GC1710 TLB - few tractor questions

[LevesqueOnline]

Good Day I had a few questions around winter.

1) I just removed my backhoe went away on and trip and came back and the legs lost their pressure it seems so it didnt stand up by itself? is that normal?

2) I got a cord run out for the block heater, it gets as cold as -30 to -35 here at its coldest in the winter, how many hours should i run the block heater, assuming i shouldnt leave it plugged in all the time?

 

[frugalangler]

Good Day I had a few questions around winter.

1) I just removed my backhoe went away on and trip and came back and the legs lost their pressure it seems so it didnt stand up by itself? is that normal?

Yes, mine does that, I put a couple of 4X4s under the platform to keep it from dropping into the grass/dirt/gravel. That is normal.

2) I got a cord run out for the block heater, it gets as cold as -30 to -35 here at its coldest in the winter, how many hours should i run the block heater, assuming i shouldnt leave it plugged in all the time?

Generally, block heaters are a starting aid, not anti-freeze. You should ALWAYS keep sufficient anti-freeze in them. From what I've herd, usually no more than an hour is needed to get it warm enough to fire, but at those temps with any wind it may take longer.

 

[LouNY]

Couldn't tell you on the backhoe, but not real surprising.
On the block heater it depends on when your going to need it and if you can turn it on remotely or not.
We run ours 2-3 hours before we will need the tractor using timers, if we may need it at a different time its
more difficult, storm forecast where it may be need immediately may have it cycle on 2 hours off 3 hours, and hope it's timed good.

 

[LevesqueOnline]

appreciate the responses all thank you!

 

[AxleHub]

appreciate the responses all thank you!

Levesque, western Wisconsin certainly can get cold too, but I don't run my tractor unless it's -20 or warmer so -30 0r -35 is not my issue. I've never had my heater running longer than 1 hour. The whole idea is to make starting easier and a half hour at 10 degrees or an hour at 0 or below is fine for starting. And my tractor sits outside.

Now I'm saying "starting" because you want to run the engine awhile before moving in cold temps and you want to raise and lower the fel or 3pt too abunch before moving the tractor. You want hydraulic fluid warming and moving before wheels and tires are turning.

 

[Fiziksgeek]

Levesque, western Wisconsin certainly can get cold too, but I don't run my tractor unless it's -20 or warmer so -30 0r -35 is not my issue. I've never had my heater running longer than 1 hour. The whole idea is to make starting easier and a half hour at 10 degrees or an hour at 0 or below is fine for starting. And my tractor sits outside.

Now I'm saying "starting" because you want to run the engine awhile before moving in cold temps and you want to raise and lower the fel or 3pt too a bunch before moving the tractor. You want hydraulic fluid warming and moving before wheels and tires are turning.

To echo that, just because the engine is warm and ready to go, doesn't mean the hydro is ready to go. My tractor is shed kept, no heat, but its in the from cold, and my cold is not as bad as your cold by far! When I start the tractor, I run the rear PTO (I have the front blower attached to the mid PTO) while I get the double doors opened and clear the snow. Then I'll cycle through the hydraulic functions a couple times before I start moving. I've been thinking about getting one of those silicone pad heaters to warm up the hydro at the same time as the engine block heater is on.

I also switched to full synthetic fluids, probably overkill for me, at your temps, might be a good idea!

 

[irvingj]

Me, too... I'll let the block heater run for longer, sometimes as much as three hours, before starting... BUT always let it run for some time before using, depending on temp. Hydraulic fluid needs to warm up, too!

As far as the backhoe, yes, that's normal. If you have a hydraulic shop make up three extra hoses, around 24" long, you can then operate the BH hydraulics while the tractor is still a couple of feet away - no more fighting in a small space to connect & disconnect. That will also enable you to set the BH down on its bottom (I use a wood block to keep it a few inches off the ground), and then fully retract the stabilizer arms. I used to store it like you, but found the same problem-- the arms will slowly retract and the BH will begin to tip.

Here's a couple before & after pics of my BH in storage.

PS-- when operating the BH, those three extra hoses tuck right into the space beneath the BH and pose no problem. You can see them in the second pic.

 

[dnw64]

I have a Kasa TP Link that I can turn on remotely with my smartphone to power my block heater. That way I don't have to put my boots on and go out in the cold. Yes, I'm lazy. But I always heard it's better to work smarter, not harder...

TP-Link Smart Plug, No Hub Required, Wi-Fi, Control your Devices from Anywhere, Works with Alexa and Google Assistant (HS1) (Certified Refurbished) - - Amazon.com