When to use four wheel drive?

[Gary Fowler]

Your Kubota will be the only newer model I've ever saw without an indicator if it doen't have one. Mine is a small green tractor shaped light in the dash pod. Similar in size to the PTO indicator.

My 9 year old B26 does not have an indication of 4WD other than the position of the engagement lever. Much of the time the B26 stays in 4 WD and I do see some signs of wear on the front tires due to the constantly spinning tires. Much of the B26 work involves FEL work and sometimes muddy areas like ditch clean out so 4 WD is a must.

My LS pretty much stays in 2 WD unless I need the traction. The LS automatically engages 4 WD whenever the brakes are engaged so it is safe to travel on hills in 2 WD since just a tap of the brakes gives you 4 wheel braking. The heavy LS will dig up the ground when turning sharply if left in 4 WD which is the main reason I keep it in 2 WD. The lighter B26 doesn't make much difference other than it tends to turn a bit sharper in 2 WD than 4 WD unless the ground is slippery, in which case 4 WD really helps to pull the frontend around.

As for wear, I cant say that running in 4 WD hurts anything other than the front tires as long as you are not on an asphalt or concrete surface.

 

[wagne223]

My tractor is always in 4wd. I do operate mostly in soft soils and muddy conditions and the tractor is never on pavement.

The only thing you will "hurt" is the tires if you leave it in 4x4 on pavement.

Fuel economy was mentioned.......that made me laugh!

High speed stability was mentioned.....that is why the front tires turn slightly faster.
I have run at top speed many times on dirt roads. Stability and handling were not an issue.

I also trailer the tractor a lot. 4wd is much safer for loading and unloading. Just like with hills and slopes.

 

[wagne223]

Your Kubota will be the only newer model I've ever saw without an indicator if it doen't have one. Mine is a small green tractor shaped light in the dash pod. Similar in size to the PTO indicator.

Probably depends more on the option package.

I have a 2017 L2501. No electronic controls. Live PTO engaged with a lever.
4wd engaged with a lever.

No indicators on dash.

Only indicator I miss is a brake indicator!
I often move the tractor a few feet then I realize the brake is still on!

 

[TractorGuy]

I am new to having 4WD myself. It wasn't working in my backhoe until recently. I just got around to investigating why and found the solenoid coil burnt up. Didn't thnk I would ever need or use it but I am finding it useful in the area I began work right after fixing it. My tractor has a rocker switch for OFF/4WD/4WD BRAKING. I imagine the solenoid coil burnt up in mine because it was left on so I am only using it when I need it.

 

[TerryR]

It probably depends on your terrain. Ours is hilly to steep with no hard surfaces, so 4WD is always on. It's needed for mowing on the hillside, loader work, and plowing snow. I only switch it off when I drive on the paved public road. When cleaning the ditch with the FEL on the public road I turn it on to back out of the ditch then off turn when on pavement and drive off to dump the load.

Yes, I suppose using it does cause more tire wear. After 20 years my fronts had lost most of their tread (R-1's) but needed to be replaced anyway because they were getting rotten. :laughing: Not an issue to worry about in my view.

 

[AxleHub]

Your terrain and your tractor size make big differences in 4wd use. I personally would never be operating on sidehills without 4wd on - because front wheels driving pull you while rear wheels push you - so the front wheels keep you going in a line on sidehill activity. And of course as others have mentioned going down slopes needs 4wd because if your rears "get light" - you have no hydro braking or braking in 2wd on many tractors.

If your land is all flat - 4 wd is not a constant companion - if you have my type of lawn or land - 4wd is only off when in transport mode. Think of it this way - if your greatest cost in using 4wd is some tire wear on front tires - that's a pretty cheap health and life insurance cost in my book. And if lawn use is a part of your activity - 4wd itself is not the primary concern for damaging the lawn - its the tire choices and size of tractor that make the differences.

jmho

 

[/pine]

IMO in some instances/scenarios...waiting to engage 4 wheel drive until after the rear tires lose traction can lead to disaster...! always better to be safe than sorry...

 

[dragoneggs]

IMO in some instances/scenarios...waiting to engage 4 wheel drive until after the rear tires lose traction can lead to disaster...! always better to be safe than sorry...

I can attest to this... 4WD braking with HST is needed on my property. I had a couple scary moments going downhill until I got into the habit of default 4WD on vs. off.

 

[ericm979]

Four wheel drive systems without a center differential are usually set up so the front tires have a few percent higher ground speed than the rears. It makes the vehicle more stable in loose soil.
My Branson is a 2017 model and does not have a 4wd indicator light on the dash. I wish it did as I have left it in 4wd when going on pavement a few times. I put it in 4wd when I'm going down a significant hill, especially if I'm going down forwards.

 

[vvanders]

My tractor is always in 4wd. I do operate mostly in soft soils and muddy conditions and the tractor is never on pavement.

The only thing you will "hurt" is the tires if you leave it in 4x4 on pavement.

Fuel economy was mentioned.......that made me laugh!

High speed stability was mentioned.....that is why the front tires turn slightly faster.
I have run at top speed many times on dirt roads. Stability and handling were not an issue.

I also trailer the tractor a lot. 4wd is much safer for loading and unloading. Just like with hills and slopes.

I'd be really careful about keeping 4x4 on clean pavement. There's usually no diff up front and it can put a ton of stress on the drivetrain.