Does my clutch need service?

[DJG]

Hi Guys:

I just discovered that I can slip into and out of 4-wheel drive without clutching when my B7800 is just starting to move. If I'm stationary, it won't do it without using the clutch.
Do I have a problem that needs service?

One other question:
How hard is it to wire a warning light near or on my dash that reminds me that I've set the brake. I've found myself on several occasions driving with the brake on. This probably is not good.
David

 

[Eric McCarthy]

As far as I know I don't think you need the clutch to engage the 4wd, being at a complete stop does help.

 

[GWD]

http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1166&

Hi Guys:

I just discovered that I can slip into and out of 4-wheel drive without clutching when my B7800 is just starting to move. If I'm stationary, it won't do it without using the clutch.
Do I have a problem that needs service?

One other question:
How hard is it to wire a warning light near or on my dash that reminds me that I've set the brake. I've found myself on several occasions driving with the brake on. This probably is not good.
David

The L48 has a brake light but it is ridiculous how many times I still leave it on.

Anyway, there is a guy from Nova Scotia that is a fabulous fabricator/weldor that installed one. Not sure if it is here or on TBN but he gave some details on how to wire a brake like for machines that don't have one.

Edit: Oh, oh, I'm in trouble. He is from Newfoundland (not Nova Scotia) and on TBN his name is 4shorts. Couldn't find the thread about the brake light.

On here his name is Wildfire. Send him a PM and see what you get. Great guy.

Edit 2: AH HA, found the thread. Here it is:

[URL="http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1166&highlight=brake+light"]http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1166&highlight=brake+light

 

[DJG]

Hi Eric:
Thanks for the fast reply.

The manual says to depress the clutch pedal before shifting L-M-H and also before engaging the Front Wheel Drive Lever. Wouldn't it make sense that you'd have to use the clutch?

The manual calls it the Front Wheel Drive Lever, but I thought I was going from two-wheel (rear) to four-wheel (rear& front). Isn't that what they mean?
When I engage the front wheels, aren't the rear wheels also pulling/pushing?

Maybe it's just a translation thing from Japanese to English because the manual also refers to "two and four-wheel drive" when discussing this lever.

 

[Bulldog]

When you engage the front wheels all 4 are pulling. The rear wheel pull all the time, only the front can be taken in or out.

A few things to remember about using 4wd.

Don't use it on asphalt unless it's covered with snow or ice.

Don't engage it if the rear tires are spinning.

When the 4wd is engaged you have brakes on all 4 corners. This may help when running on loose or wet material and on hills.

The main thing is never be afraid to ask for help when you need it. The only dumb question is the one you don't ask. The person that claims they know everything is normally the biggest idiot of the bunch.

 

[TripleR]

I have owned two Grand L's and the only time I use the clutch is to start it, there are several threads on this on another site.

I discussed this with my dealer when I bought my first one just to make sure I wasn't going to hurt anything.

 

[DJG]

Thanks, GWD. I'll check it out and see if my skills are up to the task of wiring the light. And thanks for the info on 4-wheel drive. It appears shifting into it doesn't require the clutch.

 

[DJG]

Thanks, Bulldog, for the info and the advice. You and the other folks on this site are an invaluable asset. And BTW, I'm never afraid to ask a question or appear dumb. I was a newspaper reporter back in the 80s for a while - my job was walking into situations and saing: "Hey, what's happening?".

 

[DJG]

Thanks, TripleR. My next call was going to be to the dealer. I've found the guys on this site to be at least as knowledgeable as the dealer.

 

[Stubbyie]

Have in custody one HST and one GST 8-sp shuttle type transmissions.

On HST use clutch only to start it.

On both we have found that engaging or disengaging 4-wd (turning front wheel drive 'on' or 'off') sometimes requires slightly rocking the machine a few inches forward or backward but otherwise not using the clutch in any way. Just reach down and flip the 'L'-shaped lever.

Odd thing is that on the two different machines the lever is in the same location behind left heel but the up-down in-out (engage/disengage) for 4-wd work exactly the opposite. I had to stencil a reminder on the left loader frame post to remember which way was which on which machine.

