Keep it in 4WD!

Polishammer

New member
Jul 22, 2014
37
0
0
Atlanta, GA
So today used my loader to dump some garden stuff down the enbankement. Once I pulled up to the edge, the tractor kept on going. Hit the brakes and nothing! Once the tractor started to tip, I dropped the front loader and was able to stop.

All this because I forgot to put the tractor in 4WD and decided not to use the ballast. We all know, Dow hill in 2WD you virtually have no brakes.

Once I cleaned my shorts, I used my other tractor to pull baby Kubota out.***128515;
 

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Vidiot

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX2680 & several implements
Apr 28, 2017
59
8
8
Purcellville, VA, USA
Did a very similar thing recently and couldn't agree more! I've had mine for a little over a year and got complacent about checking things. Ended up in 2WD with the loader on and no weight in back going down a hill; stopped at the very last second but a wild ride.
Lesson learned for sure!
 

Firefighterontheside

Member

Equipment
1997 Kubota L4200
May 24, 2018
120
1
18
DeSoto Mo USA
I kept my little L245 in 4wd all the time, but I’m inclined to put this 4200 in 2wd for some reason. I picked up a very large pine log and luckily I only went down a short hill, but I could feel it speed up as I went down. 4wd from now on!
 

D2Cat

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L305DT, B7100HST, TG1860, TG1860D, L4240
Mar 27, 2014
12,901
4,269
113
40 miles south of Kansas City
Polishammer, glad you got out of it with only a laundry problem, but you must have figured the Kubota was dead. You brought the hearse to get it!
 

sdk1968

Active member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
B2601HSD & CK4010HST 4WD/FEL
Oct 19, 2016
929
35
28
Ohio
glad to hear no injuries to you or the tractor.


YES: my tractors stay in 4wd all the time.
 

SRG

New member

Equipment
B8200D 4WD........ JD 870, FWA, 300x FEL.......... JD 797, 72" Z-Trak
Jul 15, 2017
490
3
0
N. IL
What about the guys that only have 2wd with a FEL, what do they do:eek:?
 

rjcorazza

Member

Equipment
L4060 HSTC Loader, ZD326, ZD1211
Mar 9, 2016
778
22
18
Hyattstown, MD
There really should be front brakes on tractors and zero turns. Putting a third peddle between the left and right rear brake peddles, and a way to connect them sounds like it would work.
Most of us here have taken a similar ride... glad nothing bad happened.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
 

Stmar

Active member

Equipment
B2650HSDC
May 23, 2017
904
38
28
Buffalo, Wyoming
So far (knock on wood) no such issues with the B2650, although I do tend to use 4WD quite a lot. But the 8Ns were a whole different story. Brakes? We don't need no stinking brakes. Those things were notorious for not stopping you when needed, luckily I had two so had one to pull the other out and sometimes had to use the F250 to pull both out, lol. When I went to buy my Kubota I was talking to the factory rep and told him what I had, the 8Ns, and he said "You will appreciate the brakes", didn't quite understand at the time but once I got on the Kubota and worked it a bit I understood. Also rear weight is mandatory, took my back blade off to do some fence work and had to put it in 4WD just to get across the pasture.
 

hodge

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John Deere 790 John Deere 310 backhoe Bobcat 743
Nov 19, 2010
2,849
367
83
Love, VA
Glad that you learned, without it costing dearly! I would imagine that we've all been there.
Just a note- it can happen in 4WD, too.
 

RCW

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Equipment
BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
Apr 28, 2013
8,284
3,876
113
Chenango County, NY
Ironically, last weekend I did the same thing but it was a very short slide with a plate tamper hanging from the bucket.

I posted a picture in my "Patio" thread with a warning for those that might not realize the risk. Honestly, I didn't check 2/4WD first..... and I know better.

Glad no damage to you or your machine!
 

bucktail

Well-known member

Equipment
L1500DT, 6' king kutter back blade, boom, dirt scoop ford disk JD212
Jun 13, 2016
1,232
177
63
MN
What about the guys that only have 2wd with a FEL, what do they do:eek:?
A man's gotta know his limitations.

Load the tires and put something heavy on the 3 point.
 

200mph

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Equipment
L4740-3 Cab, FEL, Fnt Snow Blower L2185, LP Finish Mower, LP Rotary Mower
Mar 3, 2017
1,228
58
48
PA
Use the proper amount of rear ballast (ballast box) to keep the rear tires loaded when using a FEL. It will save wear and tear on 4x4 unit and help reduce the loading on the front axle, thereby helping prolong bearing life and reduce steering wear.
 

flyidaho

Active member

Equipment
L 3301 HST
Feb 28, 2017
395
157
43
IDAHO
I am almost always on slopes, in the dirt or bush, but when on my concrete slab outside or in my shop, doing close tight manuvering hooking up a trailer or useing the forks, I put it in 2 wheel drive. Not because I am worried about "bearing wear" but because it steers easier and deosn't mark up the floor so much, making it also easier on the tires. Pretty much the same reasons I use 2 or 4 wheel drive in my pickup. Running it down the gravel road 1 1/2 miles like I did when I put in a new row of mailboxes for my tractorless (and clueless) neighbors, it was in 2 wheel. There's a reason Kubota provides the control to put it in either.
 

Polishammer

New member
Jul 22, 2014
37
0
0
Atlanta, GA
Funny thing is, it does not matter how long you have been operating your tractor, sooner or later crap like this will happen. It is just a matter of time.

I'm sure many of us use front loader without ballast for light things. All it takes is a little slope and a little moisture and you are going down. At that point you might as well just enjoy the ride and hope for the best ;)