Ck3510hst hydraulic pressure getting weak?

[tallfreak]

I have put about 53 hours on my new Kioti, and maybe I'm crazy but I feel like it's getting weaker.

I have the industrial tires filled with washer fluid and I feel like I used to be able to spin tires in 4 wheel drive in low where now I can't. If I'm pulling my 6ft land plane with the tines all the way down in dirt it will be too much for the tractor to pull. Most of the time it will spin one front and one rear and when I lock the rear diff it will just bog the engine. I normally run at 2500 rpm.

Am i being paranoid? I have read other threads about the pump going into relief if the relief valve is adjusted too low, but I don't know how to tell when it opens. Would it bog the engine if the relief valve was being opened? I haven't done it but I'm pretty sure I could kill the engine if I kept pushing the pedal.

 

[rademamj1]

Hard to diagnose a specific hydraulic problem from your description. Double check your hydraulic fluid levels first. Also try eliminate some causes of loss of power not related to hydraulics.

Has your tractor been doing its emmission control regen's successfully? If not, then its possible your loss of power could mean your tractor is in "limp mode" until a regen cleans out your DPF. You need to evaluate that possibility.

Also consider soil conditions. Here in Texas right now it is hot, and the soil is very dry and hard right now. No soil moisture makes it incredibly hard to pull any plow, box blade or even a land plane to turn over the soil. And so your tractor is struggling to pull these implements through the soil. The more clay in your soil, the more like concrete it becomes during the summer.

 

[tallfreak]

The fluid level is fine. I was wating until after my 50 hour service to make this post just in case it made it better.

The last time it regened was about 30 hours. I'm at 53 now so its probably due soon.

I know hard clay is going to be too much for the tractor to pull 6 tines and a 6 foot blade through, but I feel like when it was new it had more torque.

Maybe im crazy. Its probably all in my head

 

[rademamj1]

My CK4010 does Regens about every 27 hours like clockwork. No issues so far with emissions. Sometimes bad diesel will create a definite loss of power, and may last until you burn it out of the tank. If your diesel is fine, then consider adding a Centane booster to your fuel. This can typically increase engine power from 5 to 10%. It can be noticeable increase.

Also, if you run your tractor with large time gaps in usage, like for example its been 2 months since your last use, your perception of how your tractor performs can definitely change. Things like engine sounds, FEL performance, and even tractor power levels can change based on your memory perception. I know its happened to me, and always takes me a full week of working with the tractor, to get back in touch with my tractor. So I am not laughing when you say you maybe crazy....

 

[Amvcane]

What range are you operating in? H M L

 

[tallfreak]

I am talking about low gear. I know medium doesn't have the torque to break traction.

 

[justman777]

I think you should be able to spin the tires in low. How is the rest of your hydraulics doing? Can you still lift items you used to lift easily?

 

[tallfreak]

I haven't had to lift anything heavy in a while. I've got the grapple on it and some big logs. I'll try to pick them up today and let you know

 

[tallfreak]

I just picked up 3 large logs about 11 inches in diameter and 18 ft long, 6 inches and 15 feet long, and 8 inches and 7 feet long. Plus my very heavy grapple thats probably 400 alone. I tried to upload a picture but I dont have permission.

I was thinking about it earlier. I don't have much experience with tractors so I think I'm thinking of it like what would happen pulling something immovable with a truck. You would get flex in the frame and suspension so there would be some signs of struggle. With the tractor everything is rigid so it just stops. Maybe that's why I think its weak.

 

[rademamj1]

Hey that's really great! I think your tractor's hydraulic power is doing just fine, just need to have confidence in your tractors capability and performance.

 

[tallfreak]

Thanks for the help guys. I'm still trying to figure all of this tractor stuff out. So far I really like operating it. Turn on some music in my work tunes and kind of zone out. Its relaxing.

 

[tallfreak]

I hate to bring this back up but I really feel like its down on power. I'll explain what was happening this weekend.