 

[Bluegill]

I can go in and out of 4wd without using clutch, but sometimes have to roll the tractor to go into 4wd, gears have to mesh.

 

[Bulldog]

My 3000 you pull up on the lever to engage 4wd and my 9000 pushes down. I guess it's all in how the linkage is designed.

Another thing I've noticed that it seems to help to turn the wheels right or left while moving and the 4wd will disengage much easier.

 

[TripleR]

My 3000 you pull up on the lever to engage 4wd and my 9000 pushes down. I guess it's all in how the linkage is designed.

Another thing I've noticed that it seems to help to turn the wheels right or left while moving and the 4wd will disengage much easier.

Another thing I have done is lift the front wheels and it releases tension, wheels will rotate a bit then the lever just goes up with minimal resistance. Our 8540 has a different setup as it is smooth as glass going in/out sitting still or on the move.

 

[DJG]

Thanks for the info, Stubbyie. My original concern has evaporate. I don't have a problem with my clutch. Whew. All the best to you and the other great guys on this site.
David

 

[Wildfire]

Hi Guys:

I just discovered that I can slip into and out of 4-wheel drive without clutching when my B7800 is just starting to move. If I'm stationary, it won't do it without using the clutch.

Actually your right on the money doing it the way your doing. By slightly moving the machine first releases any gear binding and lets the system shift very smoothly. I've seen a few local guys just about pull the 4x4 leaver out of the floor trying to make it shift with out slightly moving the tractor first. In some cases it will shift with out moving because there's enough back lash there to allow it. My next design /mod will be to put an indicator light in my tractor to let me know that the leaver is in the 4x4 position.

If you go to my link you'll see how the warning light working. This video is of our 4240 but I've done the same on our 5740. You'll see the light at 2:13 in the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFdT0zWcY9k&list=UUfLqRBaI3DGI6ocVUaN8r7Q&index=29&feature=plcp



One other question:
How hard is it to wire a warning light near or on my dash that reminds me that I've set the brake. I've found myself on several occasions driving with the brake on. This probably is not good.
David

David it's an easy install. I have mine tapped into the micro switch on the brake pedal but there's a few ways to do it. My light flashes and since I've installed it I haven't left my brakes on.

http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1166&

The L48 has a brake light but it is ridiculous how many times I still leave it on.

Anyway, there is a guy from Nova Scotia that is a fabulous fabricator/weldor that installed one. Not sure if it is here or on TBN but he gave some details on how to wire a brake like for machines that don't have one.

Edit: Oh, oh, I'm in trouble. He is from Newfoundland (not Nova Scotia) and on TBN his name is 4shorts. Couldn't find the thread about the brake light.

On here his name is Wildfire. Send him a PM and see what you get. Great guy.

Edit 2: AH HA, found the thread. Here it is:

[URL="http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1166&highlight=brake+light"]http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1166&highlight=brake+light

Thanks GWD. You were close. Same church, just the wrong pew And thank you very much for your kind words. 90% of all us Kubota operators have ridden off with our brakes on. The other 10% have never released their brakes

 

[ipz2222]

Engageing 4wd in or out can be done while moveing, since the axle and diff is already turning. JUst make sure you are going straight and not spinning the rear tires. Pulling it out of 4wd may require stopping and backing up slightly while pulling(not hard) on the 4wd lever. It usually only takes a couple of inches. Never try to engage 4w low from 2w hi or 4w hi on ANY vehicle, tractor or truck. Yes, it can be done and the damage is tremendous.
I did the same thing on the brakes, drive with the brakes on, several times. I went to Radio Shack and got a 12 v micro switch and a red LED, Light Emitting Diode. Hooked positive "red", to fuse box, black down to micro switch that I had mounted to the frame where the brake arm would touch the switch and other side of micro switch wire to frame. Drilled a small hole, (1/4)where I could esaily see it from the seat, into dash and pushed the LED up from the inside. When the brake is pushed down, the light comes on. Haven't driven with the brakes on since.