Disengaging 4 wheel drive getting difficult

GamblerAcres

Member
Oct 29, 2018
50
1
8
Ohio
Mx5200 with about 18 hours. I use 4wd whenever I deliver round bails in my muddy horse pasture. It's getting more and more difficult to find that sweet spot to drop out of 4wd. I turn the wheels through their entire range of motion, move forward, and move backwards.

Anyone else ever experience this? Any ideas?
 

Fordtech86

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3200
Aug 7, 2018
4,976
5,917
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Pineville,LA
Mine is kind of the same way. Is yours gear or hst? Mine is gear drive and what I do is take off and get it going then let off the foot throttle and push the 4wd lever down at the same time. But rdrett got me rethinking now. I usually do mine in and out on the move tho

I only engage and disengage with front wheels straight as well,don***8217;t want it in a bind
 
Last edited:

GamblerAcres

Member
Oct 29, 2018
50
1
8
Ohio
Mine is kind of the same way. Is yours gear or hst? Mine is gear drive and what I do is take off and get it going then let off the foot throttle and push the 4wd lever down at the same time. But rdrett got me rethinking now. I usually do mine in and out on the move tho

I only engage and disengage with front wheels straight as well,don***8217;t want it in a bind
It's an HST
 

lc12

Member
Dec 23, 2017
68
8
8
US
I have the L4701HST, and it is like that too.
I also use my loader to raise the front just slightly and the 4WD then shifts easily.

Sent from my LG-G710 using Tapatalk
 

Shep1478

New member

Equipment
2017 Kubota L3901, various implements
Mar 5, 2017
16
0
1
Dahlonega, GA
Ive noticed my 3901 doing the same thing and I'm at about 52 hours.. I'll try the slight lift with the FEL and see how it goes..
 

mdhughes

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L3901DT
Dec 10, 2014
1,259
757
113
Ste Geneveive county, MO
I was told by my dealer when I asked about having problems getting my L3901DT out of 4WD to turn the steering wheel slowly while moving forward and push down on the 4WD handle. Does make it easier on my tractor, your mileage may very.
 

L35

Well-known member

Equipment
L35/TL720/BT900/York rake/Valby chipper
Jun 13, 2010
520
423
63
CT
I also coast slowly with the clutch in, makes the transition smoother.
 

BX25D KY

New member

Equipment
BX25D
Sep 26, 2015
16
0
0
Ky.
This should help.
If you are moving forward and stop. Just bump the reverse pedal and it will then shift back to 2 wheel drive very easy. This takes the pressure off the gears. :)
 

85Hokie

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Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Jul 13, 2013
10,770
2,581
113
Bedford - VA
I had a similar problem on my B7100 - it was all about greasing the linkage and sometimes moving slowly forward or reverse as I moved the lever. The greasing the linkage did more to help than anything.;)
 

SidecarFlip

Banned

Equipment
M9000HDCC3, M9000HD, Kubota GS850 Sidekick
Oct 28, 2018
7,197
555
83
USA
Both my M's can be difficult at times as well. I just do the sweet spot coast deal. When I hit the spot between power and coast, it slides out easily. Engaging is always easy. I keep pressure on the engagement shift lever when I go from 2-4 wheel and 4-2 wheel.

Always been that way.
 

troverman

Well-known member

Equipment
MX6000 HSTC; 2020 Kubota Z421KW-54 zero turn mower
Jun 9, 2015
1,188
275
83
NH
We just leave it in 4WD all the time since we have no paved roads nearby
Just because the roads aren't paved doesn't mean 4x4 all the time is appropriate. You will definitely cause more tire wear and can tear of areas easier.


I shift my MX in and out of 4x4 on the move, at slow speeds, steering pointed straight ahead. It shifts well. 4x4 lever could be located in a better place, though.