4wd lever (DK)

Anonymous Poster · Oct 18, 2002

I have just finished fitting some wheel weights to my DK50. I bought weights from a tractor wrecker they came off a fiat they fitted very easy. there were 3 holes in the weights just matched and drilled the rims and bolted back together weight about 70kg ea. while i had the rims of i also modifed the 4wd lever, where the arm fits over the shaft that goes into the gear box i welded a extention shaft to the existing arm, bolted a bracket to the frame oF the tractor and fitted a bush for the extented shaft. the reason i have done this is because it is difficult to engage and disengage due to its poor design (to much side pressure.) sorry about the goobly gob, i have tried, attachment may explain or may make it even worse.
vin

Trev · Oct 18, 2002

attachment may explain or may make it even worse.

Hi Vin,

Well, in my case the attachment made it worse, because all I got was a line of black dashes across my screen. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Maybe it's on my end.. and others will be able to view it. Let's wait and see..

Bob

Kiohio · Oct 18, 2002

The attachment opened up in Microsoft paint for me. You might try that.
Later, KO

kodiac · Oct 18, 2002

I just got my DK35 and was wondering about this lever to engage the front wheels. I tried pulling/pushing!!! As much as this tractor is great, I could not move the lever. Not sure what the deal is, I suppose maybe somewhat of a poor design. But,,,,can deal with it!

DK35vince · Oct 18, 2002

kodiac,
Maybe check the lever and linkage and see if it is binding or hitting somewhere.
My 4 wheel drive engages, disengages very easily.
Try to go forward slightly,push clutch and try to engage.
Then try to back slightly and try.

kodiac · Oct 18, 2002

Ok thanks Vince!
First tractor so I am just learning. I appreciate your advice.
Did you happen to purchase a service manual on this tractor?
Cost? Is it worth it? Owners manual is......well at a minimum hard to understand what they are trying to say?
Really like PA, grew up there. Traveling there in Nov with the tractor, can I stop by and help you out with some Bush Hogging or snow plowing?

DK35vince · Oct 18, 2002

Yes I got the service manual and the parts manual.
Service manual around $65.
Parts manual was around $10.
The parts manual is worth the $10.I expected a little more in the service manual but I still prefer to have one.
As far as brush hogging,if I would have known that I would have waited to mow and you could have at it with 10 acres of field !/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

northcreek2624 · Oct 18, 2002

"The parts manual is worth the $10"

Vince,You're right for the exploded views it's almost more informative than the poorly put together shop manual.
Be wary of the part numbers though,everytime I've gone to the dealer armed with the part number I find that there has been a number change.Wether it is a light bulb,filter,whatever it is always different.........Kioti tractors,GOOD!.......Kioti books,BAD!...........Just practicing my Frankenstein for halloween..........Mike

markie61 · Oct 19, 2002

You know, it's very interesting about the sticking 4WD engagement on the DK35. I had a similar issue when I was test driving it - it was hard to move. Even more interesting to me (having read this post) is the same exact problem happened when trying to unengage 4WD in the Kubota L3710GST and L4310HST I drove. I even made the Kubota dealer get into the seat to try to disengage it, since I am a newbie - he struggled as well. A lot is made in this discussion group about similarities to Kubota - well, here is another one! Imitation the sincerest form of flattery....?/w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif
Mark

northcreek2624 · Oct 19, 2002

Mark,What they fail to tell you in the owners manual is the proper technique.
1.To engage just tromp your heel on the handle while underway.
2.To disengage also while underway,pull on the handle so as to put a pretty good strain on it,now just tap the throttle and it will pop out of 4wd.
3.Make sure you're going straight when engaging or disengaging(seems to work better esp.disengaging).
........Mike

Anonymous Poster · Oct 20, 2002

mike
Since making the modification it operates very easily. i would not like to do what you suggest, your approach puts even more lateral stress on the shaft and ultimately could cause problems in the future
vin

northcreek2624 · Oct 20, 2002

"i would not like to do what you suggest, your approach puts even more lateral stress on the shaft and ultimately could cause problems in the future"

Vin,Apparently the DK50 is different than the the DK35/40 as far as the 4wd engagement lever is concerned.
True the lever is slightly overhung but,I believe the stiffness is due to the fact that you are trying to mesh gears that will always have a slight speed difference.
On the 35&40 the shift lever linkage is dead nuts in front of the 4wd engagement shaft so your fix would have to be modified but,I really don't feel it's needed on the 35/40.
The fact that it easily slips out of 4wd when tickling the throttle indicates to me that it is a meshing thing rather than lateral stress............Mike

kodiac · Oct 20, 2002

While I have only had my DK35 for a few days, I probably would not want to do either of the previous suggestions. First, a modification while under warranty, and second attempting to use ones foot to "stomp" the lever down...mine is made of plastic! I have found that if I pull or push depending on whether going in or out of 4wd and work the clutch a little it seems to be much eaiser to engage/disengage.
I guess whatever works for the individual.......there certainly are no "tips" in the users manual!
Oh is that a "users" manual or tractoring for dummies manual?
Dave

northcreek2624 · Oct 20, 2002

Dave,Many times when you realize that you need to be in 4wd you are already in trouble,this is no time to let go of the wheel or gear shift to fumble for the 4wd lever.
Take it from someone who has done it a hundred times this summer,a little boot pressure on the plastic handle will not hurt it,you've probably kicked it a dozen times getting on and off with out realizing it.
Remember, this is your tractor,not your Lexus........Mike

DK35vince · Oct 20, 2002

Mike,
On my DK 35,I stop to engage 4WD.
I disengage on the fly.

Anonymous Poster · Oct 20, 2002

Since my modification i can engage and disengage much easier. However the more that is said on this thread i am starting to think that it is acceptable to engage and disengage while on the move, is this correct. One other thing , can anyone tell me what then physicaly hapens in the gear box, I mean it mode of action.
vin

northcreek2624 · Oct 21, 2002

"i am starting to think that it is acceptable to engage and disengage while on the move, is this correct."

Vin&vince,I guess if the owners manual was clear on this matter we wouldn't be having this discussion(actually the manuals is backwards and wrong).
If you think about it,everything is spinning at the same speed wether you are stopped or moving(in a straight line)so the gears don't know the difference.
I had to go in&out of 4wd so many times this summer that I lost count,much of it was with a 6' bucket loaded with gravel and I never got any grinding or any indication that I was doing anything out of the norm.
Not trying to throw a blanket over your ideas on the matter,just sharing my experiences....Mike

Anonymous Poster · Oct 21, 2002

Mike
i got a little game today and disengaged +engaged on the move. i think you are right

Anonymous Poster · Nov 13, 2002

Hi fella's
It's now three weeks since i modifed the gear lever and started this thread so i thought i would report back on the matter.
I have pulled 2 tandemed 1.5 ton trailers full of oranges almost every day since from the orchard to the juice factory which is about 2 miles away on sealed roads. Around the orchard i always use 4wd. As a consequence i disengage 4wd leaving and engage on return. Instead of stoping each time to do this as in the past i have progessively inceased my speed in High 3 to change in and out of 4wd with no noticable adverse effects, in fact it changes ever so smoothly. So knowing this makes tractor work much more enjoyable. Maybe i wasted my time with the modification.