I have a MF 4355 4wd with a loader that is going through front tyres ridiculously quickly. I know loader tractors tend to, but this is excessive. I have played around with the toe in / out etc, but have noticed that the 4 wheel braking seems to lock on, to the point where it can stall the tractor in a high gear. Any ideas on how I could resolve it or how I could disable the 4 wheel braking?
Front tyre problems
- Thread starter Natwoc
- Start date
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Has it the right tyres? different makes of a size have different rolling radius's
multi power
Member
- Location
- pembrokeshire
the 4355 i used to drive more or less wore out front tyres in 2000 hours, no road work,just loader work
Dave W
Member
- Location
- chesterfield
We have the same problem on a 4345. Ours is on big fat turf tyres.
Basically every time you touch the brakes it engages 4wd and wont release.. Ours does a lot of road miles and ripped tyres to shreds in 6 months. Exactly same symptoms as yours with the stalling.
Ours had a small fire under the cab and cooked the 4wd solenoid.
If you look under the right hand steps towards the rear axle the are 2 solenoids mounted on a nest of hydraulic fittings. One is for 4wd. The other is diff lock
We got around it temporarily by swapping solenoids as we never use the diff lock.
You should test the circuits first to make sure but id be fairly certain this is your problem.
Once sorted I'd bypass the 4wd braking if used solely in the yard
Basically every time you touch the brakes it engages 4wd and wont release.. Ours does a lot of road miles and ripped tyres to shreds in 6 months. Exactly same symptoms as yours with the stalling.
Ours had a small fire under the cab and cooked the 4wd solenoid.
If you look under the right hand steps towards the rear axle the are 2 solenoids mounted on a nest of hydraulic fittings. One is for 4wd. The other is diff lock
We got around it temporarily by swapping solenoids as we never use the diff lock.
You should test the circuits first to make sure but id be fairly certain this is your problem.
Once sorted I'd bypass the 4wd braking if used solely in the yard
Zetor
Member
- Location
- Northumberland
The handbrake also activates the 4wd on these tractors just like the brake pedal so a faulty switch can make the 4wd stick in 
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Is the light on while its stuck in?, if not then maybe its the type of clutch not wanting to "let go", my digger is like that as it only has a simple dog clutch... but its 4WD switch has the option of off ALL the time.
Thank you everyone.
sounds like it a common problem!
I have Goodyear tyres on it and the 4wd shaft and pinion in front axle have no play in them.
i do quite a bit of road work.
The Fire under the cab worries me, do you know what caused it?
on the hand brake point, i assume if the hand brake warning light isnt on then the handbrake wont be engaging the 4wd?
I tried remove the fuse of the 4wd but breakign still seems to engage 4 wheel braking! so i assume that there is an additional way the 4wd engages under braking?
I wanted to add another switch where i could disable the 4wd braking when i wanted to, has anyone done this?
No lights are on when the drive seems to lock up.
sounds like it a common problem!
I have Goodyear tyres on it and the 4wd shaft and pinion in front axle have no play in them.
i do quite a bit of road work.
The Fire under the cab worries me, do you know what caused it?
on the hand brake point, i assume if the hand brake warning light isnt on then the handbrake wont be engaging the 4wd?
I tried remove the fuse of the 4wd but breakign still seems to engage 4 wheel braking! so i assume that there is an additional way the 4wd engages under braking?
I wanted to add another switch where i could disable the 4wd braking when i wanted to, has anyone done this?
No lights are on when the drive seems to lock up.
We have a 4355 since new. 4wd light only seems to come on when switch is turned on. The light never comes on with the foot pedal or handbrake even though the 4wd does. If the handbrake is up 1 click the 4wd comes on but the handbrake light doesn't. A bit annoying at times, if u hit a bump. Must have a look and see if position of switch can b adjusted.
- Location
- East yorks
They have oil and solenoid on for 2wd so pulling the fuse will put it permanently in 4wd for safety.
The clutch is a dog type so once in it will tend to stay in until the oil opens it.
If you split the pedals and only use one it should stay in 2wd, as there is a switch on the brake pedal box and one pedal should keep it up
Also the handbrake switch and foot brakes don't put the 4wd light on as they cut the solenoid power
The clutch is a dog type so once in it will tend to stay in until the oil opens it.
If you split the pedals and only use one it should stay in 2wd, as there is a switch on the brake pedal box and one pedal should keep it up
Also the handbrake switch and foot brakes don't put the 4wd light on as they cut the solenoid power
Dave W
Member
- Location
- chesterfield
The fire was caused by some clown nearby with an angle grinder and lots of oily dry grass under the cab.
Id start by crawling under and pulling the plugs off the 2 solenoinds behind the right hand steps under the cab.
make sure you have 12v at the plug when 4wd is ON.
This will show you which solenoid is for diff and 4wd.
If the power is switching on/off properly then id say solenoid is buggered.
If it is you can temporarily swap it with the diff to see if the problem is cured.
Remember you need 12v for 2wd
Id start by crawling under and pulling the plugs off the 2 solenoinds behind the right hand steps under the cab.
make sure you have 12v at the plug when 4wd is ON.
This will show you which solenoid is for diff and 4wd.
If the power is switching on/off properly then id say solenoid is buggered.
If it is you can temporarily swap it with the diff to see if the problem is cured.
Remember you need 12v for 2wd
- Location
- Lincolnshire
If its a dog clutch then its all working properly... thats as good as it gets i'm afraid.
Zetor
Member
- Location
- Northumberland
I doubt massey would use a dog clutch on a 4wd braking system i expect it will be a oil immersed clutch pack
So it sounds like to install a switch it the right thing, but I need the switch to permanently power the solenoid to keep it in two wheel drive. I have found unplugging them made no difference, based on your comment wombat, that it how it should work. I'll get the multimeter on it, but will try the single peddle idea in the mean time, seems obvious now you say it!
benferg
Member
- Location
- North Canterbury, NZ
if there's a noticeable kick when going into 4wd I'd be looking at your tire size the difference between 480/65 & 480/70 could be all that it takes.
benferg
Member
- Location
- North Canterbury, NZ
4 wheel braking is there for a reason, cos it's SAFER. If you go back to only 2wd or even 1 it's a recipe for disaster.
A good test to see if it's a wheel radius problem is to try reversing up & see if that helps it go back to 2wd as if there's load on the 4wd system this can unload it.
If someone has an accident you'll be in a huge pile of crap. Get the problem sorted properly!!!
I'm not saying you will have a problem cos we are all prefect operators, but it's a possibility.
I don't like possibilities.
A good test to see if it's a wheel radius problem is to try reversing up & see if that helps it go back to 2wd as if there's load on the 4wd system this can unload it.
If someone has an accident you'll be in a huge pile of crap. Get the problem sorted properly!!!
I'm not saying you will have a problem cos we are all prefect operators, but it's a possibility.
I don't like possibilities.
Lucas Mac
Member
Hey guys, have a problem with my mf4355 similar to this guy last year 4x4 stays on all the time. I identified the 4x4 solenoid and it has no power coming to it at all. The garage told me the brake lights have to be working so I changed the bulbs and they work fine now but still no power going to the solenoid any ideas why power is lost, thanks