Freezing loader cables

[rayc]

Hi all, what does one do when your loader cables freeze up? Any tricks? Im thinking of putting 12v heat tracer on the cables right to the control valve and insulating them. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks ray

 

[Kubota_Man]

Are you talking about the hydraulic lines? If so from what I understand it would have to get very cold something like -30°

check out this thread http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5760&highlight=backhoe+storage

I am not an expert by any means but if your lines froze you may have other issues like contamination in the hydro system.

If you do attempt to thaw them out I would be cautious with the lines by not weakining or melting them.

 

[rayc]

no the cables from the joystick in the cab out through the floor to the control valve

 

[E/S]

I would try cable lub from the cab down through the line.
If that doesn't work the pull the cable and inspect it for problems.

E/S

 

[Kubota_Man]

no the cables from the joystick in the cab out through the floor to the control valve

My bad I miss-read this My brain went right to the hydro system.

 

[rayc]

okay how do you pull the cables, remove the joystick and pull them out or do you have to disconnect things from the valve, sorry new to cable systems. My old skidder was all direct linkages. ray

 

[skeets]

Cable lub works, but I have use plain old tranny fluid on every bike I ever had those cable take a lot of abuse it aint pretty it aint clean but it is cheap and works,,, however if the cable is hanging up after you have lubed them I would pull the cable in question and check for a fraied inner cable or a crushed or deformed outer jacket and check where the outer jacket is attached sometimes them buggers will slip back and forth at the retaining clip

 

[E/S]

okay how do you pull the cables, remove the joystick and pull them out or do you have to disconnect things from the valve, sorry new to cable systems. My old skidder was all direct linkages. ray

I would try to shoot the lub down the cable with it installed first. That way you can work it and tell if it helps.
Don't be in to big a hurry to take it apart. Check the clamps and ends first.

E/S

 

[Gundoctor]

Boy, do I know what you are going through. I had a Bush Hog loader that frooze up all the time. This is what you do. Take a Dremel tool with a thin cut-off blade. At the lowest point make a cut in the rubber coating under the steel cables. This will let the water to run out. I then put tran-mission oil down the lines from inside the cab and from the control value. Never had any more trouble.

It was +1 this morning here in Vermont .

David Pidgeon

 

[100HP]

I have the same issue on my M100GS What a pain!!! Both cables freeze up. I use a small hand held torch to warm up the cables to get it going but they freez up again in no time if I dont use the loader. So how do you remove the cables. I see a set screw in there. Once the set screw is backed off, then what? THANX.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I have the same issue on my M100GS What a pain!!! Both cables freeze up. I use a small hand held torch to warm up the cables to get it going but they freez up again in no time if I dont use the loader. So how do you remove the cables. I see a set screw in there. Once the set screw is backed off, then what? THANX.

It doesn't look like you need to mess with any set screws.
It's just a couple of hair pins and then nuts on the cable to remove them.
When you get them out you should be able to remove the cable from the shield, flush the shield and cable with brake parts cleaner, then lube the the cable with silicone grease (plumbers grease).

 

[Tooljunkie]

Disconnect end that has the smaller linkage. Find rubber hose to slip over outer shield of cable. Clamp hose to outer shield. Find a way to adapt hose to a blow gun. Blow some alcohol through and hopefully it will take water out other end. Spray silicone into hose and reconnect blow gun,forcing silicone into shield.
As long as air will go through cable you can force any liquid you want.
I have done this a few times,freed up some sticky cables that would otherwise need replacing.
Experimented with a drill to spin cable, wrong way and cable will flare inside shield. Proved somewhat un successful.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Experimented with a drill to spin cable, wrong way and cable will flare inside shield. Proved somewhat un successful.

Yea, been there done that, that's one of those DUHH moments!