Warming up the Tractor Before Use??

[Kubota 2350]

It's getting that time of year again for the cold weather. This question is for my JD4310 Ehydro.

Do any of you guy's use one of those magnetic heaters on the rear axle on their tractors to pre heat the hydro oil?

Last year I could run the tractor for an hour before you could feel any heat from the axle where the oil is.
I let the tractor warm up for 5-10 minutes before working it,

Does cold hydro oil damage anything?

 

[PILOON]

I'd suspect that the rear axel housing is aluminun and therefore magnet heater would not work. Could be wrong but have noticed that a lot of those transaxels are.
On the other hand do we ever heat our auto differentials?
Think that is your answer.

Suggest slow movement for the first mins of operation would be the order of the day, besides hydro is a hydraulic pumping situation and just normal operation will have oil circulating and that in itself will warm up the fluids.

I'd say not to worry otherwise tha factory would have provisions fo preheat and or options for such.

 

[bp fick]

Agreed. Difficult to use magnetic heater on trans.

Best one can do is:

1. Use a block heater on engine.
2. Use proper 5w-40 or 10w-30 oil.
3. Warm up engine and then putter about, moving slowly, but engaging the hydro/trans systems. Get the juices moving gently and slowly, but get them moving. They'll warm faster by using them. Sitting in place, doing nothing, takes far too long.
4. Use a very low vis fluid in hydro. Worth the extra bucks for SUDT for Kubota or Low-Vis for Deere equivalent when it is zero F outside.

 

[Kubota 2350]

The center part of the axle is steel so a magnet will stick to it.
Tractor just seems to make a lot of noise when it's cold, and I just don't want to wreck anything.
Like I said I do let it warm for 5-10 minutes before using it, hopefully that's enough.

I do use the HI-Gard low Viscosity oil, from JD

 

[KPark]

With an open-center hydraulic system you shouldn't have to do anything to get the fluids moving. They move all the time. Fluids warm up quicker when under load due to energy transfer, but I agree with the 5 to 10 minute "let 'er get used to running" rule before doing anything strenuous.

 

[Kubota 2350]

Thanks for the help guy's, just don't want to damage my baby.
Cost too much money to fix or replace.

 

[firefighter9208]

I don't think that the heat will even transfer through the differential in 5-10 minutes, let alone warm the fluid.

I have a 99 F250 with a block heater (in the anitfreeze) and it takes 3 or more hours for the water to heat to warm. And this is with a 1500 watt heater.

Chris

 

[Kubota 2350]

I don't think that the heat will even transfer through the differential in 5-10 minutes, let alone warm the fluid.

I have a 99 F250 with a block heater (in the anitfreeze) and it takes 3 or more hours for the water to heat to warm. And this is with a 1500 watt heater.

Chris

So do you think I should let it warm up longer?
I don't worry about the engine as much as the hydro system for the drive.
Wonder if cold oil will even hurt it?

 

[firefighter9208]

What does it say in your book???

My Kubota M4800 says to set the throttle to 1/2 before cranking in cold weather and to let the tractor warm up before operating (paraphrasing here).

If I do this the temperature hand will come up within 2 minutes and everything works well. If I don't there's a lot of moaning and groaning from the tractor.

I usually slightly move the throttle lever, pre-heat the glow plugs, and crank the tractor. I then set it to idle at about 1200 rpm.

Works well for me, but it doesn't get that cold here in Alabama.

I would think that it would take several hours for a magnetic heater to heat the fluid through the transmission case. A lot depends on the wattage of the heater.
Chris

 

[Kubota 2350]

My Kubota has a chart for warm up time for different temps in the manual, JD doesn't really go into any detail, just says to let it warm up.

 

[bp fick]

I plow snow and do others chores in zero F temps. Fact of life up here.

Again, idling for 5 minutes is fine, but at some point, move the tractor, gently. Move it outside. Forward and reverse a little bit. Exercise the FEL or snow blade. Get it operating and it will warm up much faster. Kinda like stretching stiff muscles.

Don't attack anything until temps reach normal on the gauge.

It's a tractor. It'll be fine. These machines are thoroughly tested in arctic conditions by the Big 4 OEMs. They spend a lot of money on R & D.

Use common sense and you aren't going to hurt it. Baby HSTs whine. Just like human babies. Kinda their nature.

 

[bill in ny]

i run a 70,000 btu space heater on mine for 15min. makes a big difference.

 

[beenthere]

I've had my JD4300 for going on 12 years, and never hesitate to move in the dead of winter. Not a whole lot of difference sitting and idling vs moving, IMO.

As soon as the engine fires up, the oil is pumping through the dual pumps. I've not noticed any appreciable slowness to things working when cold. Within the first 100 ft. of pushing snow, we are good to go.

But then, mine is in a non-heated shed and the temps have been -20 deg and above, so not as severe as if I were in Canada or AK.
Have never used or thought about using a heater.

 

[Cidertom]

In the jd manual on the hst I have, it cautions to allow the hst/hydraulic to warm up before use.

I found I have to block the radiator on the 4520 to get it's engine to come up to op temp on those cold-cold days.

I can remember having a "horse blanket" on a tractor we used for snow removal on a comm site. I also remember trying hard not to be the one to have to use it.

 

[RoyJackson]

I always give it about 5 minutes idle (1200-1500 RPM) prior to putting any load on the machine...
Is it necessary? Dunno, but it makes me feel better.