Kubota 4x4 locked up

alanngmt · Aug 5, 2010

Was bushhoggin' recently and my tractor just came to complete stop. Still running, finally figured out it was the 4x4 had locked up. Never had a nickel's worth of trouble with this tractor. 2000 L-3000DT 4x4. I have it at the shop now, waiting on a call.
Anyone got any ideas?
Thanks

Gordon Gould · Aug 5, 2010

What do you mean by 4X4 locked up? Was it in gear and running when it stopped ? without stalling? Try to tell us everything that happened.

Gordon Gould · Aug 5, 2010

You said L3000DT - so thats a geared transmission not hydrstatic right?

alanngmt · Aug 6, 2010

Gordon Gould said:
You said L3000DT - so thats a geared transmission not hydrstatic right?

Yes, it's a geared transmisson. I was just mowing right along and I was about to make a turn and slowed up and it just came to a stop. On certain jobs I'll keep it in 4x4, so I don't spin. It just locked up as in it would not pull forward or reverse. When I tried it would just stall out if I tried to make it move. I can tell it's in the front differential. Still waiting to hear from the shop about what they've found.

Gordon Gould · Aug 6, 2010

Dossn't sound good. Keep us posted.

KubieTwo · Aug 6, 2010

alanngmt said:
Yes, it's a geared transmisson. I was just mowing right along and I was about to make a turn and slowed up and it just came to a stop. On certain jobs I'll keep it in 4x4, so I don't spin. It just locked up as in it would not pull forward or reverse. When I tried it would just stall out if I tried to make it move. I can tell it's in the front differential. Still waiting to hear from the shop about what they've found.

Just a question about the surface conditions when you are running 4x4. Is it mostly hard surface and you hit slick conditions once in a while, or the other way around? You indicate you had just started to turn when it locked up and I am guessing it was on hard surface, good traction conditions when you started the turn. Is this correct? If so and you turn it much under those conditions in 4 wheel drive, you are putting a lot of stress on the drive line which may be the basis for your problems. If that is not the case, something abnormal happened in the front drive line.

I have a lot of mixed traction conditions, regardless of task being performed, and I shift in and out of 4 wheel drive as I need it if I am on hard surface much at all. A lot of times I hit hidden wet spots, lose traction a bit, and just pause to lock the rear differential then drive on out. If it is really bad, I shift into 4 wheel drive at the same time I engage the differential lock. As soon as I am on firm ground again, I go back to two wheel drive, and the diff lock unlocks. I may be overly cautious but I do not like the front end binding when I turn, which is what would happen on hard surface in four wheel drive. I occasionally hit sudden soft places bush hogging where I have to back out using four wheel drive, diff lock, while pushing myself with the bucket for additional assist, and even then I resist running four wheel drive all the time because I mostly have adequate traction. Not saying that is what you need to do, but IMO, point is to NOT use 4x4 in good traction conditions, especially turning.

Good luck and report back on the diagnosis.