When to use four wheel drive?

[ovrszd]

These conversations are very educational and much needed here on TBN.

 

[PhysAssist]

Lots of solid replies... gonna depend on your specific terrain. I am on slopes 90% of the time and off hard pavement so my default is 4x4 engaged. If I go onto hard surface I disengage... go off road I engage. Makes life simpler and safer.

Similarly- where we don't have hills, we have swamp, and very little in between- none which we particularly care about scuffing up a little, so we take 4WD off as we head into the barn to park it, and re-engage it when it has pulled off the pavement and onto the gravel driveway/parking pad.

Also, we always disengage for the [very rare] episodes of road travel.

 

[PhysAssist]

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.

Define newer please?

Ours is a 2011, and the only indicator is the 2WD-4WD lever to the right of the seat.

On a really big honking full-size Ag tractor, it would make sense to have an idiot light for it, but on our little CUT, it'd likely be overkill.

 

[ovrszd]

Define newer please?

Ours is a 2011, and the only indicator is the 2WD-4WD lever to the right of the seat.

On a really big honking full-size Ag tractor, it would make sense to have an idiot light for it, but on our little CUT, it'd likely be overkill.

He has a Grand L 40 series. I've never heard of that tractor without an indicator light. His owner's manual would quickly answer the question. Go to the page that describes the dash functions.

 

[ovrszd]

Similarly- where we don't have hills, we have swamp, and very little in between- none which we particularly care about scuffing up a little, so we take 4WD off as we head into the barn to park it, and re-engage it when it has pulled off the pavement and onto the gravel driveway/parking pad.

Also, we always disengage for the [very rare] episodes of road travel.

With your use methods no light is required. Not sure why you bother to disengage when parking.

 

[RalphVa]

Last Fall I bought a JD 3038e I really like, but how/when do you use 4x4? Sounds like a stupid question, but I forget and leave it in 4wd a lot. I was bushhogging just now in 2wd, but hilly parts and it started to rain I had to put it in 4x4. I guess my point is does it hurt to leave it in 4x4 or better not to. Thanks!

In hilly terrain, if you want to be safe, ALWAYS leave it in 4wd. Otherwise, you'll have no brakes when going downhill.

Ralph

 

[theg]

I never ever use it cause i don稚 want to have wear on tires gears.(lol) If you need it use it. As stated not good on dry hard surface, it will cause binding if you turn. Don稚 stress about wear, that痴 like being worried about death. just do maintenance when required or you want to and the gears will outlive us. Tractors are made to work, not working them is worse than the occasional leaving it in front wheel assist going down the road. Worry less play more.

 

[CincyFlyer]

Only when needed. Saves fuel and wear and tear especially tires.

Yep. Not needed (really) most of the time, and it can do a number on the lawn if you forget! (I don't forget for long; the tractor feels different with 4WD engaged.)

 

[CincyFlyer]

In hilly terrain, if you want to be safe, ALWAYS leave it in 4wd. Otherwise, you'll have no brakes when going downhill.

Ralph

Except, of course, for your rear brakes! But I know what you mean, as much weight shifts toward the front going down a steep hill.

 

[Jstpssng]

Actually the answer is simple.

Only when rear differential lock fails to do the job.

I do it the exact opposite; about the only time I use the diff lock is when I'm plowing snow. Yet I run in 4WD anytime that I might lose traction; which includes plowing, disking, or tilling my garden.

 

[dragoneggs]

My slopes are steep enough that I am in 4wd most all the time and use the differential lock often when FEL is loaded going up hill.

 

[AxleHub]

While I am always watchful of any changes in operating my tractor, being in 2wd or 4wd does not appear to effect steering at all in any manner- except of course in hydro braking benefits going down a hill. I also have no lawn tearing effects in 4wd or 2wd but I attribute most of that lack of sod/grass damage to the fact I use turf tires and not industrial tires.

Of course if you're driving around on wet soaking lawn . . . Well that's a different story but even lawn tractors create problems then.

I love dif lock in winter on slippery uphill plowing and I use it when going straight . . . However unless I'm riding in the lawn with 4 to 7 inches of snow on that lawn - dif lock is straight going only. . . Just as the manual describes. In non-winter conditions the only time I use dif lock is if I'm in an uneven area with compound angles like the bottom of a culvert etc..

On steep concrete in icy conditions winter I'm very impressed at my traction capability. . . Much better than I expected. I need no chains at all.

 

[PhysAssist]

With your use methods no light is required. Not sure why you bother to disengage when parking.

I don't like the scrubbing sounds the fronts make when we drive it in on the paved [concrete] barn floor, where it gets parked, and I figure it saves a little [tiny bit 'o tread]wear too.

 

[ovrszd]

I don't like the scrubbing sounds the fronts make when we drive it in on the paved [concrete] barn floor, where it gets parked, and I figure it saves a little [tiny bit 'o tread]wear too.

Good explanation. Solid evidence to support not using 4wd until needed. That scrubbing is happening regardless of the surface being driven on.

 

[dragoneggs]

Love to hear from high hr SCUT users that run primarily in 4wd (off-road) how any drivetrain issues.

 

[PhysAssist]

Good explanation. Solid evidence to support not using 4wd until needed. That scrubbing is happening regardless of the surface being driven on.

We also frequently see evidence of it on our gravel driveway when making tighter turns while in 4-WD.

 

[ovrszd]

We also frequently see evidence of it on our gravel driveway when making tighter turns while in 4-WD.

Yep. It's only not doing that when making a gradual turn. Going straight "pull" scrubbing. Turning sharp "push" scrubbing.

The only difference terrain makes is "masking" the scrubbing so the operator can't detect it. Your concrete floor offers no hiding place.

 

[aczlan]

He has a Grand L 40 series. I've never heard of that tractor without an indicator light. His owner's manual would quickly answer the question. Go to the page that describes the dash functions.

Our L3830GST does not have an indicator light.

Aaron Z

 

[ovrszd]

Our L3830GST does not have an indicator light.

Aaron Z

Would you consider your 30 series as the same???

 

[daugen]

My L5740HSTC does not have a 4wd light either, I checked. Really wish it did.
And I know there is no indicator light on my small MF/Iseki 4wd.