HST tranny's in the cold???

[jgrreed]

Hi,

I just noticed JD offers a tranny warmer on their options page. I'm wondering a couple things.

1. Do any on you with HST drive machine have a transmission fluid warmer/heater to plug it in prior to use in the cold??

2. Is there any harm done in not having one? I'm always gentle on my machine in the cold for the first 5 to 10 minutes of use anyway.

3. Does the tranny 'warmup' while the tractor is idling, or does it need to be in motion to actually be 'warming up'??

Thanks,

-Jer.

 

[Mighty Dodge]

Well I've never had an issue with it being too cold. It may get to single digits around here a few times in January. I've never used a heater. I just let it idle for a few minutes before using the tractor and go easy the first five to ten minutes. The fluid wont really heat up until you start using the tractor. I see you're in the great white north how cold does it get? I'd think if it gets down to single digits a heater might not be a bad idea. What does you manual say regarding cold weather operation?

M.D.

 

[jgrreed]

Well I've never had an issue with it being too cold. It may get to single digits around here a few times in January. I've never used a heater. I just let it idle for a few minutes before using the tractor and go easy the first five to ten minutes. The fluid wont really heat up until you start using the tractor. I see you're in the great white north how cold does it get? I'd think if it gets down to single digits a heater might not be a bad idea. What does you manual say regarding cold weather operation?

M.D.

It can occasionally get to -40 deg C (-40deg F), but usually about -10 degC (14deg F).

The manual.....good idea!! This TBN thing has become so easy to get answers on that I forgot about that.

I was out last night at about 5deg F and the tranny ran a bit sluggish for the first 10 minutes or so, but then was fine. I had the engine block heater plugged in all day and it started like it was the middle of summer!!

-Jer.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Shoot the easiest way to solve that problem is to move south about 200 miles. Frost your cookies off with that kind of cold!

 

[Egon]

move south about 200 miles

He'll still get the same temperatures.

A warm transmission may be easier to turn over in cold weather. Warm initial fluid will not hurt in any case.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

I was hoping 200 miles would get him down around Arizona or someplace like that with decent winter temps.. You artic Circle folks I take my hat off to you!

 

[Egon]

He's gotta spend a couple of days or maybe three driving to get to Arizona.

 

[WilliamBos]

He's gotta spend a couple of days or maybe three driving to get to Arizona.

Yeah, and if you make a wrong turn, you can drive an entire day and not leave the province.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Yeah, and if you make a wrong turn, you can drive an entire day and not leave the province.

You hate asking for directions to I take it?

 

[jgrreed]

Well not quite arctic circle, but it can be chilly. It actually makes summer more enjoyable..... not kidding. I grew up in Saskatchewan which can have stretches (2+weeks) of -25 to -30 degC anytime from November 'til April. I now live just east of the Rockies and get the 'Chinook' effect (not sure if Wyoming and Colorado get those or not) so it can be -25C today, and +15C tomorrow (no exaggeration). Then there's a melt, and it's muddy, and it feels like spring, in January!!!

A small part of me actually misses getting snow in November, and it staying 'til early May!! Weird I know, but......

IMO Christmas should be white, fall should smell like harvest and have every color imaginable in the trees, spring should have that 'spring' smell, I should have snow to push around with my 4720, and I hope my kids (when they come) will always be able to skate on the pond!!

Google maps says 1902 miles to Phoenix......

How did this become a weather forum??

-Jer.

 

[jgrreed]

Well not quite arctic circle, but it can be chilly. It actually makes summer more enjoyable..... not kidding. I grew up in Saskatchewan which can have stretches (2+weeks) of -25 to -30 degC anytime from November 'til April. I now live just east of the Rockies and get the 'Chinook' effect (not sure if Wyoming and Colorado get those or not) so it can be -25C today, and +15C tomorrow (no exaggeration). Then there's a melt, and it's muddy, and it feels like spring, in January!!!

A small part of me actually misses getting snow in November, and it staying 'til early May!! Weird I know, but......

