Traction My Tractor Slips Going Down Hill While Mowing

[bill18163]

I have a B2710 with hydrostatic trans with 800+ hours on it. If I go down a hill on my property while mowing, the tractor will slip internally and get going too fast. It will not hold back and go down the hill slowly under control. It will "take off" so to speak. Now if I run the tractor in four wheel drive it will not do that. It only does it in two wheel drive. I have two other Kubota tractors and they will not do this sort of thing. In either two or four wheel drive they will creep down a hill under full control. This happens while coasting with my foot off the accelerator just using the weight of the tractor to coast down the hill. It will break loose and not hold back like my other tractors. Anybody have any ideas what could cause this?

 

[ptsg]

Do you have any implement attached when this happens?

To me, it seems that the rear is just too light because you may not have anything on the 3 pt to act as counter weight. It does have a loader, right?

 

[Thomas]

What type of tractor tires also are the rear tires loaded?
Tractor slipping rears does it have front load on ?
Is the grass damp?

 

[Johnkn]

Is the tractor slipping on the grass or is the transmission not holding the tractor back?

 

[Agvg]

You should use 4WD going up and down, in 2WD the rear are to light and it just skidding, very normal behaviour.

 

[RickB]

Do you have any implement attached when this happens?

To me, it seems that the rear is just too light because you may not have anything on the 3 pt to act as counter weight. It does have a loader, right?

Ding Ding!

 

[Diggin It]

Is the tractor slipping on the grass or is the transmission not holding the tractor back?

Ding Ding!!

Are both rear wheels rolling or is one or both sliding over the grass?

 

[Rebeldad1]

keep in mind while mowing the mower doesnt add weight to the tractor. like the others have said its just too light. Just leave it in 4WD and stay off pavement till you are done.
We have pretty much all hills up and down, some just over 15%. the tractor in left always in 4WD.

 

[bill18163]

The tractor has turf tires and they are not loaded. No implements on the tractor except the mid mount mower. It is not slipping on the grass and the grass is not wet. I know better than that. The tractor is breaking loose internally and yes of course once it does that it will start to slip on the grass as it gains momentum because it broke loose internally and picked up speed. Think about this. My other two Kubota's don't do this under the same conditions. One is a B1860 with turf tires and not loaded and the other is a L3940 with R4's and loaded.

 

[Rebeldad1]

then if your B2710 is correctly filled with hyd fluid.... hope you are still under warranty.

 

[RickB]

If putting it in 4wd stops the freewheeling it is not a transmission problem and all but certain to be sliding. The tranny doesn’t care if you are in 2wd or 4wd.
What your other tractors do is immaterial. Weight/footprint, etc are apples to oranges. What is your rear tire inflation? A light tractor with overinflated turfs will skate like Nancy Kerrigan.

 

[Diggin It]

The hill matters too. I cannot go down any of my hills in 2WD. I MUST be in 4WD and Low to descend safely. A lesser grade hill would be a different matter. Why your 1880 can do it, I cannot discuss.

 

[ruffdog]

Try it in 2WD drive but with the diff lock engaged. With a open differential, it takes very little slippage of ONE wheel to feel like it is taking off.

 

[Industrial Toys]

The OP suggests it's an internal issue and seems to understand the issue of loosing adhesion and sliding down a hill, yet you guys keep talking about that.

 

[k0ua]

The OP suggests it's an internal issue and seems to understand the issue of loosing adhesion and sliding down a hill, yet you guys keep talking about that.

That is because they understand what is happening.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I got the impression the OP wasn't born yesterday. lol Not his first Rodeo, so to speak.

 

[RickB]

If he had all the answers he would not need to ask the question. Clearly he is less than happy with the responses. That happens.

If someone can explain how a hydrostatic transmission can freewheel in 2wd but not in 4wd on the same slope and conditions I am willing to learn.

 

[s219]

If putting it in 4wd stops the freewheeling it is not a transmission problem and all but certain to be sliding. The tranny doesn’t care if you are in 2wd or 4wd.
What your other tractors do is immaterial. Weight/footprint, etc are apples to oranges. What is your rear tire inflation? A light tractor with overinflated turfs will skate like Nancy Kerrigan.

+1. And this is why I disagree if the OP thinks it's an internal issue. Internal issues would exist in 2WD or 4WD and affect both equally. If it goes away in 4WD then it's a traction issue and not an internal issue. These "4WD" tractors are really like having an extra FWD assist driven off the RWD. If the front driveline is not slipping internally then that means the rear is not slipping internally.

 

[s219]

The OP suggests it's an internal issue and seems to understand the issue of loosing adhesion and sliding down a hill, yet you guys keep talking about that.

He is missing the important fact that the FWD is driven off the RWD internally. If the rear was slipping internally then the front would have no chance.

 

[s219]

And while we're on the topic, check the rear tire pressure. Could be another situation where the tires are spinning on the rim.