JD 3520 MFWD lever disengages hard

[LHS Inc]

The MFWD lever on my JD 3520 engages smooth and easy but disengages not as smooth. I haven't tried to move the tractor a little bit front or back ever so slightly to see if that helps like I do sometimes to move the range shifter. Its only got about 20 hrs on it so maybe I haven't gotten past the break in period yet. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Glen Watkins]

Mine comes out hard too . I just keep moving and turn sharp left and keep a little pressure back on the lever and it comes right out.

 

[beenthere]

As Glen mentions, keep the tractor moving to disengage the 4wd. Or, put a little pressure on the lever and change directions.

There is torque on the drive train and that can build up making enough pressure that disengaging is tight. Better to relieve that pressure by moving the drive train a bit (quicker if changing direction) than forcing the lever while dead still. Break-in period has nothing to do with it. If working right, it will/should always be snug/tight.

 

[sunnyside360]

My 3720 with 250 hrs is the same way so I doubt it will change much with use. I just release the hydro drive pedal slightly while pulling on the MFWD lever and that usually works. Another thing you can do is just turn the steering wheel left/right slightly while moving and pulling on MFWD lever.

 

[defed]

mine won't disengage (at least not w/o alot of force) unless i stop and reverse just slightly. then it drops out as easy as it went in.

 

[JD755]

It's usually necessary to reduce the load on the drive train by some means to ease disengaging the MFWD gears. There is always a note in the manual about this. Below is from the 3520 manual. The term engine load though does seems confusing if you are not familiar with what they mean.

1. Pull up on MFWD lever to engage MFWD.

Instrument panel MFWD light will illuminate when MFWD is activated.

NOTE: It may be necessary to reduce engine load to disengage front wheel drive.

2. Push down MFWD lever to disengage MFWD.

 

[DrainPondDesign]

LHS,

My MFWD lever does the same thing but if you remove the load it disengages easy.

If going forward in MFWD I stop, back up just a little, stop again and the lever disengages smoothly.

It feels like when under load it wants to stay engaged which may be a good thing?

 

[beenthere]

mine won't disengage (at least not w/o alot of force) unless i stop and reverse just slightly. then it drops out as easy as it went in.

And force is not good. That's when things break.

 

[RalphVa]

The one on my 4010 is still tough to get out of 4wd at times. Gotta jiggle the forward/reverse pedals a bit most times. Best if it's on a slight downward grade. Usually comes out easy then.

Ralph

 

[JD755]

This question brings up something I have wondered about. Some of the 4x10 series tractors only have an electric push button to engage/disengage MFWD. Does the 4WD light stay on until the gears actually disengage, or does it simply shut off when the button is pushed whether the gears are still engaged or not? Obvious problems if it just shuts off with the switch.