4 wheel drive all the time? or just when needed

[CobyRupert]

In simplest terms:
On an all wheel drive car: No, front and rear axles are not locked together.
On a four wheel drive car: Yes, same for 4wd truck, tractor, etc.
That’s the difference between a transfer case and a differential.
More complicated systems are… more complicated.

 

[GeneV]

I get driving in 4wd down hills with the weight in the bucket, and obviously when spinning out in uneven terrain. But otherwise, why? No.

 

[LD1]

If you press on your brakes, even with the rear wheels off of the ground the front wheels will stop the tractor. I don't know why this is such a hard concept to understand.

I don't understand either why it is so hard to understand

And people preach it like gossip, and it continues to spread

 

[Whisperpandy=]

Look people, here's the facts on 4 wheel drive on a CUT TRACTOR !!! When you put it into manual 4WD, you have LOCKED the front wheels to the REAR wheels. When the REAR wheels drive, since the front and rear are locked together, they ALL function TOGETHER. SO, when power is applied to the rear wheels, since they are LOCKED to the FRONT wheels, ALL four wheels are driven. And since the FRONT wheels are LOCKED to the REAR wheels, when you apply the brakes, which are on the REAR wheels, the front wheels being locked to the REARS will effectively ALSO HAVE BRAKING !!! Braking on ALL 4 wheels even though there are actual brakes only on the rear wheels !!! Did I explain it clearly enough? In 4WD, ALL wheels have braking power !!! Enough with all this misinformation. And, for those who choose to leave their machine IN 4WD, keep it up, you keep guys like myself in business !!! 4wd SHOULD only be used on loose surfaces, such as loose dirt, gravel, and snow, where the wheels can slip a little because the fronts and rears are NOT rotating at exactly the same speed. Tire sizes, pressures and turning also have an effect on the ground speed of each axle.

Ag tractor mechanic for 45+ years !!!

 

[Diggin It]

when you apply the brakes, which are on the REAR wheels, the front wheels being locked to the REARS will effectively ALSO HAVE BRAKING !!! Braking on ALL 4 wheels even though there are actual brakes only on the rear wheels !!! Did I explain it clearly enough? In 4WD, ALL wheels have braking power !!! Enough with all this misinformation.

Ag tractor mechanic fo 45+ years !!!

A real tractor mechanic would know that not all tractors have brakes on the rear wheels and would not spread the misinformation that they do.

 

[DK35vince]

A real tractor mechanic would know that not all tractors have brakes on the rear wheels and would not spread the misinformation that they do.

So where are they ?

 

[Whisperpandy=]

A real tractor mechanic would know that not all tractors have brakes on the rear wheels and would not spread the misinformation that they do.

No they're not ON the rear wheels, but they Control the rear wheels in 2WD !!! AND, I was referring to the tractors that have a solid link between front and rear as in compact tractors !!! I've been inside these machines since before some "experts" on here were even born!! I've been with John Deere since 1971, so you be the judge on whether that qualifies as a real mechanic ! I was simply trying t get the point across that when in 4WD there IS stopping power on the front wheels, that some people just can't seem to grasp !!!

 

[Whisperpandy=]

So where are they ?

Inside the rear housing in oil

 

[Whisperpandy=]

A real tractor mechanic would know that not all tractors have brakes on the rear wheels and would not spread the misinformation that they do.

The real misinformation comes from someone who has a reading comprehension issue.

 

[4570Man]

There is never any one answer to this question. It's all about your own circumstances. I just rolled over 400 hours. Probably 350 of those have been in 4WD. I have NO level ground ... none. Going downhill in 2WD was something I did once. Never again. Uphill in 2WD in not possible.

The ONLY time I'm not in 4WD is when I'm on the paved road going over to a neighbor. When I cross my paved driveway, I'm careful about how I steer, if at all. Very gradual.


A comment on brakes. These small machines don't have any. Not in the traditional sense. None of the wheels have brakes at all. The only braking is called a 'wet brake' inside the transmission and it can easily be overcome by gravity, meaning even in 4WD, stepping on the brake pedal may not help (much) if you're already rolling too fast downhill.

If your tractor behaves that way you might want to get it checked out. I’ve been on worn out junk that doesn’t have any brakes but I’ve never been on a tractor with 400 hours that didn’t have brakes to lock the wheels down. Sliding down a hill isn’t that uncommon but that’s a traction problem not a braking power problem.