I was digging into the side of a slope to make a level spot for a fire pit area. The ground was somewhat hard but I was going about 4 inches deep at a time. I would have to mash the pedal down almost all the way to get any decent power to the wheels. On flat level ground I can just barely press the forward or reverse pedal and move slowly, but any resistance like going up an incline to pulling or pushing something i have to give it much more pedal.

Its my understanding that the transmission should provide full torque at any pedal position. So with the pedal only slightly pressed I should travel slowly but still have full torque when resistance is met. Am i correct?

I just watched a Messicks video on YouTube that makes me think i have a problem. I still have plenty of warranty but I don't want to waste mine or the dealers time for nothing.

Is it possible my relief valve is stuck partially open?

 

[crashz]

Actually, the pedal acts opposite. The "slower" you go, the MORE torque you should have at the wheels. But watch your tires here. My machine is very sneaky. I'll be thinking the same thing, about running out of power, and all along my tires are spinning. The tires dig in so smoothly, you can't feel it.

Something else to consider: I could be off base, but the filters for HST and/or hydraulics are on the intake side. If they are plugged up with machining debris, you could be starving your HST pump and not receiving full pressure and flow. Have you done the 50 hr service?

 

[tallfreak]

Actually, the pedal acts opposite. The "slower" you go, the MORE torque you should have at the wheels. But watch your tires here. My machine is very sneaky. I'll be thinking the same thing, about running out of power, and all along my tires are spinning. The tires dig in so smoothly, you can't feel it.

Something else to consider: I could be off base, but the filters for HST and/or hydraulics are on the intake side. If they are plugged up with machining debris, you could be starving your HST pump and not receiving full pressure and flow. Have you done the 50 hr service?

I just did the 50 hour service, but u noticed it before I did the service. I specifically waited until after the service to see if it got better. It is extremely rare for me to be able to spin the tires especially in 4 wheel drive.

 

[tallfreak]

Maybe I should make a video of what I'm experiencing. Maybe that will clear up some confusion

 

[tallfreak]

I got a video but i guess i cant load it on here for whatever reason.

My understanding is the engine is spinning a pump and that pump is driving a hydraulic motor. The more I push the pedal the more fluid the pump delivers to the motor. So it seems to me if I was on a high traction surface trying to pull an immovable object (like I am in the video) the engine should start to bog even with light pedal pressure. My tractor doesn't do that. I can sit there all day with light forward pedal and no engine bog and no signs of straining.

I did the same test in loose gravel and the tires will spin until they dig down to dirt where they stop.

 

[rademamj1]

I was thinking you had this HST power loss resolved. I am out of ideas for resolving your problem. But there is an currently an ongoing thread of Mahindra tractor which also lost HST power, but maintains good hydraulic power to the FEL. Likewise, no one seems to have specific solutions. Has your 3pt lifting power been affected by the apparent loss of HST transmission power??

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=429923

 

[tallfreak]

I was thinking you had this HST power loss resolved. I am out of ideas for resolving your problem. But there is an currently an ongoing thread of Mahindra tractor which also lost HST power, but maintains good hydraulic power to the FEL. Likewise, no one seems to have specific solutions. Has your 3pt lifting power been affected by the apparent loss of HST transmission power??

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=429923

The FEL and 3 point seem fine. It might be time to take it in. I hate to waste their time if its just me not knowing.

Am I correct that there should be some signs of strain like a whine and/or rpm drop with light pedal pressure in a high traction high load situation?

One thing I did notice tonight while checking fluid levels again is the hydraulic oil had a lot of bubbles in it after running for only a few minutes and driving forward and backward a few feet. Bad enough that I could see bubbles on the dipstick.

Other than that all fluid levels are fine. Air filter is clean, fuel filter is free of water. Its the original filter and i only have 60 hours. I dont feel like its an engine power problem anyway.