4 WD difficult to engage

[Southern Yankee]

L3301 HST. 62 hrs. I was moving some dirt and I thought I had the 4 WD engaged. Worked fine on the flat until I went to clear out my banked fire pit (high banks on three sides, six inch drop front throat with slight bank to throat). Dropped the front end into the pit and couldn't back out. Decided to go all the way in so I could back out fast. Big mistake, I buried it. Trying to get out, I noticed the front wheels were not digging in. Disengaged and reengaged 4 WD but no joy. Used the bucket to lift the front wheels off the ground but they were not turning. Disengaged/reengaged 4 WD a half-dozen times with no joy. Could not "walk" it out using the bucket

Although the pit is about the length of the tractor with the FEL up, with a lot of digging and filling I got the tractor turned 180 degrees (not totally intentional). However, I could not get over the front lip. Resigned myself that I was going to have to go to the barn and get my chain and come-along. Disengaged again and yanked 4WD lever one more time. Felt it slip in place and she came right out.

What happened? Never had the problem before. Is the tractor so new that everything is too tight?

 

[Tooljunkie]

Im wondering if its just because linkage is tight from new, detents are tight and need to be worked in some. Lube the shift linkage where it enters housing may make it shift easier.

 

[tinkerwitheverything]

I know on my BX I usually hold pressure on the lever and slowly move ahead or backwards untill I feel the lever / gears slip into place.

 

[clay45]

Could be because you already had a strain on it. I know I have to be in neutral to engage/disengage MFWD.

Glad you got'r out!

 

[BCrouse]

If theres one thing ive learned about putting things in 4wd (trucks, jeeps, rock crawlers, tractors....etc) is you cant force it to go in. If it doesnt go in relatively easytheres something that needs done.

Might be a loaded drivetrain

Might need to roll forward or backward to align some gearing

Might be something in the linkage is not right

Etc.



The best way to engage 4wd is before you need it. If you think you might need it, engage it in an area before hand that you've got space to work. Preferably in a flat space that is easy to move forward and back and puts little strain on the drivetrain.

I understand that sometimes you can't plan for it, it happens. At that point you just have to move the tractor around as best you can and see if you can get it engaged.

1) stay in whatever gear youre already in
2) press the clutch in (if safe to, ie if unloading the drivetrain is safe)
3) if that didnt work try rolling forward or back, might need to use a little pedal to move.
4) repeat steps 1,2,3 until it engages.