Question about my four wheel drive on Kubota L3710

[Gasifier]

Should both front wheels be driving when I have the four wheel drive engaged on my L3710? While plowing snow I spin often with the industrial tires when things get slippery. Tread is in good shape. Only 1200 hours on tractor. I am going to get a set of tire chains for the rear wheels when I have enough money. But for now the four wheel drive gets the job done well enough. I also go into the woods in the winter time and haul wood out. I just had a situation where I had to leave the wood behind because I could not get back up a fairly steep hill, even in four wheel drive with rear locker being pushed down with my left foot. Both tires were spinning together in rear so I know the rear locker is working. But only the front left tire was spinnning. Right tire appeared to not have power to it. Shouldn't the front right tire have power when in four wheel drive as well? I am wondering if I have something not working properly. Thanks for your time guys.

 

[PhilY]

The front axle has a differential in it just like the rear axle does. When you engage the 4WD you are only sending power up to the front axle. Without a diff-lock for the front like you have for the rear, one tire spinning like you state is just normal.

 

[k0ua]

This old video explains how differentials work better than any modern explanation I have seen. Stay with it, the actual instructions start about 2 minutes in. When you are done, you won't know everything, but you will have a very good foundation of differential operation. Again the best I have ever seen.

Around the Corner - YouTube

James K0UA

 

[Gasifier]

Thanks guys. I know about differentials from production trucks, a military truck I use to have with diff. lockers in both front and rear axles, etc. I understand what differentials are for. I just was not sure if you put the four wheel drive in on a tractor if it drove both front wheels or not. Being that it is not meant for the road I guess I thought it would be true four wheel drive for pulling/pushing etc. Oh well. I will need to buy that set of tire chains before I go back in the woods again. :laughing:

 

[k0ua]

Thanks guys. I know about differentials from production trucks, a military truck I use to have with diff. lockers in both front and rear axles, etc. I understand what differentials are for. I just was not sure if you put the four wheel drive in on a tractor if it drove both front wheels or not. Being that it is not meant for the road I guess I thought it would be true four wheel drive for pulling/pushing etc. Oh well. I will need to buy that set of tire chains before I go back in the woods again. :laughing:

Only larger more expensive tractors have front differential locks, I don't know of a single CUT that does, although I could be wrong.

 

[Gasifier]

Any other suggestions for better traction other than tire chains and weight? I already have a woods backhoe on the back for weight, but when things are slippery and you have a hill to go up the only thing I can think that would help is a set of tire chains. That is what use to get me through the tough spots in my Pinzgauer.

 

[TripleR]

What they said, our M8540 has limited slip front differential, but our L5740 is just like yours. There are some old threads on here that are pretty interesting if you ever get time to look through them.

 

[ovrszd]

Any other suggestions for better traction other than tire chains and weight? I already have a woods backhoe on the back for weight, but when things are slippery and you have a hill to go up the only thing I can think that would help is a set of tire chains. That is what use to get me through the tough spots in my Pinzgauer.

Go for the chains, you won't believe the difference. Chains on the rear in 2wd will go farther than unchained in 4wd. No comparison. Once Winter hits I chain up and leave them on thru Spring thaw.

Not sure how your local situation is but around here it's good to know the local municipalities that have road graders. They've always got a pair laying around that are too worn out for their use but would last you the rest of your life. If lucky, you can pick them up pretty cheap!!!

 

[k0ua]

Any other suggestions for better traction other than tire chains and weight? I already have a woods backhoe on the back for weight, but when things are slippery and you have a hill to go up the only thing I can think that would help is a set of tire chains. That is what use to get me through the tough spots in my Pinzgauer.

You could try this, siping the tires on R4. I did it before last years snows and it seemed to help, but I only tried in one snow event. But the others in this thread seemed to think it helped a bunch.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/snow-removal/193438-cutting-groving-siping-r-4-a.html

James K0UA

 

[ovrszd]

You could try this, siping the tires on R4. I did it before last years snows and it seemed to help, but I only tried in one snow event. But the others in this thread seemed to think it helped a bunch.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/snow-removal/193438-cutting-groving-siping-r-4-a.html

James K0UA

I siped my rears on my old L4400 for use on hard packed Missouri clay and noticed a sizeable difference. Not sure how much snow gain would have been.