When to use 4WD

[ejtaylor822]

I have been searching for a thread, I thought I read a long time ago about using 4wd. If remembering correctly, the main point behind the thread was using 4wd ONLY when you have too. I have been doing just that - avoided using 4wd until I am stuck, or, want to avoid the rear tires spinning.

I was clearing this afternoon and got in a tight spot where I needed 4WD. Engaged it, got out of my trouble area and went on pushing down trees and piling brush. I noticed that I was getting a lot accomplished and knocking down some sizeable trees - up to 6" as the ground is very soft from the recent rains. I was moving large piles of brush, stumps, trees, limbs, etc. when noticed that the 4WD was still engaged. I left it engaged and continued working. I got a lot done - should have taken some before and after pics, but I figured it to be a pretty uneventful time when I started.

I know not to use the 4wd on pavement or hardpacked surfaces. I have also read (I thought) not to use 4wd when doing FEL work - loading & dumping.

My question is this: When should 4wd be used and when should it not be used? Is it alright to use 4WD when clearing or doing FEL work? I accomplished this afternoon what would normally take several weekends. Would like to keep using the 4WD if it does not hurt anything.

Any and all comments, feedback and advice is appreciated.

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[johnk]

If you are working on muddy or slippery conditions it won't hurt to leave it in 4WD I always have mine in 4WD on grass and rough terrain. I'm talking field grass not lawns. If you turn the front wheels and are in 4WD it has a tendency to dig up the turf.

 

[PineRidge]

Eddie as long as you are not on hard surfaces like concrete or blacktop where your wheels can't easily break traction then 4WD is OK to use.

 

[RoyJackson]

I never use 4WD when I'm on the lawn, but if I'm doing most any FEL work (other then just using the FEL to move something) the tractor's 4WD is engaged. I use 4WD sometimes when I'm brushcutting...but I suppose it's not really necessary.
I can't say I've used the 4WD when dragging trees and branches...may have, but as long as the tractor was moving, I wouldn't have selected it.
I do use 4WD when plowing snow...all the time...on pavement or on my drive. I reckon there's enough slippage (even on pavement) to prevent axle wind up.

As long as you're not on pavement, using 4WD isn't going to hurt the tractor.

 

[Jstpssng]

The first thing you should read is your operator's manual. (something I wish I had.) Everyone has a different opinion to this question.
If you normally use 2 WD and have no problems with traction, I wouldn't worry about it. If you wait until you are stuck to lock in the front, you are probably spending too much time getting unstuck; and also could be overstressing your tractor. As I said before everyone has their own opinions; only by using your tractor and testing it's limitations can you decide what works best for you.

 

[Toolguy]

Ditto RoyJackson. CUTs would be useless under most conditions without 4WD. You won't hurt it. Have Fun!

 

[tractorlogger]

I use my tractor exclusively in the woods for logging and it is in 4WD all the time, except for pushing logs with the front wheels, if you take it out of 4wd instead of climbing over the log it will jamb the tire against the log and you can push logs around with your front tires.

As the others have said if on very hard surfaces such as pavement things start to bind up in 4wd, the different size wheels on the front and back dont track very good...you need some slippage....

 

[rozett]

I leave mine in 4WD all the time. Our property is mostly wooded and hilly so I don't want to worry about traction. The only road travel I do is a couple hundred yards from the garage to the woods road into the firewood pile and Christmas trees. If I think about it, I will take it out of 4wd for that distance, but mostly I don't even think about it. I've never had a problem. knock knock /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[wushaw]

Mines in 4wd 99.9% of the time as was my previous tractor and never had any problems.
Concrete/asphault..2wd, I don't have any of this to worry about.

 

[nobull1]

I have also read (I thought) not to use 4wd when doing FEL work - loading & dumping.



