Regarding FWA on row crop tractors

Well, I'm here to lay it all to rest.

I was running a 30 foot field cultivator at 5.5 mph on the 8110 today. This tractor is equipped with 8 suitcase weights on front, duals, and fluid in the tires. I'd say the rubber is 80-90%. It is also equipped with all the toy gizmos that a boy loves including a gauge for percent slip. With FWA engaged, the percent slip was 7-10%. Just for giggles, I switched off the FWA and % slip shot up to 25-30%. There was a very percieved loss of power and speed.

Based on this information, I hope you will all profusely apologize to those of us that claimed FWA is a worthwile investment :-P

There is as much difference as night and day between the two.

It took me a minute to figure out where I've heard of you... You aren't by chance from Lazytown? Oh wait, that's Rodney Rotten isn't it? You aren't related to him are you?

There is a good reason why so many of todays tractors, big AND small come equipped with MFWD. IT WORKS! John

This is just like you; tryin' to interject reasonable and levelheaded logic into the conversation at hand. Now, I mean really, how fair is that anyway?

Besides, there are some of us (namely me) that run around this board, a spout’ off, with one wheel off the pavement and a slippin’ in the sand most of the time anyway. :>)

Geeze! The nerve of some people! :>)

Allan

I have little to no experience with FWA machines except on some TLBs. Personally, I think FWA is of as much value (maybe more) when going downhill with a load trying to push you into next month.

Take it from me. I've been going downhill for years and EVERYTHING pushes on ya. :>)

It seems to "bother" some people that want to remain steadfast "in the old days", but 4WD is here to stay. I collect old tractors and impliments too. They are fine in their simplicity. What I buy and use for TODAY, I want safe, efficient, and reliable equipment for my money. I have built up quite a business of bush hogging for real estate companies. I had to hire someone to run one of my tractors this year. With the threat of impending lawsuits, if someone gets hurt. I want EVERY saftey feature I can get my hands on. Front wheel drive is VERY much a part of that "saftey net". John

Last year I put a loader on that machine. What was at one time a very tractable machine is now about half the time a PITA. Without the loader, all attachments biased the weight more on the rear drives. Now the weight bias is flipped 180 degrees to the front axle. Dang near every move has to be planned so that the rear wheels don't get unweighted like traveling forward downhill with about 500# in the bucket. Oh sure, I've added weights to the rear and liquid in the tires. It helps, but that can't get you the safety factor FWA wil give. The biggest problem is attempting to back up a slight grade with a load in the bucket. The tractor is nearly helpless.

Case in point: We need to replace a culvert at Mom's farm. I'm going to take my Kubota over there and scoop out the very small creek to accept a new culvert. I'll be working "nose down". My brother asked if he needed to be around while I do this. I told him "Sure do! Make sure you lash the 504 to my backside to pull me back out of the hole!" What a pain.

I rue the day I went cheap and didn't get FWA. I'm about 2 inches from trading her off for something newer for safety's sake.