4wd

[Mike Ingle]

I am new to by BX1880 or any sub conmpact tractors. I only have just under two hour on it. A lot to learn. I want to try the 4wd. I read the manual but the lever is so hard to push I am afraid to keep adding pressure. Do I have to be in neutral. Any help would be greatly appreciated. So much great information on this group. Thanks

 

[Fladogman]

Try rolling forward or backwards a little to relieve the pressure on the gears. No on the neutral just depress the clutch or if HST make sure your foot is off the pedal. If it's a new tractor it might need working to loosen up

 

[xrocketengineer]

Try rolling forward or backwards a little to relieve the pressure on the gears. No on the neutral just depress the clutch or if HST make sure your foot is off the pedal. If it's a new tractor it might need working to loosen up

You might also need to turn the steering slightly one way or the other to help to engage/disengage the 4wd. Also, try to avoid to engage it while driving on a hard surface.

 

[Pawnee]

I have an L2501 but same problem.
It goes into 4WD fairly easily with the suggestions above but getting it out of 4WD requires turning the steering lock to lock sometimes. Other times I get lucky and it works fine.
From what I've gathered, it's normal. Just have to get used to it.

 

[Mlarv]

I find on my BX2380 steering wheel needs to be straight. Also if it is hard to go into gear I roll forward or back a bit to get it into gear. When I pull it out of gear I slow to almost a stop and give it a tug most of the time it pops right out when I stop it drops into 2wd. Turtle speed is the same way.

If you only have a few hours on this, I would find an empty spot in the yard you can mess up and just play with all the controls to get used to them. After a little while it will be second nature. Enjoy

 

[Mike Ingle]

Try rolling forward or backwards a little to relieve the pressure on the gears. No on the neutral just depress the clutch or if HST make sure your foot is off the pedal. If it's a new tractor it might need working to loosen up

Ok, thanks

You might also need to turn the steering slightly one way or the other to help to engage/disengage the 4wd. Also, try to avoid to engage it while driving on a hard surface.

okay, thanks. So you can switch to 4wd while moving forward or backwards?

 

[xrocketengineer]

Ok, thanks

okay, thanks. So you can switch to 4wd while moving forward or backwards?

You are trying to mesh gears, so you have to have some slow rotation for the gear teeth to engage. However it is not "shift on the fly".

 

[85Hokie]

Everyone "nailed" it ......... the other day on my BX25 none of those ideas would work .... so I did the other trick, lowered the FEL to raise the front end a hair and it slide right in - some days it is easy and others a PITA.

A good lube of the linkage will also help.

 

[Henro]

You are trying to mesh gears, so you have to have some slow rotation for the gear teeth to engage. However it is not "shift on the fly".

Agree totally with this. Just an added comment, shifting OUT of 4WD can be done on the fly since you are disengaging the gears...

 

[Tornado]

Bump the HST pedal, or Jostle the steering wheel a little side to side as mentioned, both of those will help it engage if its in a position where its a little stuck. It is a good idea however to not be moving when you're switching in and out of 4wd. I've never had much trouble engaging or disengaging 4wd on my L2501 when stationary. The main thing with 4wd on a tractor is to try not to use it when just riding around, and especially on a hard surface like a road or on concrete. This could damage the driveline of the tractor if done enough, and at the least will cause extra wear on your tires

 

[Creature Meadow]

I find going into 4wd is easy but disengaging is a little more difficult. I find that if I stop completely, pull up on the lever with the tractor in reverse and ease out on the clutch it disengages every time.

Mine is older and a different model but I'm guessing a similar approach wil lprove successful.

Best of luck.

Jay

 

[Mike Ingle]

I find on my BX2380 steering wheel needs to be straight. Also if it is hard to go into gear I roll forward or back a bit to get it into gear. When I pull it out of gear I slow to almost a stop and give it a tug most of the time it pops right out when I stop it drops into 2wd. Turtle speed is the same way.

If you only have a few hours on this, I would find an empty spot in the yard you can mess up and just play with all the controls to get used to them. After a little while it will be second nature. Enjoy

Thanks everyone