IMO Christmas should be white, fall should smell like harvest and have every color imaginable in the trees, spring should have that 'spring' smell, I should have snow to push around with my 4720, and I hope my kids (when they come) will always be able to skate on the pond!!

Google maps says 1902 miles to Phoenix......

How did this become a weather forum??

-Jer.

 

[jinman]

I think you'd be okay down to about 0 degrees F. After that, I think not only the transmission, but also many seals will become hardened and more apt to fail or leak. Running the engine will not warm up hydraulic fluid very quickly. Since the main hydraulic pump is operating into an open-center system and the HST is only being circulated by the charge pump, it will take much longer to heat up the 7 to 10 gallons of fluid your tractor has. Keeping your tractor inside a heated space is the best solution. Having a heater for the hydraulic/HST fluid would be the next best in my opinion.

 

[WilliamBos]

You hate asking for directions to I take it?

that depends on what she looks like!!

 

[Lone Oak Landscaping]

My JD 4110 has amost 3000 hrs on it and has plowed every winter of it's life diong just as you described , let her warm up and go easy on it , untill it warms up.
The ony problem I have had in the winter is the fenders are just about gone from the salt on the roads , I have tried everything -rinsing it off- salt away- fluid film - wd - fuel etc. But no problems with the hydro as long as the trans lines don't rust off next

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Lone Oak that sounds like "opportunity knocking". You can make a bundle of money by forming fiberglass or plastic fenders for your tractors out that way. Or start a spray coating business where you spray coat fenders with that Rhino liner or linex before the fenders are eaten away.

 

[jgrreed]

My JD 4110 has amost 3000 hrs on it and has plowed every winter of it's life diong just as you described , let her warm up and go easy on it , untill it warms up.
The ony problem I have had in the winter is the fenders are just about gone from the salt on the roads , I have tried everything -rinsing it off- salt away- fluid film - wd - fuel etc. But no problems with the hydro as long as the trans lines don't rust off next

OK, thanks for that, appreciate it.

 

[WilliamBos]

Lone Oak that sounds like "opportunity knocking". You can make a bundle of money by forming fiberglass or plastic fenders for your tractors out that way. Or start a spray coating business where you spray coat fenders with that Rhino liner or linex before the fenders are eaten away.

Rust check them, just like we do with cars.

 

[john_bud]

Actually, you should warm the tractor up for the first 10 min (at -20 to -40C) with the clutch down. You should be parking it with the clutch dogged down (should be a lever or clip to hold it down). The hydraulic pump will gently warm the fluid up some. Then drive it slow until it warms up. If the tractor squeals when you use the loader when cold,you may want to think about switching to a lower viscosity or synthetic fluid. JD does make fluid for your temperatures. A magnetic oil pan heater on the transmission housing would pretty much solve it.

The only "damage" may be if the pre-charge pump over pressures the HST filter and blows out the gasket. Kubota's had that issue (so did FNH) 5-10 years ago. Newer stronger filter housings solved it. I don't know if JD's had the issue or not.

 

[jgrreed]

Actually, you should warm the tractor up for the first 10 min (at -20 to -40C) with the clutch down. You should be parking it with the clutch dogged down (should be a lever or clip to hold it down). The hydraulic pump will gently warm the fluid up some. Then drive it slow until it warms up. If the tractor squeals when you use the loader when cold,you may want to think about switching to a lower viscosity or synthetic fluid. JD does make fluid for your temperatures. A magnetic oil pan heater on the transmission housing would pretty much solve it.

The only "damage" may be if the pre-charge pump over pressures the HST filter and blows out the gasket. Kubota's had that issue (so did FNH) 5-10 years ago. Newer stronger filter housings solved it. I don't know if JD's had the issue or not.

What Clutch??? Mine's the tractor for Simpletons: Left foot go forward, right foot go back......

-J.

-J.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Well not quite arctic circle, but it can be chilly. It Google maps says 1902 miles to Phoenix......

-Jer.

Now we can see why Geography was not my strongest subject in school.