2015 FEL float? cold?

jwnge · Feb 1, 2007

It has been the teens and lower here for the last week or so. We have had a couple of small snowfalls of about an inch or 2. I try to keep the driveway scraped down cause if I don't it gets too slippery to walk to the mailbox.. The ? is...has anyone else had a problem with their float position working for the first few minutes, maybe 15 or so, when you begin to remove snow in the cold. I let it warm up for a couple minutes and then use it pretty gently till I see heat on the meter, then I run it up to around 1800 rpm to work. It takes some time for it to work at all, then I have to hold it foward for a little while more, and finally it will stay in position by itself. any ideas. I haven't called my dealer yet to ask them.. John

driver444 · Feb 1, 2007

I have a 2015 gear drive, and yes, my float is very very slow in the cold weather. Loader AND 3 Point. I'm in Upstate New York. Similar temps.

It takes longer for my tractor's hydraulic fluid to warm up than it does to clear my driveway, if that's any indication. I would think a HST would warm up quicker since you'd be running it at a higher RPM constantly. Engine temperature with increase much faster than the hydraulic fluid temp. There's alot more there to heat up. 5 gallons or so.

Here's what I do though. I use the POWER-DOWN until the bucket is about to contact the ground, and then throw it into float. It's alot quicker. Hope that helps.

DieselPower · Feb 1, 2007

You might want to switch to a winter UTF instead of regular UTF. Winter UTF's are in the low 5W/20 viscosity range where regular UTF's are in the 10W/20 viscosity range. The thinner viscosity winter UTF will flow better and should allow your float to work at a lower temp.

George2615 · Feb 1, 2007

I do the same as driver444. Until you change the UTF to a thinner weight or synthetic it will operate slow in cold temps. Come springtime I'll be changing mine. Too cold out now.

DavesTractor · Feb 1, 2007

jwnge said:
It has been the teens and lower here for the last week or so. We have had a couple of small snowfalls of about an inch or 2. I try to keep the driveway scraped down cause if I don't it gets too slippery to walk to the mailbox.. The ? is...has anyone else had a problem with their float position working for the first few minutes, maybe 15 or so, when you begin to remove snow in the cold. I let it warm up for a couple minutes and then use it pretty gently till I see heat on the meter, then I run it up to around 1800 rpm to work. It takes some time for it to work at all, then I have to hold it foward for a little while more, and finally it will stay in position by itself. any ideas. I haven't called my dealer yet to ask them.. John

We don't have the cold temps you do, but the cold weather hytrans sounds like a good idea. Also, the engine heats up much faster than the transmission. Have any of you guys thought about a magnetic heater on the trans? Plug it in for a couple of hours? I have no such experience, but was wondering.

jwnge · Feb 3, 2007

I tried something that seems to help. after warming it up for a minute or so, I just cycled the loader and bucket several times while sitting still and the float started working lots quicker. I have thought about synthetic oil in engine and trans at next change, I have about 170 hrs. now so will wait till then. I will just let it warm up good for now and will see how syn. works next winter.. thanks for input.. John ps. I have had it for 2 previous winters and it did not do this, it was just as cold then.

LAWALLSTRACTOR · Feb 3, 2007

I would warm it up real good and drain the hytran immediately and look for a milky like color or frothy look. This may indicate water in the fluid. Let it drain real well and replace the fluid and filters. Water is the only thing that I can think of that would creat a problem in the cold that you may have not had before in the cold. Good luck with it.

wnymudd · Feb 3, 2007

I have the hydro trans. Haven't had a problem with float. The bucket is somewhats slower when starting up but only for the first few cycles. Cleaned out the driveway this morninig at 7*C. Winter is back!!

wnymudd · Feb 4, 2007

Whoops, 7*F I mean.

jwnge · Feb 5, 2007

LAWALLSTRACTOR said:
I would warm it up real good and drain the hytran immediately and look for a milky like color or frothy look. This may indicate water in the fluid. Let it drain real well and replace the fluid and filters. Water is the only thing that I can think of that would creat a problem in the cold that you may have not had before in the cold. Good luck with it.

The fluid and filters was changed at 50hrs. first year while it was still warm, then 2 winters with no problems, now 160 hrs and it starts acting up. The only thing I have had in line is my log splitter. I wonder where the water came from. condensation?????