Mahindra purchase

[shvl73]

I think another thing that helps is being able to garage it. I've only worked in the rain a couple of times, so any corrosion should be minimal. I should get in there with some spray lithium.

 

[Keith_B]

Exactly what I was thinking... one LED for 2WD and one for 4WD.

Future Mahindra improvement concept courtesy of Keith and Dougster!

Dougster

Can we get royalties?

 

[Dougster]

I think another thing that helps is being able to garage it. I've only worked in the rain a couple of times, so any corrosion should be minimal. I should get in there with some spray lithium.

I wonder, in my case, if I shouldn't hit it with some "Liquid Wrench" first... i.e., penetrating oil to free up any really serious corrosion. Or could that damage the seal?

Can we get royalties?

I'd be happy just to get the backfit kit for free!

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

Doug, try putting the tractor in reverse when it doesn't shift into 2WD easily and backing up a few feet. It should then shift out of 4WD easier. I do this whenever my tractor won't easily shift out of 4WD and it always helps. This is a technique that has been used on 4WD vehicles and tractors for decades to either shift them out of 4WD or to make sure that the gears are released and the machine is out of 4WD. A truck I used to have even had a line in the manual about backing up about 20 feet after shifting out of 4WD to make sure it is out of 4WD. My Mahindra dealer even told me to back my 4110 up a few feet after shifting out of 4WD to make sure the 4WD is fully disengaged.

Well, good news and bad news: I freed up and lubricated everything I could see on the linkage and then tried the backup trick. Went out of 4WD and into 2WD like a hot knife through butter. And no funny expensive noises either... at least at first.

Should have left well enough alone probably, but I decided now that this mystery is solved, I should be "exercising" this function whenever on pavement... even if for just a minute or two. Unfortunately, by the end of the weekend I was getting some noise... in both 4WD and 2WD... that I had never heard before. Not a grinding... but kind of a subtle metal-on-metal noise that may be the same noise discussed earlier. Funny thing though: You stop the engine and then restart it later and it has gone away... until the next change 2WD>4WD or reverse. Hope this isn't a bad sign. I suppose only time will tell. Maybe I am STILL not backing up enough after the switches are made... but awfully glad it goes away just turning the engine off.

Dougster

 

[Keith_B]

Maybe the linkage is in need of adjustment?

 

[Dougster]

Maybe the linkage is in need of adjustment?

Very possible. For all I know, I lubed it up so much it's probably coming apart!

Joking aside, only time... and maybe a little tinkering... will tell.

Dougster

 

[skipmarcy]

Very possible. For all I know, I lubed it up so much it's probably coming apart!

Joking aside, only time... and maybe a little tinkering... will tell.

Dougster

Doug, it's possible that long linkage rod could have bent slightly from the stiff operation. If you detach the lower end of it from the shift fork lever you can operate the lever with your hand to make sure it is in it's detent and then see if the stud lines-up with the hole well when you try to put it back in. The throw on that shift fork inside isn't very much and it could possibly have the gear touching slightly if it's not solid in the detent either way.

 

[Dougster]

Doug, it's possible that long linkage rod could have bent slightly from the stiff operation. If you detach the lower end of it from the shift fork lever you can operate the lever with your hand to make sure it is in it's detent and then see if the stud lines-up with the hole well when you try to put it back in. The throw on that shift fork inside isn't very much and it could possibly have the gear touching slightly if it's not solid in the detent either way.

Thanks Skip! I don't think it's bent... although that doesn't mean it's not slightly out of adjustment. It looks straight as an arrow. The two ends are "loose"... but it appears it's supposed to be that way. I'll try your procedure and let you know if it changes the sound at all.

The sound is probably nothing... but this thread has made me a little overly-cautious.

Dougster

 

[Keith_B]

Very possible. For all I know, I lubed it up so much it's probably coming apart!

Joking aside, only time... and maybe a little tinkering... will tell.

Dougster

When you find out what the problem is post it here for us, that way we'll have it for future reference.

 

[Dougster]

When you find out what the problem is post it here for us, that way we'll have it for future reference.

Will do Keith... but for all I know there may be no problem at all. This noise may be normal (or at least non-detrimental) and I'd just never heard it before because I never had any real need to switch out of 4WD before. I'll tinker with it and monitor it over the next few weeks and let you know once I reach any conclusion.

Dougster

 

[Cacinok]

Will do Keith... but for all I know there may be no problem at all. This noise may be normal (or at least non-detrimental) and I'd just never heard it before because I never had any real need to switch out of 4WD before. I'll tinker with it and monitor it over the next few weeks and let you know once I reach any conclusion.

Dougster

bump and any conclusions reached?

 

[Dougster]

bump and any conclusions reached?

Conclusion: So far so good. The funny noise eventually went away on its own now that I am routinely switching between 2WD and 4WD as needed, keeping things clean & lubed in the linkage department... and using a LOT more 2WD than I ever imagined I would.

I did slip out of gear once the other day while in 2WD and dang near rolled down my steep front yard hill... but I believe that to have been a fluke incident and unrelated to anything other than the fact that I probably didn't have the red beast fully in gear! No harm and no repeats since that day.

Dougster

 

[Keith_B]

Conclusion: So far so good. The funny noise eventually went away on its own now that I am routinely switching between 2WD and 4WD as needed, keeping things clean & lubed in the linkage department... and using a LOT more 2WD than I ever imagined I would.

I did slip out of gear once the other day while in 2WD and dang near rolled down my steep front yard hill... but I believe that to have been a fluke incident and unrelated to anything other than the fact that I probably didn't have the red beast fully in gear! No harm and no repeats since that day.

Dougster

I've accidentally knocked mine out of gear a time or two. I think it happens when I bump the range selector with my knee. Seems like it only happens when I have it in Low.

 

[Dougster]

I've accidentally knocked mine out of gear a time or two. I think it happens when I bump the range selector with my knee. Seems like it only happens when I have it in Low.

Yep... I do that all the time. Need to lose a few pounds I guess!

This was different... no hitting neither range nor gear lever. It just popped out of gear... nothing touched and it happened to do it at the worst possible time (on my steep hill with the engine acting as brake). But like I said, I think it was a fluke. I probably didn't have it properly engaged. I hit the brakes fast and no harm done at all. Hasn't happened since. I'm not worried about it and neither should anyone else!

Dougster

 

[Cacinok]

Conclusion: So far so good. The funny noise eventually went away on its own now that I am routinely switching between 2WD and 4WD as needed, keeping things clean & lubed in the linkage department... and using a LOT more 2WD than I ever imagined I would.

I did slip out of gear once the other day while in 2WD and dang near rolled down my steep front yard hill... but I believe that to have been a fluke incident and unrelated to anything other than the fact that I probably didn't have the red beast fully in gear! No harm and no repeats since that day.

Dougster

that's good to hear. i received delivery of my '04 3510 last night and got a few hours on it before i had to call it a night. i'm stating the obvious here, but what a HUGE change from my 27 year old long 2wd. lol.