JD 5420 Mid-mount SCV Freezing-up

[burnetma]

The mid-mount SCV's that are used to control my FEL have been freezing up. When I first start the machine, the valves will not move. I can not even rotate them by hand. After the unit runs for a period of time and the fluid warms up, the valves will eventually work free. The three point system works fine all of the time. Interestingly, the top valve seems to freeze up more often. This morning for example, the lower valve (bucket curl) worked fine, but the upper valve (bucket lift) would not move. The tractor only has 200 hours and is used primarily as a bucket tractor outside of haying season.
Questions:
1. Is it possible that the seals on the valve are pulling in atmospheric moisture and then freezing?

2. Can I test the hydraulic/trans fluid for moisture?

3. How can I get water out of the system, if there is water in the system?

 

[jd110]

My best guess is you have moisture in the control cable or in the valve spring cap. If you have any appreciable amount of moisture in the oil, the oil should look milky on the dipstick, if there is no moisture, it should be a clear, light amber in color. If the cables have moisture in them, The best solution would be to install new ones. You might be able to pull back the rubber boots on the ends of the cables and spray some lube in them to help, but if the moisture got in there in the first place, It will probably get in there again. If you have moisture in the valve cap, I would take them apart and clean and lubricate all of the parts, then reassemble.

 

[burnetma]

Once again you were right! Moisture in the valve cap. The service tech is looking into a modification of the cap to prevent this from happening in the future. I guess it has been done on other models with some success. No real big deal to fix otherwise. I will just add it to my maintenance checklist.

Its funny, I fought with an old IH 350 Utility for years and got to know every trick to keep it running right. Now I have to learn all the tricks of this new tractor. No big deal, just time and experience. Also can not be afraid to tear into it a bit, but it is brand new...

Thanks again.