Foot Shift into 4WD

mrutkaus · Mar 17, 2011

Well I suppose it's obvious, and it only took me 5 years or so, but when you need all your hands or don't want to bend down, I found I can just push it from 2wd into 4wd with my left foot!!! CK30HST.

Mike

Gittyup · Mar 17, 2011

Yeah, if the knob does break off! Lousy knob design!

Dmace · Mar 17, 2011

I don't think I've ever used my hand for the shifter.

bearhawk · Mar 19, 2011

What?

You can actually shift out of 4x4? That's what that lever is for...

WSJ · Apr 5, 2011

After trying several different things to re-attach my CK 25 4WD knob, which came off and stripped out after repeated foot assisted shifts into 4WD, I made a steel T-handle and jam nut deal that is both easier to use with your hand and just right for heeling it into 4WD.

And yeah, I know, I use the bucket to take a bit of pressure off the front axel and don't try it moving and put the clutch in and stick it in 4 WD sometime aound the middle of November and take it out sometime in April and all that. It still was a pain sometimes to engage and if I recall correctly, the knob came off at least once disengaging it.

It's fixed now. I'll post a picture thies evening. -WSJ

Gittyup · Apr 6, 2011

WSJ said:
After trying several different things to re-attach my CK 25 4WD knob, which came off and stripped out after repeated foot assisted shifts into 4WD, I made a steel T-handle and jam nut deal that is both easier to use with your hand and just right for heeling it into 4WD.

And yeah, I know, I use the bucket to take a bit of pressure off the front axel and don't try it moving and put the clutch in and stick it in 4 WD sometime aound the middle of November and take it out sometime in April and all that. It still was a pain sometimes to engage and if I recall correctly, the knob came off at least once disengaging it.

It's fixed now. I'll post a picture thies evening. -WSJ

I'd like to see your solution. The OEM knob design is just weak. I would have thought they would have fixed that by now. I guess not enough people are complaining about it. I'm still living with the old knob. But, I seldom take it out of 4WD anyway.

IXLR8 · Apr 6, 2011

I had a terrible time getting my CK30 in and out of 4wd, had to about stand on the knob/lever to get it to move. I bought it used and it has always been difficult but now it was getting impossible. One day I was spraying some Fluid Film on some of the linkages on my mower and decided to try lubricating the 4wd linkages on my tractor with it. Viola.. it now shifts in/out of 4wd easily.

Wish I had done it sooner. I will be spraying all the linkages with FF every spring and fall from now on.

WSJ · Apr 7, 2011

"lubricating the 4wd linkages"

Yep, I did (and do) that as well, although I used white lithium grease from a spray can. helps but doesn't eliminate an occassional tough shift nor the relatively weak design of the shift knob. A threaded steel insert in the knob insead of the nylon (I think) would have worked better.

KevinMcD · Apr 8, 2011

I have a similar problem and I found moving slightly forward or reverse (usually the oppisite direction of movement before stopping) makes shifting very easy.
Kevin

lockhaven · Apr 8, 2011

this difficulty was explained a while ago and I will try to do as well as they did,
unlike vehicles designed for the highway tractors are not tuned in so the rear and front are turning at the exact same speed. Tractors may have a much larger difference then road vehicles. When the 4WD is activated the gears get pushed together in one direction, to relieve that condition let the tractor drift the opposite direction slowly while pushing the lever. You can feel them loosen up then release.

WSJ · Apr 8, 2011

". . . to relieve that condition let the tractor drift the opposite direction slowly while pushing the lever. "

Ummm, when the tractor's stuck in the snow or mud in 2WD because I foolishly didn't shift it into 4WD in the barn, there IS no drifting slowly in the opposite direction!

Not to say that's not sound advice, but sometimes conditions dictate the situation.

All of this is good stuff and great advice but doesn't take away from the fact that the shift knob's less robust than it could be and that occassionally a foot-assisted shift is on the menu.

-WSJ

lockhaven · Apr 8, 2011

Sorry I was not clear in my explanation, the drifting only helps getting out of 4WD.

WSJ · Apr 9, 2011

Here, finally, are a couple photos of the crude but effective shift lever mod. One bolt, 1 piece of old round mild steel rod from an old concrete silo for the T, 2 nuts welded together end to end, & one jam nut. If I had it to do agian I'd shorten it by maybe a half an inch.

WSJ · Apr 9, 2011

Wow, since I actually managed to make pictures appear, here are a couple more from today: the latest cool chainsaw and gun rack (saw today) and a PVC tow chain/lopper/utility holder.

WSJ · Apr 9, 2011

OK! On a roll, so here are a couple with the 410 single on board in case I'm attacked by house sparrows or starlings or red squirrels. Rack is a ATV TEK Flex Grip Pro that I mounted with self tapping screws instead of the ATV rack style pinch mount. Nice system.

WSJ · Apr 9, 2011

Well then, so much for getting cocky. Tried that one 4 times and couldn't get anything to go, then end up with double pictures. High tech, that's me.

mj007 · Apr 10, 2011

WSJ said:
". . . to relieve that condition let the tractor drift the opposite direction slowly while pushing the lever. "

Ummm, when the tractor's stuck in the snow or mud in 2WD because I foolishly didn't shift it into 4WD in the barn, there IS no drifting slowly in the opposite direction!

Not to say that's not sound advice, but sometimes conditions dictate the situation.

All of this is good stuff and great advice but doesn't take away from the fact that the shift knob's less robust than it could be and that occassionally a foot-assisted shift is on the menu.

-WSJ

The tractor doesn't have to move or 'drift slowly'; the drivetrain just has to reverse or stop applying power to relieve the torque buildup caused by turning as front/rear drive disparity will cause a 'torque bind'. I foot shift mine all the time but I don't expect it to engage until the internal mechanism is aligned as the drive turns.