Wintertime hydraulics not working and related maintenance question

[Hman0217]

Very true, I agree. I like to start at low idle for a couple/few minutes, then up the throttle for a while to warm up when it’s real cold.

My tractor is stored in an attached garage. Gets cold out there, but typically stays above 32 degrees or so.

Don’t try to move it or operate hydraulics until it’s warmed up.

Coldest I’ve blown snow is -8 degrees F and it ran quite a while before I tried to do anything.

How badly did I mess up by trying to move it prematurely?

 

[mcmxi]

No I dont have a block heater. The recommendation is noted

Up here every tractor sold by the local Kubota dealer has a block heater installed. They're not particularly expensive and well worth the investment.

Kubota #70000-00297 Block Heater Kit

Not for the BX2230

www.messicks.com

 

[GreensvilleJay]

maybe not at all.....
if it's outside,block wind from all sides, start, run for 1/2 hr.low idlefor say 5minute(runs smooth) then higher idle..watch the temp gauge. when it gets 'mid scale' aka 'normal' slowly move back and forth as a test.

 

[mcmxi]

How badly did I mess up by trying to move it prematurely?

I wouldn't worry about this one event, but just try to follow best practices from this point forward. Letting the tractor run at 1,200 rpm to 1,400 rpm until the temperature gauge starts to show movement is a good thing, any time of year.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

If you have water in the hydraulic fluid no amount of running warm up is going to help it.

It can in fact damage it, as if frozen and plugged in various places like the filter it will cavitate and burn the pump.

A block heater is great for the engine but does nothing for the hydraulic system.
There are other heaters you could add to the sump, but they really are just a waste of money in this case.

You need to get the water out, make sure you drain the tractors sump at all 3, 4, or 5 locations and replace both the hydraulic and HST filters.

FYI: If you run water through the HST it WILL destroy it.

 

[mcmxi]

A block heater is great for the engine but does nothing for the hydraulic system.
There are other heaters you could add to the sump, but they really are just a waste of money in this case.

True, a block heater doesn't warm up hydraulic fluid directly, but the sooner the engine warms up the sooner conduction, convection and to a lesser extent radiation, start to warm up other parts of the tractor. I see no downside to a block heater and a number of upsides.

Hydraulic oil is being circulated in an HST when the accelerator is in the neutral position right, so perhaps friction in the pump and in the lines is the main source of heat for the fluid, but there is some conduction and convection from the engine and related parts helping too .... I would think.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

True, a block heater doesn't warm up hydraulic fluid directly, but the sooner the engine warms up the sooner conduction, convection and to a lesser extent radiation, start to warm up other parts of the tractor. I see no downside to a block heater and a number of upsides.

Yes I'm a huge fan of block heaters, everyone of mine has a block heater.
They are vital to keeping things starting and running smoothly in the winter.

 

[mcmxi]

Yes I'm a huge fan of block heaters, everyone of mine has a block heater.
They are vital to keeping things starting and running smoothly in the winter.

That M1078 came with an ether system that has long since gone the way of the Dodo (rotted out in Hawaii), so I ordered and received a block heater for it but have yet to install it. Another project to get to.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

That M1078 came with an ether system that has long since gone the way of the Dodo (rotted out in Hawaii), so I ordered and received a block heater for it but have yet to install it. Another project to get to.

I hope you put me in the will for the M1078, that is one awesome rig!

 

[RCW]

No I dont have a block heater. The recommendation is noted

I don’t have a block heater either.

A block heater will help with engine start up on cold days. That’s a good thing. I went to Rotella T6 5w-40 motor oil to help cold starts, and have been pleased with the results.

That’s said, a lighter oil does not fix the advantages of a block heater.

A block heater doesn’t warm your hydraulic system, which is your current issue. Only a proper warming period might/could fix that.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

bet the guys in SC wish they had block heaters ...brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr !

Maybe put a chicken light(IR) under the HST ?

 

[Hman0217]

Update

Came home and ran it at 1400 rpm for thirty minutes. Nothing. Didn't even seem to respond to either throttle or bucket joystick.

Dipstick fluid image attached

I wanted to check the filters for ice crystals as suggested but - seeing as they are below the top of the reservoir - is that something I should really do with a full tank?

Not going above freezing for a week or so. If I were to hit this thing with a salamander, any tips on where to focus the heat? Just all up and down the hydraulic lines and on the filters?

 

[Hman0217]

Also...if it doesn't so much as make a sound when you operate the pedal or the stick, is that an indication of a pump being shot?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Update

Came home and ran it at 1400 rpm for thirty minutes. Nothing. Didn't even seem to respond to either throttle or bucket joystick.

Dipstick fluid image attached

I wanted to check the filters for ice crystals as suggested but - seeing as they are below the top of the reservoir - is that something I should really do with a full tank?

Not going above freezing for a week or so. If I were to hit this thing with a salamander, any tips on where to focus the heat? Just all up and down the hydraulic lines and on the filters?

View attachment 146726

You won't get water on the dipstick as the water sits on the bottom.
So your saying the tractor doesn't move?

 

[Hman0217]

You won't get water on the dipstick as the water sits on the bottom.
So your saying the tractor doesn't move?

Nope. Won't move. No response whatsoever when hit the pedal or the bucket control. Did I kill my pump from trying?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Nope. Won't move. No response whatsoever when hit the pedal or the bucket control. Did I kill my pump from trying?

You have a serious water issue, as they are separate systems that use the same sump.
Sound like you have frozen up both the HST and the hydraulic filters and or sump.

If it were mine, I would push, pull, drag, it into a shop or garage not running it!
Put a lot of heat to it, drain all the drains, pull both filters, flush it out with some cheap hydraulic fluid with everything open.
The have 2 sets of filters and more cheap fluid, fill run briefly and drain and reinstall new SUDT2 fluid and filters again.