Somewhat Scary Experience

[ptrotter]

Yesterday I was mowing the lawn with my B7800 and MMM and had a scary experience. I had just turned down a slight hill and removed my foot from the forward HST pedal and instead of stopping, the tractor kept on rolling down hill, maybe even accelerting a little and brakes had less effect than I would have expected. This has never happened before, usually the tractor slows and stops immediately after lifting my foot off the pedal. The only difference this time is that I was in 2WD and I usually use 4WD. I put it back into 4WD and it was back to normal. The hill was not very steep and quite short so it wasn't an issue, just a small scare when the tractor didn't react as usual. Has anyone seen this before, or is it normal in 2WD?

Paul

 

[kevincook]

This is relatively normal, especially if you have the loader attached and/or the grass is wet. There isn't enough weight on the rear tires to slow you down.

Kevin

 

[TPS]

ptrotter,
As kevin said it is normal. I have steep hills to mow and today was out on a flat spot so put my BX in 2WD and forgot to go back to 4WD when I was back on the hill and luckily I was on the downside when I went down and the exact same thing happened to me. I always mow in 4WD because of the hills.
Take care TPS

 

[ptrotter]

Thanks for the responses, I feel much better now. I rarely take the tractor out of 4wd so I had very little experience in 2WD.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

My B7800 would do this so I always kept it in 4WD except when going up the road or for that matter down the road. If you ever hit wet grass going down hill you will always remember to never do that again.

 

[NSBound]

So, theoretically speaking, is there any good reason to ever put it in 2WD? I'll be taking delivery soon of my first-ever tractor and was thinking I'd likely always leave it in 4WD.

 

[dfkrug]

So, theoretically speaking, is there any good reason to ever put it in 2WD? I'll be taking delivery soon of my first-ever tractor and was thinking I'd likely always leave it in 4WD.

That is an excellent question. For many tractor owners, they should
never take it out of 4WD. If you drive on pavement, however, you will
wear out your front tires very quickly driving in 4WD.

I once had a scary moment, when I was a newbie, having put my
tractor in 2WD (I have lots of pavement as well as lots of unpaved hilly
land) and forgetting it was in 2WD. I never forget now!

 

[LBrown59]

ptrotter,
As kevin said it is normal. I have steep hills to mow and today was out on a flat spot so put my BX in 2WD and forgot to go back to 4WD when I was back on the hill and luckily I was on the downside when I went down and the exact same thing happened to me. I always mow in 4WD because of the hills.
Take care TPS

Why I keep mine in 4x4.

 

[MarkLeininger]

So, theoretically speaking, is there any good reason to ever put it in 2WD? I'll be taking delivery soon of my first-ever tractor and was thinking I'd likely always leave it in 4WD.

You'll scuff up the grass a bit more turning in 4WD than you would in 2WD. Probably a little more fuel consumption in 4WD. I live in Illinois where we haven't seen a hill for years, so I don't use 4WD very much unless I'm using the bucket and need the traction.

 

[TUG HILL ADDICT]

You'll scuff up the grass a bit more turning in 4WD than you would in 2WD. Probably a little more fuel consumption in 4WD. I live in Illinois where we haven't seen a hill for years, so I don't use 4WD very much unless I'm using the bucket and need the traction.

I've had the opposite experience...I've found the rear wheels of my Kubota do more damage on turns if I am in 2WD.

I've had the same experience as the thread starter and now always operate in 4WD unless traveling on a road

 

[dieselmadman]

I have never used 4wd. Had my BX24 for almost 2 years now. Use it for moving material, digging with the backhoe and loading a truck. Once in awhile I may use the locking differential, but that is it. Now, I am thinking perhaps I should engage it occasionally just to make sure it still works. Brother, always something...

 

[Evil the Weasel]

Thanks for the reminder on this issue. I've read about it before on these forums. I use 2wd only for mowing and 4 wheel squeal for everything else.

 

[Toolguy]

My B3030 with turfs will tear the grass to shreads if I mow in 4WD. Going straight is OK, but turns, no way.

 

[TPS]

LBrown59,
That is exactly why I never get out of 4WD 'cause I can't remember! I'll just keep it there from now on. In fact I have not taken it out but once going down the road to a neighbors house in over two years.

Toolguy I make wider turns and my turfs never seem to tear the grass up, but like Tug Hill Addict my rear tires cause more damage when I try to back up the hills when in 2WD but not in 4WD.
Take care-TPS

 

[Ken45101]

Same experience here with a B2710. Slid down and hit the fence. Popped the staples out on one post and cracked another post. No FEL, just not enough weight on the rear end. That's why I need 4wd to mow my yard.

Ken

 

[ptrotter]

Thanks for all the comments. I rarely take the tractor out of 4WD, but I had driven down the road in 2WD and forgot to put it back. I'm not likely to make that mistake again. I'm glad it is normal and not something that had gone wrong with it.

Paul

 

[BigD23]

I have never used 4wd. Had my BX24 for almost 2 years now. Use it for moving material, digging with the backhoe and loading a truck. Once in awhile I may use the locking differential, but that is it. Now, I am thinking perhaps I should engage it occasionally just to make sure it still works. Brother, always something...

I'm thinking it's smart to "run" the equipment (4WD/others) occasionally like any other mechanical things.

Don

 

[JoeL4330]

If your mower is 3ph rear mower, and you start on that sleigh ride, lifting the mower helps ...but, of course, as everyone has said, 4wd is the proper way.

After I experienced this the first time, I wondered why tractors don't have front-wheel brakes ...of course, applying them when the rears have lost traction would want to make the back end come around (although the mower would want to resist) ...of course, any front stopping power would unweight the rear even more, still...

 

[Alan L.]

There is a world of difference in the sure-footedness of my B2710 4WD vs 2WD, so I never use 2WD unless I am on dry pavement which is almost never. Even if you feel you don't need the 4WD, when you get used to the handling of 4WD you never go back.