How long do warm HST in winter?

[ccsial]

I just recently bought an L3400 HST. The only other HST I have is a JD diesel lawn tractor. The L3400 manual suggests warming the engine from 10 to 30 minutes depending on temperature. The JD manual does not mention this. I usually warm the JD for 5 minutes if it is below 20. Just wondering what experience others have had with this.

 

[curt1]

I own a L3130 HST which I usually let warm for about 10 minutes or so in the Winter. Of course, I am sure it gets a lot colder where you live. Here, it may reach 5-10 degrees on some of the colder day's. It rarely get's much colder.

Curt

 

[Lockport]

I live on the prairies in Canada. This'll be 1st winter with a BX2230. At 0 degress I will idle at least 5 minutes, at -20 or colder at least 15 minutes. Your manual should have some recomendations as well.

Good luck /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[SeymourBota]

I think it depends partly on which hydro fluid you use. If you use Super UDT, it shouldn't take more than 5 minutes to warm up, even if it is below zero. I have never warmed my 2410 for longer than that.

 

[DaveInColorado]

Why? It'll warm up quickly as soon as you start using it. I run mine very lightly for a few minutes before really pushing a lot of snow. If it sits and idles for 15 minutes I might have to go inside and watch TV where it is warm. Then I forget about it and it might idle until after lunch.

 

[Av8r3400]

You should never let it idle at minimum RPM for longer than it takes to make oil pressure. You should mediately increase the RPMs to 12-1500 to add enough fuel to allow the motor to warm. At minimum idle there is so little fuel going into the motor, it may never warm, in fact it may "super-cool" which is when the fuel condenses on the cylinder walls, washing the oil film off, ruining the motor.

Diesels need fuel to make heat. There isn't enough fuel being used at minimum RPM to do this when it is extremely cold outside (below 20° F or so).

The best bet is to start the tractor, let it "high" idle for only a few minutes to warm the motor's oil, then move it around easy exercising the hydraulics to warm their oil. By then the motor should be ready for full RPMs.

 

[ccsial]

The book calls for 15 minutes at 0F degrees, 20-30 minutes at -20F. That seemed long to me. I'll be using super UDT and It sounds as if 5 minutes will do it down to 0F. We don't often get much below that and have snow too. I had a block heater installed for the engine.

I am aware of running the engine at around 1500 RPM, not idle. I installed a fast idle on my Dodge Cummins for warm up.

 

[gsxr1100]

I agree.

Start it up..Let idle for like 30 sec to 1 min then kick up to about 1200 rpms...Then let it idle.

 

[frank_f15]

I ususally let mine idel at about 1200 RPM for about 5 to 10 min before i start to use it in could weather.

 

[hdbikercouple]

i do what we do with the farm eq.
let idle for a minute then up the prms as said. then put it in netural. but push on the petal to have the oil mov in the tranny, for a couple of minutes.

 

[john_bud]

I would definitely use the Super UDT or the Amsoil equivalent if you are going to use the tractor when it's cold. -10F or colder. If you don't the HST filter can leak. My 3410 did it twice, dumping 5+ gal of hydro fluid each time. Both times were with UDT, temps below -20F and after warming the engine up.

Heating the engine WON'T heat the HST much at all. So, when heating the engine at 12-1500, use the clutch hold down. That will keep from building pressure in the HST. After the engine is warm, let the clutch in and see how much drag there is. Let it pump for a while (5-10 min) and then go.

 

[ccsial]

I will be using the Super UDT. I had to go look to see if my L3400 had a clutch hold down. It does and I'll use it. I'm thinking I'll set the engine back to Idle when I engage the clutch, then after a few minutes increase it 1200. If it gets below 0F and I need the tractor I can always run the portable heater in the building for 4 or 5 hours to take the edge off.

I understand that the block heater won't warm the hydraulics. If they made a hydraulic oil preheater I'd have one installed.

Thanks All.

 

[johnday]

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They do make a heating type pad for the hydro oil. I think Tractor Supply handles them. There was a post on here about them a while back. Try a search. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Thanks All. )</font>

 

[ccsial]

I'll look for those heating pads. I found a pad I used on my 355D since they don't make a block heater for the 2 cylinder Yanmar diesel. The pad is 50 watts and really does not do much. There is not much of an area to mount it to so I couldn't go to bigger wattage levels. I use heat lamps on it too. I need to check out a hose type heater for it.

A pad for the L3400 would have to be pretty good size. I have to see if there is a flat area big enough to attach it to. A couple of 500 watt heat lamps underneath may help too. They need to be about 18 inches away.

 

[ZackaryMac]

Last winter was my first winter for the B6100. We had our share of cold and snow here. I run regular UDT in my tractor, and using it in -20C temps didn't pose any problems. I don't give it long warm up times, just a few minutes at high idle, and away it goes to work, always without complaint, in true Kubota style!

Just my 2¢ worth.