Hydraulics all froze! What to do?

[SWIFFY]

Hi everyone,

I recently bought a '99 New Holland 4835 4x4 with 2000 hours about 10 months ago. It was owned by a dealers brother and always stored indoors. Its in very nice shape. I used it all summer and fall. Some planting, grapple work, brush mowing, etc. Now this winter... I get my 3 point snowblower all hooked up, ready for winter. Finally have the equipment to tackle my badly drifting driveway. Im in Central MN and last week it was -15 almost for temps. I go out to start my tractor and it starts right up (after being plugged in for an hour). I let it warm up at about 1400 rpm for 30-45 minutes. NOTHING MOVES! My power steering wont work, my bucket wont lift, my PTO wont spin.... the only thing is my rear lift will lift the snowblower about 2" the pulse a bit, then 2" more, then pulse a bit, then 2" more...

What do I do? Where do I start? There should not be any moisture in this?? Its always indoors and all the plastic and seals are in good condition. The fluid levels are all good. Ive used it when its 10-15 above zero and It took some time but did work very well. Do you think I have crud in my filters? Is it likely my Hydraulic oil is not good for EXTREME cold? What would you do?

Thanks for any suggestions! Im hoping my hydro pump isnt shot or its not something big! Its been the perfect tractor up till this. Bummed out

 

[Roadworthy]

If you're using the correct hydraulic fluid and have the correct amount it may be a clogged screen (some tractors have them, some don't) or it could be a clogged or collapsed hydraulic filter. The pump rarely fails.

 

[RjCorazza]

Not a mechanic, but if I were in this situation:
Confirm correct fluid level. Warm up the transmission case / fluid with an infrared heater, or whatever you may have. If that gets you going, change the fluid to something suitable for the temps and replace the filters.
The suction filter type that roadworthy describes may or may not be present on your machine, but a clogged suction filter will cause all kinds of problems on a tractor.
My diesel mowers are extremely sensitive to low fluid levels. If I'm 2 quarts low after a change the machine won't even move.

 

[5030]

Ever bother to change the fluid and filters? I bet the sump is loaded with frozen water.

 

[Hay Dude]

Happened to me Monday. Tried to load hay bales in 15* cold. Pilot valve in the hydraulics do not like the cold weather. Took about 20 minutes on high idle and then my hydraulics worked.

 

[oldtimer 66]

Just my best guess from the temperature that you said you had. You have moisture in the hydraulic system. It is some what dispersed thru out the system. It may not be and actual layer of water/ ice in the low point/ or low points of the hydraulic system. With the extremely cold temperatures the moisture has turned to ice crystals. When you first started it up, the the ice crystals went into the suction filter arrangement. It plugged the filter and probably crushed it. Best guess is a new hydraulic filter and new hydraulic oil. I would use the oil and filter that the manufacture recommends.

 

[oldtimer 66]

I forgot to mention the moisture gets into the hydraulic system just from normal operations. You run the tractor until the hydraulic system warms up to operation temperature. You shut the tractor off and the hydraulic system cools down. This hot and cold cycling causes and minute amount of condensation. This condensation adds up over time.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I would change all the fluids and filters, then refill them with synthetic fluids.

SR

 

[Paystar]

I would change all the fluids and filters, then refill them with synthetic fluids.

SR

Yep. Get it in a warm garage to thaw out and drain all the fluids if that is indeed the problem. And unfortunately you will have to dump the oil a couple times to get all the moisture cleaned out. So maybe buy some cheap oil and run it for several minutes then drain again.

I bought a used Boss plow for my F550 and it had the same problem. Was froze every time I went to use it. I'd have to tarp it with a propane heater on it. Ended up buying a bunch of cheap plow oil from Princess Auto, flushed it a couple times, then refiled with the Boss plow oil.

 

[CobyRupert]

Yes, get the water out of the system, change filters, and check for correct oil.
If you’re sure all is good, other trick to get oil up to temperature include:
Turning on your PTO when warming up.
Putting the hydraulics into relief so that hydraulic oil gets heated as it passes through the relief valve. Your system goes into relief when you turn the steering to an extreme position and it can’t turn anymore, or trying to retract or extend any cylinder beyond its physical limits. You can hear the system go into relief.

 

[SWIFFY]

Thanks for the comments everyone!

A neighbor got me through the storm. Yesterday was 34F and everything worked perfect. So clearly not the pump. I’ll get 2 new filters and new oil that can take the cold.

What are some of the recommended oils for low low temps? And will a low temp hydraulic oil still perform properly in 100F temps???

Thanks

 

[Sawyer Rob]

SYNTHETIC! and yes it will take the heat.

SR

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Another reason to avoid hydrostatic machines. I want a lever I can shift with a clutch pedal to shift it.

 

[SWIFFY]

This isn’t hydrostatic tractor??? 12 gears. Power shuttle. Clutch

 

[Hay Dude]

Another reason to avoid hydrostatic machines. I want a lever I can shift with a clutch pedal to shift it.

Believe me, after operating a CVT for about 5 years, you’d want one.

 

[Paystar]

Another reason to avoid hydrostatic machines. I want a lever I can shift with a clutch pedal to shift it.

A gear drive can suffer from poor maintenance too. Swifty said he bought it used, so lord knows what was done to it in the past.
I've never had an issue with HST's and have many hours on them.

 

[4570Man]

Another reason to avoid hydrostatic machines. I want a lever I can shift with a clutch pedal to shift it.

Water will still cause damage to the hydraulics. A high enough percent could crack the case when it freezes. If there was ever a stupid reason to avoid HST this would be one.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Water will still cause damage to the hydraulics. A high enough percent could crack the case when it freezes. If there was ever a stupid reason to avoid HST this would be one.

If it wasn't making the machine go to and fro, the lift would work. Besides, the lift worked a little. Complaint was that machine wouldn't move. Never had a hydrostatic tractor, I've never had a lift that wouldn't work. We see negative temps, but not every year.

 

[4570Man]

If it wasn't making the machine go to and fro, the lift would work. Besides, the lift worked a little. Complaint was that machine wouldn't move. Never had a hydrostatic tractor, I've never had a lift that wouldn't work. We see negative temps, but not every year.

I’m sure he would feel all better if he could drive the tractor in the direction it was heading since the steering didn’t work and wasn’t able to lift the bucket either. The fact you’ve never had a HST is just proof that you don’t know what you’re missing. And there’s thousands of skid steers and HST tractors plowing snow in the cold everyday so obviously they do work in the cold. There’s dozens of post on here of clutches sticking. Clutches fail and require fairly extensive labor to repair. I’ve had slave or master cylinders fail on 3 separate trucks, once catastrophically that lead to being completely un drivable. Gear transmissions aren’t as reliable as you gear guys claim. They make other transmissions that offer a better mix of beings friendly to use and not robbing power but then you’ve lost the cost saving or simplicity debate.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I’m sure he would feel all better if he could drive the tractor in the direction it was heading since the steering didn’t work and wasn’t able to lift the bucket either. The fact you’ve never had a HST is just proof that you don’t know what you’re missing. And there’s thousands of skid steers and HST tractors plowing snow in the cold everyday so obviously they do work in the cold. There’s dozens of post on here of clutches sticking. Clutches fail and require fairly extensive labor to repair. I’ve had slave or master cylinders fail on 3 separate trucks, once catastrophically that lead to being completely un drivable. Gear transmissions aren’t as reliable as you gear guys claim. They make other transmissions that offer a better mix of beings friendly to use and not robbing power but then you’ve lost the cost saving or simplicity debate.

I worked for Kubota/New Holland, made my decision then.