Hydro oil heater

[Mechanos]

I'm considering adding a hydro oil heater to aid in very cold weather starting. Since my implement pump is direct coupled to the engine, the starter has to turn over the engine and the hydro pump on startup. Even with a block heater, the starter has trouble turning the engine over fast enough on very cold days. A couple of times I've had to warm the transaxle in order to get the tractor to start. I'm looking at a low wattage (150W) stainless steel heater rated for oil immersion.

Anyone here have one of these on their tractor? If so, how do you like it?

 

[Tx Jim]

Here's a hyd oil heater offered by JD for a 955
AM880977 Assembly Line Parts ADD 9.72 USD
AR94493 Heater View/Update 79.49 USD
AR95434 Wire View/Update 21.87 USD
R34557 Clamp View/Update 1.37 USD
R44302 Tie Band View/Update 0.09 USD

Parts that have an issue will display a flag. *Subtotal 122.35 USD
*Total 122.35 USD

 

[RalphVa]

I'd think with the range selector in neutral that the hydro pump isn't engaged.

Hydro oil is pretty light weight, about 5 wt.

Ralph

 

[greg_g]

I'm considering adding a hydro oil heater to aid in very cold weather starting.

Perhaps you're using the wrong trans/hydraulic fluid. Most UTFs - including JD303 for example - are about a 30W equivalent. Pretty sure the 955 should be using Hy-Gard, which is more like a 20W equivalent. My newer 3720 uses Lo-Vis Hy-Gard, which is even thinner yet; about a 10W equivalent.

//greg//

 

[arlen4720]

I'd think with the range selector in neutral that the hydro pump isn't engaged.

Ralph

The hydro pump spins whenever the engine spins. The range transmission is after the hydro pump/motor.

 

[oldnslo]

A word of caution on using immersed type oil heaters, they attract moisture and can cause some acids to form if they get above a certain temperature.

I would check the condition of your battery and terminals to make sure you are getting full power to the starter. Temps in MO should not be a problem especially with a block heater that I presume is operating correctly and has been plugged in for sufficient time to warm the engine.

 

[Mechanos]

Here's a hyd oil heater offered by JD for a 955
AM880977 Assembly Line Parts ADD 9.72 USD
AR94493 Heater View/Update 79.49 USD
AR95434 Wire View/Update 21.87 USD
R34557 Clamp View/Update 1.37 USD
R44302 Tie Band View/Update 0.09 USD

Parts that have an issue will display a flag. *Subtotal 122.35 USD
*Total 122.35 USD

Thanks... I was aware of those parts JD offers, but there is no way I would pay an extra $60 to $70 for a cardboard box with "John Deere" printed on it when I can order the exact same heater elsewhere.

A word of caution on using immersed type oil heaters, they attract moisture and can cause some acids to form if they get above a certain temperature.

I would check the condition of your battery and terminals to make sure you are getting full power to the starter. Temps in MO should not be a problem especially with a block heater that I presume is operating correctly and has been plugged in for sufficient time to warm the engine.

The battery is a brand new Interstate (MT-51, if I remember the number correctly) and is kept on a maintainer. The battery cable ends and connections are fine too... the engine was just rebuilt about 55 hours ago and all of that was addressed during the rebuild.

Temps in MO??? How about -10°F today with wind chill of -36°F. While it is not often that we get that cold, it does happen. It is not uncommon at all to see 0°F. A couple of years ago we had a three week stretch where the daily high never got above 0°F.

 

[Mechanos]

Perhaps you're using the wrong trans/hydraulic fluid. Most UTFs - including JD303 for example - are about a 30W equivalent. Pretty sure the 955 should be using Hy-Gard, which is more like a 20W equivalent. My newer 3720 uses Lo-Vis Hy-Gard, which is even thinner yet; about a 10W equivalent.

//greg//

Recommended hydro oil for the 955 is Lo-Vis Hy-Gard which is what I'm using.

 

[oldnslo]

Farmed in central MN for years and temps of -10 were considered normal. Started our Gehl 4500 skid loader with the Ford 4 cylinder gas every day with no block heater. Dual HST and gear pump for loader turned all the time. Coldest actual temp was -44 in winter of 85-86. two weeks warmest day was -22. I have to believe there are people that live in colder climates with a 955 or similar that use these for snow removal etc.

good luck

 

[sunnyside360]

The battery is a brand new Interstate (MT-51, if I remember the number correctly) and is kept on a maintainer.

Could still be the battery. I've seen more than one new battery that was not up to spec and had to be replaced. Check it with a load tester if you have one. If you don't have one, some auto parts stores like Advance Auto will test it.