Expert: Arnie Jossie - 3/4/2008

Question
well i have recently bought a b7100 kubota and having trouble putting it in 4
wheel drive. the shaft for it seems very loose and i dont think that it is going
into gear but it seems that the drive line shaft to the front wheels is rotating
when it is moving but it doesnt seem like it is in 4 wheel drive any advice would
be helpful

Answer
Hello,

   The drive shaft will turn any time the tractor is moving regardless if 4wd is engaged or not, so you can't tell by that if the 4wd is working.  I don't know what you mean by "the shaft seems very loose."  Do you mean the drive shaft, or transmission shaft, or front axle shaft?

  Jack up the front of the tractor so only ONE front wheel is off the ground and try to turn the wheel with 4wd engaged.  If the wheel turns, 4wd is not working.  If the wheel doesn't turn, it's working OK.  If the wheel turns, watch the driveshaft while turning the wheel.  If the driveshaft turns while turning the wheel, the problem is in the transmission dropbox where engagement actually takes place.  Make sure the linkage between the 4wd lever and the dropbox is working OK.  If the driveshaft does NOT turn while turning the wheel, the problem is in the front axle.  This will diagnose where the problem is, but what is actually wrong will be unknown until it is taken apart, so I can't give you a specific answer as to what part is bad.

                       Good luck,

                            Arnie