On my old L275 I was in 4wd 99% of the time excluding pavement driving and never had a issue. One day I had been on pavement and was in 2 wheel drive and forgot to put back in 4wd. I went to get one of my round bales to move it further down the hill and out of the way. After I picked it up I was not able to move and was spinning my tires even with the lock engaged. I soon realized that when moving them heavy bales it was only the front tires pulling me along /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. Until that day I didn't know that my back tires were elevated enough to lose traction. That's when I decided I had to make a concrete counterweight /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[SacandagaBrad]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have also read (I thought) not to use 4wd when doing FEL work - loading & dumping. )</font>

I leave mine in 4wd all the time except for mowing or just traveling on the lawn, especially when doing FEL work. To me its a safety thing - the heavier the load in the bucket, the less weight and therefore braking on the rear wheels regardless of how much ballast. With it in 4wd, you get braking to the front wheels as well. I know of a guy who was doing FEL work for my BIL dumping fill over a steep embankment. He at some point had grabbed the wrong lever and put it in 2wd, pulled up to the embankment to dump a heavy load and hit his brakes only to find out there wasn't enough braking power to the rears and went for the ride of his life. It happens quick.

Of course, anytime on dry pavement, I try to avoid 4wd.

Brad

 

[BB_TX]

As everyone has said, there should be no problem being in 4x4 any time except when on pavement. As long as the front tires can slip when turning you will be OK. Don't know about your tractor, but on mine when I am in 2wd I actually get only one wheel drive unless I engage the rear diff lock. And if I am in 4wd, I only get 3 wheel drive unless I engage the diff lock.
Having said that, I use 2wd drive probably 90% of the time since most of my work is pasture mowing and I don't need it. I use 4wd when mowing the steep ditches along the road, as much for the extra braking as the traction. And I use 4wd if I need it for FEL or box blade work or any other time I may lose traction.

 

[RalphVa]

Mine's in 4wd all the time except when runninng for a distance on paved ground. Even on paved ground in the snow/ice, it's in 4wd.

4wd helps in turning, particularly if you have the FEL on all the time. Without 4wd engaged, the front wheels will skid more. It also gives you 4 wheel brakes going up and down hills. So, 4wd drive is safer. You have it; use it. Wish they'd put in a slip differential and make them AWD to stay on even on paved roads.

Ralph

 

[tposts]

My tractor is in 4 wd 99% of the time....I operate on very rough terrain and do lots of hard pulling. My JD 4400 has the 4wd engage lever in a location that you can accidentally bump it out of 4wd with your foot and not knowing you have done so which can really make for an exciting moment when going down a steep hill and the tractor starts to slide because it is not in 4wd and you thought it was. I wish my JD 4400 had a 4wd engaged light on the dash that would illuminate when the tractor is in 4wd.I used my 4wd so much that the splines wore out on the collar/drive shaft and I just welded it up direct.

 

[NewToy]

I use the 4WD if I need it and use 2WD the rest of the time. If I start spinning the rears it's time for 4WD. It sure does help out braking especially down a steep grade with a heavy trailer.
John

 

[JoeL4330]

I find it essential to use 4wd on my steep slopes ...otherwise, no engine braking on front wheels ...with the FEL or Grapple on the front, it is easy to unload the rear tires and "off you go" ...no brakes and no braking ...rear counterweight is one answer, but if it's your tph rear implement and you lower it, then it puts no weight on the rear ..."and off you go"

 

[RedRocker]

4WD all the time cept on concrete or asphalt.

 

[Jay4200]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I know not to use the 4wd on pavement or hardpacked surfaces.)</font>

Also, don't put it in 4x4 when driving over your lawn if you care about cosmetics - 4x4 chews up grass more, especially when turning.

Jay

 

[BB_TX]

When turning in 4wd, one tire has to slip. The outside tire has to travel a greater distance than the inside tire. Unless it has a limited slip diff, there is no other option but for one or both to slip. If it is lawn, that likely means tearing up some grass. In any event, that slipping is putting some pressure on the gears and other drive components. Maybe not enough to hurt them on grass or dirt, but that is why I don't put mine in 4wd unless I need it.

 

[jimmysisson]

It's visible if you drive a tight circle in fresh dirt in 4wd. You make 4 concentric circles: each tire makes its own. 4 circles = 4 circumferences = 4 distances the tires travel = 4 different speeds (different distance in the same amount of time). From side to side, the differentials let opposite wheels move at different speeds, limited-slip or not. Front and back axles, though, are geared together in 4wd, so they must move at the geared speed. The manufacturer optimizes the gear ratios for straight-ahead. When you ask front and rear to go different speeds something has to give, and that is tire slip. I'd say better dent the lawn than the diffy.
Some 4wd or AWD cars use a center differential, do any tractors? I'm not in favor in a tractor, as tire wear is less important than simplicity of design IMO, and gears are generally strong enough unless traction is perfect.
Jim