frozen hydraulics

[John T]

I never had a problem with my tractor hydraulics.... as mentioned, I always let it warm up first in cold temps.

HOWEVER,
Back when I was foolish enough to plow snow......

I would occasionally have a plow pump or line freeze up.

I started adding a small amount of isopropyl alcohol to the fluid and never had another problem.

-just sayin....

 

[forky]

The operator's manual for the L2501 on page 41 specifically states that warming up the engine in temps below -20C (-4F) requires 30 minutes .... allowing the L2501 to run is a must and not harmful.

 

[TheOldHokie]

The operator's manual for the L2501 on page 41 specifically states that warming up the engine in temps below -20C (-4F) requires 30 minutes .... allowing the L2501 to run is a must and not harmful.

Its very harmful if its not getting oil.

Dan

 

[Allen in MT]

I don't know if I should have been able to do this or not ...

I started my L2501 HST the other day at around -10 to -15, nope, I didn't look at the temp. When it started, it vibrated for a bit side to side. My guess was the hydraulics. I backed out of my shed and let it run at about 1500. After a while (I didn't time it), it stop vibrating and worked fine to clear my snow drifts.

YMMV.

Mine starts just fine, (plugged in) I can't back up or go forward and no 3 pt or front bucket movement or steering at this point. Don't know how long I can let it idol to warm up without damaging the hydraulic pump.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Mine starts just fine, (plugged in) I can't back up or go forward and no 3 pt or front bucket movement or steering at this point. Don't know how long I can let it idol to warm up without damaging the hydraulic pump.

Something is not right.
Water / Ice in fluid
Water / Ice in filters
Wrong fluid
Suction leak
Failing pump (very last on the list)

 

[unioncreek]

When I worked on a far in MT feeding cows during the winter. We fed with a JD at -40, did it every year for 10 years.

 

[jimh406]

My guess is it's ok to run.

I'd run it until the engine comes up to operating temperature because I don't think the hydraulic pump is doing a lot when you are moving controls. Any of the linkages could be frozen up. If there is any water in the system that is frozen, my guess is it will eventually melt and free up.

You could also put a mild heat source near it if you can keep it out of the wind. Or, if you are like us, it's going to warm up pretty soon, so maybe moving into the sun if you can keep it out of the wind could also work.

Good luck.

 

[Thunder chicken]

Get a tarp, and a big heater. Preheat it for several hours. If it still does not work right after a warm up period idling, yu have other issues. Hopefully its just the cold, thick oil. The hydraulic shuttle on the 7060 is slow at those temps to engage too, even with our canadian 'premium UDT'. -20 is normal for a lot of us though. Patience and preperpration are 2 of the many things required to work in the cold!

 

[Allen in MT]

12 above this morning & everything working as it should, but to be on the safe side I'm going to get the fluids changed as soon as I can get a filter kit. I think that negative bitter wind at 35-40 below was to much for the HF and it got to thick to pump even tho it had super UDT in it.

 

[John T]

Surprised nobody mentioned the old standby back in the day.....

coffee can with a toilet paper roll in it.... soaked in diesel under the engine... worked good on those B-models.....

fire in the hole....

 

[Foxrunfarms]

Surprised nobody mentioned the old standby back in the day.....

coffee can with a toilet paper roll in it.... soaked in diesel under the engine... worked good on those B-models.....

fire in the hole....

After reading the tarp and heater suggestion I was thinking that. Around here it's a coffee can and just some coals.

 

[Foxrunfarms]

Out of curiosity I watched a video on this subject. The mechanic said anything below 10 degrees let it idol to warm up for 5 minutes but you need to be easy on tractor, don't run it wide open no heavy loader or 3 point work. He suggested 15 minutes at idle or a tad higher when colder . No block heater on my 2610 and it's parked in an old drafty leaky farm shed. Winterized diesel and antigel dumped in it. Glow plugged for 10 seconds and fired right up at -30. I let it idle for 15 minutes and all seemed good.

My uncle was a foreman for the pipeline and they put tarps or had special tents like ice shanties they put over frozen equipment and blew a torpedo heater through it........took most of the day but got lost stuff unfrozen.

Plowing snow for a past employer a skidloader gelled up. We backed a 2nd one up to it and covered the engines with a tarp. The heat from the exhaust was enough to unthaw it.

Both ideas you need to us cation I'd never leave a heater Un attended especially with a tarp near it.

In my area it was -30 now next week +30 with rain. Maybe wait and see if the weather changes anything or find a bigger heater or get a smaller lp one and see if that helps.

Just don't put it too close to anything.

 

[BAP]

12 above this morning & everything working as it should, but to be on the safe side I'm going to get the fluids changed as soon as I can get a filter kit. I think that negative bitter wind at 35-40 below was to much for the HF and it got to thick to pump even tho it had super UDT in it.

Don’t change your oil until you can get the tractor warmed up above freezing temperatures for several hours or possibly a couple of days. Make sure it’s a warm day or in a garage. It takes a long time for the metal in a rear end and transmission to warm up enough so that any frozen water will thaw out completely and drain out. If you don’t wait for it to thaw out enough, then your oil change will be a waste because you will still have moisture in the tractor.

 

[forky]

I really don't think the fluids need changing. The OP was hesitant to allow the tractor to idle and warm up properly. Doing that will cure the problem that was caused.

 

[D2Cat]

If you have room pull the drain plus and let it set for a couple of warm days.

 

[Thunder chicken]

A logger friend will start his equipment, then bungee cord a lever over so the function goes over relief a little bit, he claims that'll warm the oil up faster! These guys work no matter the temps so they can eat.

 

[specialtool]

A logger friend will start his equipment, then bungee cord a lever over so the function goes over relief a little bit, he claims that'll warm the oil up faster! These guys work no matter the temps so they can eat.

Yes, that is correct. I used to have a Cat 225 excavator and right in the operator manual it says to hold the bucket curl on lock relief for 30 seconds or 3 minutes (I can’t remember ).
Anyway, that works.

 

[Jchonline]

-15F here for a few days, tractor is under awning behind shop. Engine block heater for an hour and it starts like it was 40f out. SUDT2 up here. Had to use the blower to clear some 2 ft drifts.