Rear axle lock ?

[Bearcatrp]

Read the manual a few times but didn’t see it. My 1880 has the lock rear differential option. Have noticed 4 wheel drive is not true all 4 wheels lock all wheels. So, can I engage the differential lock and the 4 wheel drive at the same time? Thanks.

 

[Fordtech86]

You can engage the rear diff lock with tractor in 4wd. The front is an open differential, it will spin the wheel with the least amount of resistance when it loses traction.

edit to add- don’t engage the rear diff lock while the tires are spinning when it loses traction (you may need to move forward or back a little to get the lock to engage though)

 

[85Hokie]

As Ford said - dont engage it while spinning - think of this, there is a PIN that slides into a hole in the diffy, IF you spin it while engaging, you break the pin or worse!!!! As he said, you might need to give a nudge forward or back to allow pin to hit hole.

As you have read, the machine DOES have 4 wheel drive, rather 4 wheel DRIVEN - but the best you will get is a front wheel drive and a rear wheel drive, AND when you press down on the lock the rears are now one unit, and you will go straight!

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

In the real world.. A two wheel drive is actually a one wheel drive. In a low traction situation, the wheel with the least traction will have nearly 90 percent of the power.
And, a 4 wheel drive is actually 2 wheel drive. In a low traction situation, the wheels. (one front, one rear), with the least traction will have nearly 90 percent of the power.
it's the way a differential works. It's in the axles. A normal, also known as 'open' differential applies the most power to the easiest turning wheel.
A locking differential locks both wheels together. And as others mentioned, you DO NOT apply it when there is power applied and when the wheels are spinning.

 

[Smokeydog]

Agree with all suggestions and add it is important to keep the lock fully engaged while using. Of the many tractors I’ve owned or operated, Kubota has the worst engagement pedal. Bent round bar with a stout return spring. Keeping it fully engaged while driving a treacherous path a challenge. Often if the ground is slick or muddy my boots are too. We have to use the locking feature more than most on our hillside farm. I made pedals from a little pieces of scrap steel tubing and split shaft collars that help give boot traction and easier to keep fully engaged while using. 9/16” and 5/8” shaft collars.

Oddly the bigger one works best on the smaller tractor. Several places in our yards have places you have to engage diff lock to mow.

M5030DT had a wonderful Detroit type auto locking front differential. Locked both when loss of traction but allowed over speed of outside tire in turn. All tractors should be made that way.

 

[fried1765]

Agree with all suggestions and add it is important to keep the lock fully engaged while using. Of the many tractors I’ve owned or operated, Kubota has the worst engagement pedal. Bent round bar with a stout return spring. Keeping it fully engaged while driving a treacherous path a challenge. Often if the ground is slick or muddy my boots are too. We have to use the locking feature more than most on our hillside farm. I made pedals from a little pieces of scrap steel tubing and split shaft collars that help give boot traction and easier to keep fully engaged while using. 9/16” and 5/8” shaft collars.
View attachment 100110 View attachment 100111 View attachment 100112 View attachment 100113
Oddly the bigger one works best on the smaller tractor. Several places in our yards have places you have to engage diff lock to mow.

M5030DT had a wonderful Detroit type auto locking front differential. Locked both when loss of traction but allowed over speed of outside tire in turn. All tractors should be made that way.

Nice modifications,.... and SWEET boots !

"Specialtyrepairsandcustommods.com, in NL.,Canada sells a mod. for the diff. pedal also.
Great folks, who make great stuff for our Kubotas!

 

[Smokeydog]

Nice modifications,.... and SWEET boots !

"Specialtyrepairsandcustommods.com, in NL.,Canada sells a mod. for the diff. pedal also.
Great folks, who make great stuff for our Kubotas!

My wife gets to model!

Paul Short definitely makes top shelf attachments and highly recommend. However only for limited models. I have made 4 pedals and vary significantly from model to model. Easy fabrication project with limited tools required. Only a couple of bucks for the shaft collars on Amazon or eBay.

 

[armylifer]

I suggest that you do not use the differential lock while turning. Sometimes you may have to keep the differential lock engaged while turning but keep the turn as shallow as possible and release the lock as soon as you are out of the slop that made you need to engage the lock. Otherwise damage could result. I once blew out a rear axle seal that probably was the result of turning with the differential lock engaged.

 

[fried1765]

My wife gets to model!

Paul Short definitely makes top shelf attachments and highly recommend. However only for limited models. I have made 4 pedals and vary significantly from model to model. Easy fabrication project with limited tools required. Only a couple of bucks for the shaft collars on Amazon or eBay.

I must rely on guys like Paul, because I cannot weld!
I have owned 4 welders....that I have never used.


A Miller Thunderbolt. an Everlast E-140MIG, a Hobart Handler 190, and a Miller Matic 250 MIG.
Only have 3 now!

The Miller Matic 250 MIG .... I did try once, ......and sold many years ago.
The Thunderbolt is 30+ years old, and has been used once (will keep it).
The Everlast I- MIG 140e is new, never used, and is listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace.
Sold Lotos LTP 5000D plasma cutter (unused) this week).
The Hobart Handler 190 is new (3 years ago),........ and maybe I will still learn to use it (will keep it).

 

[Bearcatrp]

I suggest that you do not use the differential lock while turning. Sometimes you may have to keep the differential lock engaged while turning but keep the turn as shallow as possible and release the lock as soon as you are out of the slop that made you need to engage the lock. Otherwise damage could result. I once blew out a rear axle seal that probably was the result of turning with the differential lock engaged.

