Advice on using the 4x4 system

Submitted by ReedyNumber1 on

Forum: 

Hi I'm Ant. If any 1 can help me with my query it would be very appreciated . I own a classic 1987 fourtrak and have had it approx a month and have loved every second of it . But the big question is when and should I drive in 4 wheel drive. I don't quite understand the gear selection. Question is can I drive casually on normal roads in 4 wheel drive and have no problems short and long term. Neutral on the transfer box wats that all about. I think it just of the top of me head is to completely freewheel the fourtrak in maybe sticky situations. Maybe not. Please help so I can use my fourtrak to its full potential . Thank you. Ant. ReedyNumber1 . Fourtrak.

Hi Ant and welcome to the

Submitted by TullyK on

Hi Ant and welcome to the forum and I'm glad you're loving your 'trak. Stick to 2 wheel drive on tarmac as using 4 wheel drive (high or low) will severely damage your transfer box. The problem you want to avoid is known as 'transmission wind up'.

A detailed explanation of when to use 4 wheel drive and what transmission wind up is can be found under the relavent sections of the 'how it works' section of this website. The explanations are very well put together.

As far as I know neutral on transfer boxes is used if power is supplied to auxilary pieces of equipment such as a mechanically driven winch, neutral on the transfer box allows you to use the different gears in the main gearbox to control the torque and speed of the winch whilst the car remains stationary. You probably wont ever have to use it and certainly wouldn't want to freewheel out of a tricky situation, this is when you might want to select 4 wheel drive.

All the best

Well there you have it that's

Submitted by ReedyNumber1 on

Well there you have it that's how much of a 4x4 newbie I am . But am very very keen. I'm getting some abnormal noises from the body as r body parts. As for instance when I turn for example round a roundabout there a knock . And when I pull of there's a slight ping in first sec and then it diss appears as to what I can imagine its just been drowned out by the engine and road noises.
And a very very thank u to TullyK.

ReedyNumber1 . Fourtrak 1987.