Higher chance of equipment damage during frigid temps?

[Piston]

With all this below zero weather we've been having, I've thought about this a lot lately



My father has always taught me to leave equipment alone when it is extremely cold out. The reason being that the steel is more brittle, the hoses are less flexible, the oil thicker, and overall a much better chance at breaking something through normal operation, than if it was more temperate outside.


He used to run heavy equipment of all types and was taught this through his boss. They would take the day off if it was going to be brutally cold out, as to not risk damaging the equipment.


Regardless if it starts easy, you give it time to warm up, and avoid slamming into snow banks as solid as a rock....is it more likely do do damage to our tractors in extremely cold weather?

Aside from when you have to operate, should "playing around" with the tractor wait for warmer weather?

 

[oldnslo]

Sounds like your dad & my dad went to the same school of thought. Why abuse something if it isn't absolutely necessary.

 

[rayclar]

And probably back then there were less machines with heated cabs and the operators didn't want to freeze there cahonies off???

 

[DarkBlack]

I think under circumstances that leave you a choice, you father's advice is good.
When it's real cold here, I let my equipment "rest" if possible. Works for me.

 

[firemech]

Agree with those that say park it when it's cold. worked for a while drilling water wells. Had lots of cast iron part failures in the winter regardless of how we warmed or tried to protect equipment; but could run all summer with seldom more than bit and cable changes. Now I do what I have to when its below freezing and play all day in the warm weather

 

[diesel lover]

I'm a heavy duty truck mechanic and do plowing for our fleet terminal. I use two highway plow trucks, a f250 and a kamatsu pay loader. Well we were moving dollys (Jiffs, convertors, the single axle unit to hook between two trailers has a fifth wheel). It was -14 last night with wind chill to lower than -35. These dollys have a 5/8 inch safety chain or 3/4 much bigger than 1/2 inch. Too heavy to hook pintle hook to dolly so hooked to 5/8 or 3/4 chain. Did NOT jerk on it but eased onto it and dolly rolled into solid ice bank. The U bolt holding the chain on broke instantly !! I was so puzzled. Good thing it broke now and not during a trailer seperation. Ouch!!! Never imagined such a thing. Metal is very brittle at those temps!

Been using this komatsu pay loader to pull out our semi trucks especially when they are super stuck and hooked to doubles. I have a therory to add here. I personally use stretchable straps to pull with but all we have at work is chains. I'm still shocked about this. Been yanking on stuck trucks with a 5/16 (grade 43 or 70) chain and it has worked these trucks loose. When I am forced to pull them from a 45 deg angle the entire truck rocks and rocks! I do pull the trucks from solid ice and to a plowed flat area. Although I really do not approve of yanking on a chain EVER its what I'm instructed to do at work. I had a 5/16 chain wrapped 3 times around a trucks removeable front hook and when I gave a good yank the chain sparked really brightly!!!! It tightened all the slack from around the hook removing some metal like a bench grinder would.


Truck was dead yesturday and had a guy using the pay loader to plow with so I grabbed the 84' international plow truck. Hooked a chain to truck only no trailer but was an non moveable load possibly. Tried pulled and pulling on the truck but my tires broke loose on the ice. So lightly yanked and did it again then yanked hard and the 3/8 chain I grabbed broke!! It was in the plow truck in the somewhat warm cab. Maybe being in the cold over night it was more suseptable to break from being brittle. I was shocked to break a 3/8 chain and not a 5/16 chain. The 3/8 chain we doubled all except for a few links and that's where the chain broke. I always store the 5/16 chain in the truck shop then grab it to use while its warm


So whats the deal here? The cold makes the strongest metals break! I can't believe I broke a large u bolt and 3/8 chain last night. And warning never yank hard or at all with a chain!!! I never do on personal equipment. Its dangerous. I only use straps that stretch. During the stretching of a strap it multiplys energy to the stuck vehicle like a rubber band effect. It bounces and will not hurt a thing. I have seen half ton and 3/4 ton pickups pull out semi trucks with these straps. Chains when jerked on don't multiply much torque

 

[Piston]

Sounds like all your thoughts back up everything I was taught. It makes sense of course, guess I'll make it a point to avoid using the equipment unless needed when it's crazy cold out. Although, not having a cab doesn't exactly make me want to get out and "play" anyways, even thought he heated jacket and gloves I use keep me warm, it's no substitute for a cab!

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I think short cuts are more tempting to take in the cold to save some time added with the extra brittleness of objects and things tend to break. Throw in some ice either internally or externally and things get interesting. I try and only work outside when something needs done instead of just out and about playing. Plugging the machine in and using glowplugs or grid heaters helps things get moving easier but is no substitute for warmer weather. Only really good thing about sub 32 degree weather is there is alot less mud!

 

[Piston]

I just ordered a blow heater from Messicks this morning. At least when I need to start the equipment it will like me a little more now

 

[cartod]

I leave my eqt alone when its crazy cold out, except if I have it in the heated garage. Then, I run it til its warm and take it outside into the elements.