel. If you always need 4wd then you leave it in 4wd. The ability to chose 2wd has nothing to do with the utility or durability of the 4wd system.

 

[Modn]

I have had no reason at all to leave it in 4wd. My thought is if the gears are not moving=less wear. They will most likely last past the life of the tractor, but it's not a guarantee. I use 4wd quite often, but only when it makes sense to and can see I might get into trouble just ahead. It is just too easy to take it out and put it back in that I can't find a reason for me to be so lazy as to NOT take it out. No argument here why you should or shouldn't as I only paid for and operate my own in other words (to each his own). I treat my truck the same way even with my plow on, with a quarter turn of the knob on the dash it is just too easy to save fuel & wear on components that don't have to see extra wear. Of course I'm one of those that take the plow off each time I'm done within reason of course, they don't call it a minute mount for nothing.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I have to do this with my truck. It also binds terribly when turning. Always has.

My tractor is different. Never have to rock back and forth. Never have to take it out of gear. Can usually shift in and out of 4wd while moving. Occasionally have to turn the steering wheel, as per the manual, to disengage. I think this has to do with the bevel gear design.

It is because you are not binding up the system much in relation to your available actuation forces. This is a function of the weight of the tractor and the mechanical advantage that the 4wd shift mechanism can exert. The Kubotas I have have a large mechanical advantage in relation to the amt of bind. I have never experienced a time that I could not shift out of 4wd. The Mahindra is a different story. A heavytractor and less MA in the 4wd shifter.
larry

 

[N80]

It is because you are not binding up the system much

Could be true, but if so, then the system is pretty bind resistant, and I think that it is. I can have a bucket full of gravel or rocks or sand and be turning as tightly as possible up or down hills, dry or wet conditions, no binding. No groaning, no feedback through the steering wheel, no resistance to turning. And this is not just my unreliable memory, I tested this a while back, following a similar discussion. It just does not bind.

Tight turns on pavement and you can tell if you're paying attention...but sometimes not. BTDT.

As mentioned, occasionally I have to give the steering wheel a turn to get it out of 4wd, maybe sometimes to engage too. But its a gear drive. The manual mentions this.

 

[have_blue]

When in 4wd, turning even moderately sharply tears up my grass. Thererefore, it must be putting an unnecessary strain on the engine and driveline and costing fuel. So I use 2WD on firm ground.

When in 2wd on soft ground (causing even shallow ruts), the front wheels are always going uphill. Therefore, it's putting an unnecessary strain on the driveline and costing fuel. So I use 4wd on soft ground.