Front Drive Not working

[Trainer]

Saturday I was using my tractor to do some pulling and noticed one of the front wheels was not pulling. The tractor is a Massey Ferguson 220-4. Any suggestions as to what may be wrong?

 

[oliver28472]

Probably nothing wrong. Are you sure both front wheels are supposed to be pulling? I have a different brand and mine only spins one wheel, the one with least resistance. Traction lock does not apply to the front drive axle.

 

[Trainer]

I will have to check the manual to see. My assumption was all tires should be pulling. I had three tires spinning and one was not. The tractor dug several deep holes before I got the corner of the old barn pulled down.

 

[slowzuki]

No locking diff on that models front axle. It will only spin 3 unless the traction on the front two is perfectly balanced.

 

[beenthere]

There is nothing wrong.
Enjoy your tractor, knowing now that you have not broken it. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Trainer]

If the front tire with least resistance will spin, then it is not as effective as I like. The one with the most resistance would give more pulling. For instance if one is in soft mud and one on hard dirt, the one in the mud will spin but the one on hard dirt would do more to help you. It seems to me that they should pull equally to give maximum traction.

 

[slowzuki]

Yah, I would be nice. Thats why big ag tractors can lock the front diff too.

For little guys it puts a lot of strain on the drive components and makes it hard to steer.

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Yah, I would be nice. Thats why big ag tractors can lock the front diff too. )</font>
That's one of the nice feature on the Kioti DK65, front and rear locking.
John

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If the front tire with least resistance will spin, then it is not as effective as I like. )</font>

There's not a whole lot you can do about that. Three tires are better than two and two are better than one. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif In many old 2wd tractors, only one rear would spin. If you were lucky enough to be able to split the brakes, you could use the brake on the spinning wheel and force the tire with the most traction to spin. Often, by applying the correct amount of pressure, you could cause the rear wheels to both turn as if you had a differential lock. However, sometimes you just dug two holes with both wheels and buried the entire rear end of the tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[RedDog]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( </font><font color="blueclass=small">( Yah, I would be nice. Thats why big ag tractors can lock the front diff too. )</font>
That's one of the nice feature on the Kioti DK65, front and rear locking.
John )</font>


Yes it is nice!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

RedDog