B2710 Slipping out of 4WD?

[FreedomFamilyFarms]

Brought home a new to me B2710 with 271 hours on it. 4WD engages easily but slips back to 2WD on its own. Am I doing something wrong?

 

[KubotaToy]

I have never had mine slip out of 4WD once it is in 4WD but I have thought a time or two that I had it in 4WD but it did not fully engage. I hold a little pressure on the level for several seconds as the gears may not be lined up on the first attempt, I also turn the steering wheel back and forth a little to help it engage. I have over 600 hours and run mine in 4WD about 75% of the time around the farm.

BTW- really only two tires pulling in 4WD, one rear, one front unless you lock the rear, then you have three.

 

[rScotty]

Brought home a new to me B2710 with 271 hours on it. 4WD engages easily but slips back to 2WD on its own. Am I doing something wrong?

Vibration and my boot would cause my M59 to shift too easily between 2wd/4wd. That's nice in a way because it tells me that the internal front to rear transmission ratio matches the rolling diameter ratio between the front and rear tires. That's good engineering. But being in 4wd was something I wanted more control over, so I added a hardware store sliding door latch below the shift lever. Now the leverstays where it's wanted.
rScotty

 

[B2400]

After looking at linkage diagram, I see that your 2710 has a detent ball and spring under a bolt right behind where the 4wd linkage goes into transmission case. Can you feel the detent when you shift in and out of 4wd? If not, this might be an area to look at.

 

[FreedomFamilyFarms]

It seems to slide in and stay for a moment but once I get moving it pops out. I've even held it in place and I can feel and hear it kicking out. I can't imagine this is normal. Any ideas what might be broken?

 

[B2400]

I have never been that far in to one. If you go to Messick's and create a log in acct, you have access to all the parts diagrams. Kubota B271HSD (Hydrostatic Transmission, 4wd) Parts Diagrams

After looking at it a little more, I wonder if someone had bent the shift fork trying to get it to go into 4wd at some time. If it were forced and bent, that would keep it from fully engaging...

 

[FreedomFamilyFarms]

Thanks B2400, I'm feeling like this is beyond my current level of mechanical comfort (especially considering my shop area is still a pile of boxes and tools). Having the Kubota dealer pick her up tomorrow. I'll post back when we figure it out.

 

[B2400]

Sounds like a plan....given what you paid for it on other post, you can put some money in it and still be ahead of the game!

 

[FreedomFamilyFarms]

That's what I'm hoping... for more money I'd have bought more tractor.

 

[FreedomFamilyFarms]

The dealership called and had good news. The 4WD lever was bent, preventing it from seating in gear completely. They've fixed it, tested under load, and scheduled delivery for Thursday morning. I had them tube the front tires, fill the rears with Rimguard, and service it while it was in the shop. They had some sort of special running for free pickup and delivery too!

That lever is a pretty thick piece of steel, not sure how it got bent before I purchased the machine. Hopefully, that's the end of my buyer's remorse... Overall, I'm still money ahead on the purchase, just short a few nerves.