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