3pt problems when cold

[DaveUK]

When it gets to well below freezing, the 3 pt won't come up. It will drop ok, but when pulling up the lever, the pump shrieks (and the arms won't move), or the arms will jump up a little at a time. Any ideas?

 

[YannyMan]

Water in the hydraulic system freezing?

 

[dex3361]

Probably water in the hydraulic fluid. What happens is the water freezes and plugs up the hydraulic filter. I would do a crackle test and go from there. Crackle test is easy and it is a zero cost if you have some sort of hot plate. CRACKLE TEST. If it is not possible to change the fluid for a while and you still need the tractor then try to preheat the tractor in a garage or use a blower type heater.

 

[winston1]

Probably water in the hydraulic fluid. What happens is the water freezes and plugs up the hydraulic filter. I would do a crackle test and go from there. Crackle test is easy and it is a zero cost if you have some sort of hot plate. CRACKLE TEST. If it is not possible to change the fluid for a while and you still need the tractor then try to preheat the tractor in a garage or use a blower type heater.

Well now, I have never heard of the crackle test. Very interesting. :thumbsup:

 

[MJPetersen]

It does not have to have water in the system to do that but it is a contributing factor. Cold oil is thick oil, therefore the viscosity of the trans/hyd oil is more critical as well as the cleanliness of the filter screen. It was because of poor cold weather performance that I switched to Dextron ATF. The hyd systen has become much more responsive in the winter and I do not get pump squeal (That can actually do some real damage to the pump--oil starvation). If you do not want to switch to the ATF still make sure you have the proper grade of oil in the trans and the filter screen is clean.

Mike

 

[dex3361]

It does not have to have water in the system to do that but it is a contributing factor. Cold oil is thick oil, therefore the viscosity of the trans/hyd oil is more critical as well as the cleanliness of the filter screen. It was because of poor cold weather performance that I switched to Dextron ATF. The hyd systen has become much more responsive in the winter and I do not get pump squeal (That can actually do some real damage to the pump--oil starvation). If you do not want to switch to the ATF still make sure you have the proper grade of oil in the trans and the filter screen is clean.

Mike

Tis true.

 

[smstonypoint]

Water in the hydraulic system freezing?

Just curious. How does water typically makes its way into hydraulic systems?

Steve

 

[normde2001]

Normally caused by storing your tractor outdoors. A bad shift lever dust boot makes it worse.

 

[Marveltone]

This is a good subject for me to pay attention to as my hydraulic system is inoperable in very cold weather until the tractor is warmed up for at least 20-30 min. I'm guessing that in my case, the fluid is a heavier grade which works well in the summer but not so much in the winter.

Could it also be possible for water to enter the hydraulic systen through condensation? Just thinking if the tractor is stored outside, the environmental extremes may make this a possibility. But I could be way off, as this is just a random guess. Probably not, if the transmission/steering/hydraulic system is full.

Perhaps some of the more scientific members of the forum could weigh in on this, as it seems to be a common enough problem for many to benefit.

Joe

 

[clemsonfor]

Or bad , or no O-ring on your filler cap, bad seals around things or just the old condensation in half filled chamber.

 

[DaveUK]

Thanks guys. Yes, it is stored outside, but under cover. I guess you can get condensation on the inside of the gearbox case, and in theory it will drop to the bottom of the case, where I guess the pump pickup probably is. I can't remember ever checking the filter, so maybe it's time. It's a YM1700, so where does the filter sit, and do I need to drain the fluid first?

 

[2458n]

My Kubota has the metal screen type filter. Ice would get filtered to the point that every thing stopped. Changed filters and fluids and good down to -5 degrees so far. Easy to plow snow when the blade goes up and down.

 

[clemsonfor]

Thanks guys. Yes, it is stored outside, but under cover. I guess you can get condensation on the inside of the gearbox case, and in theory it will drop to the bottom of the case, where I guess the pump pickup probably is. I can't remember ever checking the filter, so maybe it's time. It's a YM1700, so where does the filter sit, and do I need to drain the fluid first?

Yes you will need to drain the fluid. If you beleive it is still good, you can catch it in a clean 5 gallon bucket and reuse it.

Anyway there is a small triangle shaped cover-plate with 2 or 3 screws holding it to the bottom of the transmission. Take it off and the filter-screen lies behind it. Clean it up with deisel fuel if its not got holes in it and reinstall (its designed to be reuseable). This plate is sometimes on the side of the transmission on the bottom of it, under where your left foot is while driving or on the front part of the transmission sump, i beleive?

 

[YanmarFever]

We Run ATF (automatic transmission fluid) in all our Yanmars, and they run good in cold weather, even at start up

 

[MJPetersen]

We Run ATF (automatic transmission fluid) in all our Yanmars, and they run good in cold weather, even at start up

Ernie's testimony was the final deciding factor in my decision to switch to ATF. It improves the cold weather working characteristics greatly and does not seem to hurt warm weather operations either.

Mike

 

[YanmarFever]

Ernie's testimony was the final deciding factor in my decision to switch to ATF. It improves the cold weather working characteristics greatly and does not seem to hurt warm weather operations either.

Mike

When the Yanmars arrive from Japan, almost all the power shifts have ATF.

They are always nice & clean inside and the fluid has high detergents to keep everything clean.
Just don't leave your tractor outside in the rain and you should be fine for a few years with the ATF.

 

[DaveUK]

Thanks guys.

One last question, if I may. I want to replace the fluid, so how much does it take (YM1700)? I'll get down the JD place tomorrow.

 

[normde2001]

Buy 5 gal. and fill it up. Why are you going to JD, (2X the price)?

 

[Neat 1500]

When the Yanmars arrive from Japan, almost all the power shifts have ATF.

They are always nice & clean inside and the fluid has high detergents to keep everything clean.
Just don't leave your tractor outside in the rain and you should be fine for a few years with the ATF.

i have also just changed a YM14 to ATF to cure slow shift problems in powershift. no more cold or hot problems to speak of.

 

[tthopskin@yahoo.ca]

This is a good subject for me to pay attention to as my hydraulic system is inoperable in very cold weather until the tractor is warmed up for at least 20-30 min. I'm guessing that in my case, the fluid is a heavier grade which works well in the summer but not so much in the winter.

Could it also be possible for water to enter the hydraulic systen through condensation? Just thinking if the tractor is stored outside, the environmental extremes may make this a possibility. But I could be way off, as this is just a random guess. Probably not, if the transmission/steering/hydraulic system is full.

Perhaps some of the more scientific members of the forum could weigh in on this, as it seems to be a common enough problem for many to benefit.

Joe

you will get cond; but if you run the tractor for a long time this will evaporate the water each time then the cycle starts over ''this happens in the engine to you ever seen sludge on the oil stick ,this is from not running it long enough to get it hot to evaporate the water from cond;