Traction Differential lock on MF1643

[jtheise4]

I was doing some 'test' driving yesterday with my MF1643. I was getting more familiar with some of the features of the tractor, one of which was the differential lock. According to the manual, it should only be engaged when the tractor is stopped. However, I noticed that most of the time if I tried to engage the lever when the tractor was stopped, it simply would not engage. I'd have to bump the hydro pedal to move the tractor forward slightly and then eventually, I'd be able to engage the differential lock. Is this normal? If so, doesn't seem like a very useful feature, since I may not be able to get it to engage when I need it!

 

[roger 4400]

Hi ! Mine is doing the same . I understand that mechanism this way, when we push the lever it will lock gears together, but if those gears are not perfectly aligned, we need to move the tractor a bit so they will. So I do not think you have to worry about. Roger

 

[onionfmr]

I recently traded for a MF 1643 w/PS instead of hydro. Initially, it would not engage 4 wheel drive at all. Put about six hours on it and then it would engage. But, it wasn't an easy engage. Over the weekend I did some work with it. Bumping up on 20 hours now. Seems to engage and disengage a lot easier now. However, there was one or two times where I had to shift the forward/reverse lever from neutral to forward or reverse to get it to engage.

As a note, I previously owned a MF 1240 with turf tires for (10 years and 832 hours). Did a lot of work in the mud, slippery slopes and snow plowing. Had a similar problem with 4 wheel drive engagement. With the turf tires, there were several times there would be a need four wheel drive due to loss of traction. Even though there were times it would be a little difficult engaging 4 wheel drive. There was never a time that I couldn't get 4 wheel to engage when I absolutely needed it - Ted.

 

[jtheise4]

I recently traded for a MF 1643 w/PS instead of hydro. Initially, it would not engage 4 wheel drive at all. Put about six hours on it and then it would engage. But, it wasn't an easy engage. Over the weekend I did some work with it. Bumping up on 20 hours now. Seems to engage and disengage a lot easier now. However, there was one or two times where I had to shift the forward/reverse lever from neutral to forward or reverse to get it to engage.QUOTE]

Are you saying it was better or worse with the hydro transmission? Not sure what type of transmission you have has to do with engaging the MFWD. They should be independent of one another.

 

[jlsmith]

I was doing some 'test' driving yesterday with my MF1643. I was getting more familiar with some of the features of the tractor, one of which was the differential lock. According to the manual, it should only be engaged when the tractor is stopped. However, I noticed that most of the time if I tried to engage the lever when the tractor was stopped, it simply would not engage. I'd have to bump the hydro pedal to move the tractor forward slightly and then eventually, I'd be able to engage the differential lock. Is this normal? If so, doesn't seem like a very useful feature, since I may not be able to get it to engage when I need it!

Just keep working it, the more you use the diff lock the easier it will be to use.

 

[onionfmr]

Are you saying it was better or worse with the hydro transmission? Not sure what type of transmission you have has to do with engaging the MFWD. They should be independent of one another.

What I was trying to say was that the more hours that I put on my MF 1643 the better it seemed to engage 4 wheel drive. Initially, it would not engage 4 wheel drive at all. I figured it was going to be a call to the dealer. Same with the old MF 1240 I had. The more hours I put on it, the easier it was to engage four wheel drive.

In terms of different transmissions, I was just identifying that my transmission was different. Sorry for any confusion.

 

[merrickvilleguy]

my 1635 is the same way with the 4wd and lock. Depending on where it is I can get them to engage easy, other times it requires a bit of hydro pedal to get them to go. It is the same way with the ranges (although I can get them to move every time, sometimes it needs a bit of pedal to get it to lock in place)

they tell me thats because of the machining, have to work off the sharp edges off everything and it takes time to do it

 

[jtheise4]

What I was trying to say was that the more hours that I put on my MF 1643 the better it seemed to engage 4 wheel drive. Initially, it would not engage 4 wheel drive at all. I figured it was going to be a call to the dealer. Same with the old MF 1240 I had. The more hours I put on it, the easier it was to engage four wheel drive.

In terms of different transmissions, I was just identifying that my transmission was different. Sorry for any confusion.

Ahhh. Now I understand!!! Thanks for the input.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have never stopped a tractor in my life to engage the differential lock. WHen you need it you are just about stuck and the last thing you need to do is stop all forward motion. I just hit it while moving and then release it when I get out of the crud. Never had an issue with doing that on big ag tractors. I do it with my Yanmar compact tractor also and so far never a problem. It slips in and out perfectly.

 

[jtheise4]

FYI, I stopped at my dealer on Saturday and talked to the owner. He said that it is perfectly fine to engage both the rear differential lock and MFWD while the tractor is in motion. He said you shouldn't engage either if the wheels are already slipping, cause that could break something, but the tractor doesn't have to be stopped to engage either.