Front locker available for Kubotas

[JWR]

Solenoid lockers on front, rear AND transfer case... holy cow. I am amazed at that. Off roaders must relish that feature.

 

[oosik]

Got to admit - the Taco Wagon is the first vehicle, I've owned, that has a locking transfer case also. Lockers - front & rear - yes. Quite honestly - if you are in a situation where you might need to lock the entire drive train - I'd be looking for a winch point. From my EXTENSIVE experience of being stuck, while in AK - I'm pretty sure I'm not going to get in a situation like that again. Being stuck and winching is fun - maybe the first time. After that - a dirty, nasty, PITA.

Can you imagine being covered - head to toe - in nasty mud and getting back into a $74K vehicle. Neither can I.........

 

[SDT]

Several years ago I ran one of these in a Jeep axle. Worked okay. Some quirky side affects. It applies itself when power is applied. The spider gears are removed. This unit goes in their place. When power is applied the spider gear pin going thru the center forces the notched pieces outward and causes engagement. So every time you apply power, it's locked.

Imagine this. Slick conditions. FEL bucket full of material. 4wd engaged. Front wheels turned for sharp corner. Add power. Unit engages. Front wheel on inside of turn needs to travel "X" distance. Front wheel on outside of turn needs to travel "Y" distance. Locker says nope, you both are going to travel same distance. Something has to give. First thing it will try to do is straighten the front wheels. Next, one tire has to skid, one has to spin.

For this reason I quit using it. Extremely stressful on axle components. Severely limited power turns.

Contact Kubota and see what they say.

Bingo.

I expect it would void the drivetrain warranty.

SDT

 

[Sawyer Rob]

None of my 4wd pu's have solenoid locking "transfer cases", (it isn't needed) why make it another electrical connection, when all I have to do with mine is, "pull on the handle" and it's locked!

SR

 

[ruffdog]

None of my 4wd pu's have solenoid locking "transfer cases", (it isn't needed) why make it another electrical connection, when all I have to do with mine is, "pull on the handle" and it's locked!

SR

Is it because Ram is using an AWD T-case and need a locker to lock the center diff?

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Is it because Ram is using an AWD T-case and need a locker to lock the center diff?

Back in the 70's I bought a new AWD pu., It STILL just the same handle to pull to "lock the case"...

Solenoid activation is just something else to go wrong when it get's older...

SR

 

[oosik]

Sawyer Rob - something can always go wrong - - new or old. I have an extended vehicle warrantee that covers everything. From the front bumper to the rear bumper. Especially all the electronics.

When I pull the 4WD lever - the gears in the transfer case are not locked up. They will still differentiate power to the front/rear drive line, depending upon multiple conditions. I can, if the front & rear diffys are also locked, turn the knob and lock up the transfer case.

Just a case of many differing drive line configurations.

 

[ovrszd]

Mechanical locking on the T-case is preferred. My 00 Super Duty used an electric motor to lock the case and/or engage low side. It's never failed and never been repaired.

When you engage 4wd on your tractor you are locking the T-case.

 

[ruffdog]

Sawyer Rob - something can always go wrong - - new or old. I have an extended vehicle warrantee that covers everything. From the front bumper to the rear bumper. Especially all the electronics.

When I pull the 4WD lever - the gears in the transfer case are not locked up. They will still differentiate power to the front/rear drive line, depending upon multiple conditions. I can, if the front & rear diffys are also locked, turn the knob and lock up the transfer case.

Just a case of many differing drive line configurations.

It sounds like you have a AWD type T-case that allows slippage when not locked in. They will use a type of viscous coupler or clutch pack so you can leave it in 4x4 without binding up.

 

[5030]

Mechanical locking on the T-case is preferred. My 00 Super Duty used an electric motor to lock the case and/or engage low side. It's never failed and never been repaired.

When you engage 4wd on your tractor you are locking the T-case.

On a FWA tractor, there is NO trnsfer case, just a shift fork and gear and the front dif is turning all the time anyway, no freewheeling hubs, not that new trucks have them but I do. No point in unnecessary wear.

 

[AndyMA]

On a FWA tractor, there is NO trnsfer case, just a shift fork and gear and the front dif is turning all the time anyway, no freewheeling hubs, not that new trucks have them but I do. No point in unnecessary wear.

My New Holland TN 75D I traded last year had a front hydraulic locker

Cane in handy in soft conditions

Andy

 

[5030]

Not familiar with New Holland tractors, only NH hay tools. My NH dealer is always trying to get me to demo one, I always pass.

 

[ovrszd]

On a FWA tractor, there is NO trnsfer case, just a shift fork and gear and the front dif is turning all the time anyway, no freewheeling hubs, not that new trucks have them but I do. No point in unnecessary wear.

There is one, it's simply enclosed in the same case as the rear axle assembly. The function you described is the same thing that happens when you pull the lever in your truck.

 

[Smokeydog]

The factory no-spin front loader locker on my Old M5030 was nice. Great for loader work. I could bush hog a steep hillside other tractors couldn’t. Grade a steep gravel driveway with no problem. Tried M59 for for replacement for two years. Both tractors have their pros and cons. Missed a locking front axle on the M59. Ended up selling the M5030 for more than I paid after 20 years and 2000+hours. No longer bush hog that steep hillside.

Big advantage of 4wd tractor is 4 wheel braking.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Big advantage of 4wd tractor is 4 wheel braking.

Some brands of tractors have brakes on all 4 wheels, or it was an available option if you wanted it...

SR

 

[5030]

I much prefer the 'when you need ' front locker like my M's have and far as brakes are concerned, about the only time I use them is when round baling and the bale computer tells me to stop, bale chamber is full. I never brake steer because I'm not doing ground tillage at all and my units are both gear drive so when parked, are in gear anyway.

 

[Fallon]

Brakes are the biggest reason I'd like an electronic 4wd system on my L4060. Its trivial to set the 4wd to engage when you step on the brake pedal. Then your rear brakes actually stop the front wheels.

A front locker would be cool, but honestly I wouldnt use it much. I only use 4wd maybe a third of the time tops & barely use the rear locker. I wouldnt want to be without either though as when you need them, you really need them.

 

[oosik]

I only use 4WD when plowing driveway snow with the tractor. On the Taco Wagon - I'll use 4WD if the exit side of the valley in the driveway ices up. Otherwise - 4WD & lockers would only be used when I go where I shouldn't be anyhow. A little forethought is a lot better than any 4WD or locker system or winch line.

 

[Tx Jim]

There is one, it's simply enclosed in the same case as the rear axle assembly. The function you described is the same thing that happens when you pull the lever in your truck.

Ditto transfer case on MFWD tractor is built into transmission

 

[ovrszd]

I only use 4WD when plowing driveway snow with the tractor. On the Taco Wagon - I'll use 4WD if the exit side of the valley in the driveway ices up. Otherwise - 4WD & lockers would only be used when I go where I shouldn't be anyhow. A little forethought is a lot better than any 4WD or locker system or winch line.

Why did you buy a truck with all those functions if you shouldn't be where they are needed?