I know if your on pavement not to use the diff lock as that will damage the rear end. Would only use in the winter time when needed.

 

[D2Cat]

I must rely on guys like Paul, because I cannot weld!
I have owned 4 welders....that I have never used.


A Miller Thunderbolt. an Everlast E-140MIG, a Hobart Handler 190, and a Miller Matic 250 MIG.
Only have 3 now!

The Miller Matic 250 MIG .... I did try once, ......and sold many years ago.
The Thunderbolt is 30+ years old, and has been used once (will keep it).
The Everlast I- MIG 140e is new, never used, and is listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace.
Sold Lotos LTP 5000D plasma cutter (unused) this week).
The Hobart Handler 190 is new (3 years ago),........ and maybe I will still learn to use it (will keep it).

" I have owned 4 welders....that I have never used." What causes that? My wife has shoes she's never used!

 

[fried1765]

" I have owned 4 welders....that I have never used." What causes that? My wife has shoes she's never used!

In my case, I attribute it to good intentions, with no follow through.
Though I lived in Spain for several years, I never learned to speak the language.
Similar issue!

 

[Biker1mike]

Yes , you can engage in 4WD. I have used it several times when I got in a bad way. Straight back and three wheel drive. Used until I was out of trouble and back on solid ground ( more or less ). I have never used it going forward.
For me it is the last step before a recovery job.

 

[nbryan]

HINT: if the diff lock isn't engaging, then slowly, BEGIN A SHARP TURN while pressing down on the lock pedal. It'll drop right in as the locking pin hole lines up because the rear wheels are now rotating relative to each other. Then straighten the steering right away, especially if there's good traction.

 

[Pawnee]

Love the pedals!
Looks like those boots were bought for the photo shoot.

 

[HarperHollow'sGhost]

Agree with all suggestions and add it is important to keep the lock fully engaged while using. Of the many tractors I’ve owned or operated, Kubota has the worst engagement pedal. Bent round bar with a stout return spring. Keeping it fully engaged while driving a treacherous path a challenge. Often if the ground is slick or muddy my boots are too. We have to use the locking feature more than most on our hillside farm. I made pedals from a little pieces of scrap steel tubing and split shaft collars that help give boot traction and easier to keep fully engaged while using. 9/16” and 5/8” shaft collars.
View attachment 100110 View attachment 100111 View attachment 100112 View attachment 100113
Oddly the bigger one works best on the smaller tractor. Several places in our yards have places you have to engage diff lock to mow.

M5030DT had a wonderful Detroit type auto locking front differential. Locked both when loss of traction but allowed over speed of outside tire in turn. All tractors should be made that way.

This is brilliant. I want one.

One time I had my Toyota 4runner backed into the garage with the diff lock on after an ice storm and forget about. Couple days later my wife is going into town in the 4runner. Calls me a few minutes later, says that the center console felt "like it was getting hot". I immediately remember, think OH S***!!! Tell her where the button is to disengage (electrically actuated, switch is on the front overhead control panel, NOT intuitive, especially since they went to the trouble of a real 4wd shifter knob). I shuddered to think of what harm it might have done. Still do. But that thing has still been going like a beast for several years since so, I guess no harm no foul.

Anyway sell me one of your pedals.

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

With today's tech, I'd think that Kubota would install a worm gear style limited slip in the front like a Detroit Truetrac.

I understand the foot lever manual rear locker because it's easy. But having an open diff in front is a bit shocking. Especially considering that Kubota is a top of the line machine.

 

[skeets]

My wife gets to model!

Paul Short definitely makes top shelf attachments and highly recommend. However only for limited models. I have made 4 pedals and vary significantly from model to model. Easy fabrication project with limited tools required. Only a couple of bucks for the shaft collars on Amazon or eBay.

Yepper Wildfire makes some really neat stuff,,, the only problem with what he makes is the shipping costs, getting stuff to the lower 48 is expencive and really in Canada as well

 

[Nicksacco]

Agree with all suggestions and add it is important to keep the lock fully engaged while using. Of the many tractors I’ve owned or operated, Kubota has the worst engagement pedal. Bent round bar with a stout return spring. Keeping it fully engaged while driving a treacherous path a challenge. Often if the ground is slick or muddy my boots are too. We have to use the locking feature more than most on our hillside farm. I made pedals from a little pieces of scrap steel tubing and split shaft collars that help give boot traction and easier to keep fully engaged while using. 9/16” and 5/8” shaft collars.
View attachment 100110 View attachment 100111 View attachment 100112 View attachment 100113
Oddly the bigger one works best on the smaller tractor. Several places in our yards have places you have to engage diff lock to mow.

M5030DT had a wonderful Detroit type auto locking front differential. Locked both when loss of traction but allowed over speed of outside tire in turn. All tractors should be made that way.

Nice, very nice!

 

[Smokeydog]

This is brilliant. I want one.

One time I had my Toyota 4runner backed into the garage with the diff lock on after an ice storm and forget about. Couple days later my wife is going into town in the 4runner. Calls me a few minutes later, says that the center console felt "like it was getting hot". I immediately remember, think OH S***!!! Tell her where the button is to disengage (electrically actuated, switch is on the front overhead control panel, NOT intuitive, especially since they went to the trouble of a real 4wd shifter knob). I shuddered to think of what harm it might have done. Still do. But that thing has still been going like a beast for several years since so, I guess no harm no foul.

Anyway sell me one of your pedals.

Thanks for the kind words but was showing how easy it was to improve the pedal function. Kubota doesn’t make it easy as different models require some customization. Sorry I don’t make them to sell.