Snow Frozen joystick in my L5030

[JWR]

Is the tractor stored outside?

Yes, good question. I would not conclude there is water in your system just yet. Some oils get VERY reluctant to move through orifices and get nasty viscosity at low temps. Probably these symptoms never exist when your hydraulic fluid is warm or normal operating temperature. But, that does not answer the question of what the problem is for sure. Those little caps or "cans" that cover the ends of the spools on your remote valves could be the problem as others suggest, BUT those are sealed and I just don't see water getting in there. Might check the bolts on them and if they are not loose it is unlikely you have water in there.

By the way, will the control levers move OK both with and without the problem OR is control lever movement restricted when you have the problem? If there is ice in the spool cans the lever motion would be restricted. There's no fluid moving in those spool cans.

Can the problem be narrowed to one of the 2 remotes or does it involve both ? Seems to me the problem is more likely back on the blower than on the tractor. However, those cylinders or actuators on the blower never get much flow for very long so warm fluid isn't ever going to get to them. Hmmm. Yeah, it would drive me crazy too.

 

[jayhawk238]

Will do TripleR1

 

[jayhawk238]

Is the tractor stored outside?

It's stored in a open ended shed so it is protected from the weather.

 

[jayhawk238]

Yes, good question. I would not conclude there is water in your system just yet. Some oils get VERY reluctant to move through orifices and get nasty viscosity at low temps. Probably these symptoms never exist when your hydraulic fluid is warm or normal operating temperature. But, that does not answer the question of what the problem is for sure. Those little caps or "cans" that cover the ends of the spools on your remote valves could be the problem as others suggest, BUT those are sealed and I just don't see water getting in there. Might check the bolts on them and if they are not loose it is unlikely you have water in there.








By the way, will the control levers move OK both with and without the problem OR is control lever movement restricted when you have the problem? If there is ice in the spool cans the lever motion would be restricted. There's no fluid moving in those spool cans.

Can the problem be narrowed to one of the 2 remotes or does it involve both ? Seems to me the problem is more likely back on the blower than on the tractor. However, those cylinders or actuators on the blower never get much flow for very long so warm fluid isn't ever going to get to them. Hmmm. Yeah, it would drive me crazy too.

The control lever is restricted. It will only move an inch or so in any direction. The problem is in both remotes. If I let the engine run for 30 minutes or sometimes more I can get the blower to go up, but not down, and I can turn the chute to the left but not to the right. If I use my heat gun on them they will eventually work also.

 

[JWR]

OK, that's a good set of clues. That means the steel spools inside of a valve body refuse or resist moving when given significant force by the cables they are attached to. That rules out fluid issues (unless there is water in it.) Might be worth getting the thing inside where it is warm, take off the spool cans and clean them out, make sure the cables and nuts are good and tight, work it back and forth and apply WD-40 everyplace you dare. Any idea what type fluid was put in when it was replaced? Somehow contaminated with water ? While in the warm and dry, inspect the heck outta those actuators on the blower. Good luck.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Sounds like the covers on the spools holding water and rusting or freezing. Take covers off and if rusted oil up and if they have water inside drill a hole in the bottom side of each one and reinstall with hole down.

David

 

[jayhawk238]

OK, that's a good set of clues. That means the steel spools inside of a valve body refuse or resist moving when given significant force by the cables they are attached to. That rules out fluid issues (unless there is water in it.) Might be worth getting the thing inside where it is warm, take off the spool cans and clean them out, make sure the cables and nuts are good and tight, work it back and forth and apply WD-40 everyplace you dare. Any idea what type fluid was put in when it was replaced? Somehow contaminated with water ? While in the warm and dry, inspect the heck outta those actuators on the blower. Good luck.

I changed the fluid and I used Kubota oil.

 

[jayhawk238]

Sounds like the covers on the spools holding water and rusting or freezing. Take covers off and if rusted oil up and if they have water inside drill a hole in the bottom side of each one and reinstall with hole down.

David

When it stops snowing and the temps go up above freezing I plan on checking them. Thank you for your input and suggestions.