Snow B3030HSDC joystick freezing up in bitter cold

[Michford]

I'm having an issue with the cable to raise and lower my front snowblower freezing up and not allowing the joystick raise and lower to function. When I used it last weekend, it was a little stiff but loosened up as I used it. I always clean off the tractor and blower and sweep off the snow after using it, and it got stiff while I swept it off. Tonight out of curiosity, I went out to my pole barn to see if it would be stuck, and sure enough it was. I aimed my salamander heater at the low point in the cables under the cab and a few minutes later, the joystick was freed up. Looks like I'll be disconnecting the cable at the valve and seeing if I can get the ice/water out of the cable housing. Anybody else ever run into this? I replaced both cables three years ago.

 

[number two]

Wow,three years already!
Sounds like you're on the right track.
Could pour in air brake antifreeze to free it up until better weather to drain and relube.
But where did the moisture come from?

Good Luck!

 

[Michford]

Northern lower Michigan, we might almost be neighbors. I'm south of Traverse City. I may try Fluid Film as a lubricant on the cables. I used it on the snowblower chute rotator gear and it has prevented it from freezing up so far this winter.

 

[RickB]

I'd use WD40 or even common antifreeze as your cable lube.

 

[LouNY]

Swing by your local motorcyle shop and pickup a cable lubricating tool;
https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffnt&q=cable+lubrication+tool&iax=images&ia=images

 

[Michford]

Thanks Lou, great tip on the specialized tool.

 

[Dave M7040]

I think you will find the Kubota cables are a more complicated design than the typical motorcycle cable tool is intended for.

I bought a large animal syringe at a TSC store and used its needle to pierce the rubber seal and inject gas line anti freeze into the cable.

Dave M7040

 

[LouNY]

I have never tried but I had an old timer tell me that he used to use pieces of hose to fit snug over the outer cable sheath on both ends and then use a vacuum brake bleeder to draw lube into control cables. Sounds like a lot of work to me by the time you get both ends of the cable disconnected. I just keep spraying lube on the higher end of the cable an exercising it.
I have used the motorcycle lube tool on choke, fuel shutoff and throttle cables if works fairly well for them.

 

[CobyRupert]

Sure it’s the cable? Look at the loader valve that cable runs to. On opposite side where cable enters their may be a couple spring caps. These often have water in them that freezes. Often as warmer oil circulates in valve, it warms up and becomes easier to use. Unscrew cap and drain.
Quick test would be to heat caps only next time it freezes, with a hairdryer or quick flick with propane torch and see if lever releases frees up (not freeze up).

 

[number two]

Northern lower Michigan, we might almost be neighbors. I'm south of Traverse City. I may try Fluid Film as a lubricant on the cables. I used it on the snowblower chute rotator gear and it has prevented it from freezing up so far this winter.

Not quite neighbors.
Tip of the Mitt
30 minutes south of the bridge.
Looking foward to your findings.
My somewhat garage-queen has never done that,even in cold storage for extended periods.

Good Luck!

 

[Michford]

Here are pictures of what I found at the cable end at the external valve 3 years ago when I took it apart to replace cables. Was rusted from moisture and stuck.
And here are pictures of the new cable from 3 years ago. There does not seem to be any rubber seals at the ends.
Cable seemed to be frozen at the low point under the cab as it freed right up with the salamander heater aimed at it. I will be pulling it back apart at the valve end to lube and will try a little heat on the caps on the valve out of curiousity to see if it pops free before digging into cable.

 

[Michford]

Here are pictures of what I found at the cable end at the external valve 3 years ago when I took it apart to replace cables. Was rusted from moisture and stuck.View attachment 686270
And here are pictures of the new cable from 3 years ago. There does not seem to be any rubber seals at the ends.View attachment 686271
Cable seemed to be frozen at the low point under the cab as it freed right up with the salamander heater aimed at it. I will be pulling it back apart at the valve end to lube and will try a little heat on the caps on the valve out of curiousity to see if it pops free before digging into cable.

 

[number two]

How did your problem get resolved?
I'm sure I will be in the same place down the road.
Thanks for posting.

 

[sandyc]

I used a heat gun when my joy stick froze up.