Hydrostatic transmission bad in cold weather?

[northpolefolks]

I am getting close to purchasing a new 45-50hp class tractor and was leaning on the hydrostatic transmission. That is until yesterday.

A friend has a newer tractor, similar size, and he can hardly get the thing moving in real cold weather (-20 farenheit). His two other tractors, 75hp and 130hp, are the same year and both have shuttle transmissions. They work just fine in cold weather comparibly. We loaded some round bales on my trailer yesterday with his 75hp w/shuttle but his hydrostatic tractor only rolled out of the way and back into the barn when we were done.

Have any of you had this problem with your hydrostatic transmissions?

Oh, by the way, the dealer said "warm it up in neutral for about an hour first". He did and not real change. He plugs his tractors in (block heater/circ pump) for about an hour prior to firing and no problems.

Thanks for any info you have.

 

[bp fick]

Don't know where you're located, but I'll be plowing the snow tomorrow. Overnight low will be below zero F-scale. I'd likely be 5 or 6 when I start.

I say that because HST's work in 10's of 1000's of tractors up here in the frozen north country. Work just fine.

That said, there are some things that need to be done and I recommend from my experience. First, a block heater for the engine is great!!!
While the engine is warming up, life and lower the FEL a half dozen times to get the hydro fluid moving. Slowly back out of the shop. All this mixes the fluid, It is going to take some time to get up to temperature, even when the engine is warm. Transferring that warmth to the HST takes a bit. Don't rush. It's under considerable pump pressures.

Finally, use a low, multi-weight fluid such as Kubota SUDT-2 or Deere's best ultra low viscosity, multi-viscosity fluid. (name escapes me). Or, a Chevron synthetic, or similar. You won't regret it.

If you live up here and must use your machine, using some generic universal tractor fluid may save you a buck or two, but it just isn't worth it.

My hands and feet are plenty busy enough when plowing snow and my head's on a swivel around buildings, cars, traffic, etc. Last thing I'd want to do is shift and clutch, thank you very much. In short? I love my HST in zero weather and snow plowing. You just have to understand how it works, what it needs and it'll outlive a clutch. Splitting a tractor to replace a clutch isn't exactly cheap either. Just sayin'. My $.02

 

[bp fick]

Your friend's tractor isn't right. Short answer.

 

[grsthegreat]

Ya, something else is wrong with it. I have run my HST in -10F weather BEFORE i installed a heating device for the block and the HST transmission.

The HST groaned a bit, but after about 5 minutes of running at high idle, it ran just fine.

Now i have a glue on heater for the HST unit and i dont get ANY noise upon start up after a 1-2 hour preheat.

I started it last week when it was 5F, and it did not groan at all and moved right out after 1 hours warm-up.

 

[aczlan]

We have a B7500 and a BX2660, both have HST and we have never had any issues with running them in the cold.

Aaron Z

 

[boomer1025]

I am getting close to purchasing a new 45-50hp class tractor and was leaning on the hydrostatic transmission. That is until yesterday.

A friend has a newer tractor, similar size, and he can hardly get the thing moving in real cold weather (-20 farenheit). His two other tractors, 75hp and 130hp, are the same year and both have shuttle transmissions. They work just fine in cold weather comparibly. We loaded some round bales on my trailer yesterday with his 75hp w/shuttle but his hydrostatic tractor only rolled out of the way and back into the barn when we were done.

Have any of you had this problem with your hydrostatic transmissions?

Oh, by the way, the dealer said "warm it up in neutral for about an hour first". He did and not real change. He plugs his tractors in (block heater/circ pump) for about an hour prior to firing and no problems.

Thanks for any info you have.

What kind of oil & filters is being used in the hydro tranny ?
The oil that came from the factory in mine was 10W30 non synthetic. I switched to a 5W30 synthetic & the filters are rated for cold weather operation.
-20 is very cold for non synthetic oil with out an oil heater of some kind
If is cold out after I start the tractor, i'll hold one of the hydro pedals down some and let the oil circulate and warm up a bit while the engine warms up some.
I'm glad it don't get that cold here very often.

 

[grsthegreat]

Then again...the op's nick is northpolefolks.... so maybe the -20 is a balmy day??

 

[bp fick]

Then again...the op's nick is northpolefolks.... so maybe the -20 is a balmy day??

More reason then ever to put a new HST filter and low vis/syn fluid in that puppy. But still...... Not running at all? After warming up an hour? Really?

As my uncle used to say about the odd kid in his neighborhood, "That boy ain't right."

 

[Leejohn]

In 1981 I got a JD 950 and in the manual it said, in cold weather to turn the 3pt drop valve down to 1/2 turn or 1 turn (can't remember for sure). That would help heat the hyd oil up. Not sure if it would work on a kubota I haven't needed to try it on the ones I have, but the JD it worked.

 

[northpolefolks]

Well,

Like an election, numbers win. No doubt his hydrostat is not right. Until now I have not been paying alot of attention to the cold weather issue (or what was thought to be) with the hydrostats.

Maintenance and warming things up before you put power to it no doubt add longevity to the whole tool.

I just sold my Ford 3550 tonight and it ran great for its age, hdyraulics strong and everything in between. That was a direct result of proper maintenance and care (from both me and the first owner). Hopefully my next tractor will last as long.

Well hydrostat it is then I think. My boys are starting to move hay and other things that involve the tractor so they too will appreciate not having to work the clutch so much I think.

Thanks again for the insight. Now I just have to decide on brand. Like I have said on other posts, the best dealership around for support and maintenance is LS so that's a big issue. I like the bullet proof build of the Mahindra but no dealers up here in the event of some major issue.

 

[rsewill]

I have a HST with a block style heater which works just fine. I would imagine someone has come up with a way to use engine coolant to heat hydro fluid.

 

[dogleg]

It was -30f here last night. I used my 7610hst with a boom and manual grapple to grab a few sticks to buck up 'cause they said it would be gettin' cold this week. I run thin oil. 0-40 esso in the engine, tho it don't pour as well when it's real cold as straight 10w motor oil (never could figure that one) and I do have to plug it in if it's less than 0 f, just a block heater. The hydro trans gets essotrans extra, which is about as thin as straight mineral oil, and it dosn't make any noise. That noise is just pump cavitation, the sound of air being seperated from the oil 'cause it's too thick to move. Little sonic booms are occuring causing small pits to be blasted off the facing on your pump and circulate in the oil. If you make your pride and joy do this, it better be desperate times. If you do this every day you likely won't last the winter. Extremely hard on the pump. To keep the trans warmer, mount some cardboard or tarp to the sides of the engine compt. to blow that warm air back around you and your tranny, a little haywire will go a long way. Even go right over the hood with it, but keep it away from the muffler, you don`t want carbon monoxide blowing back at you, and keep it away from the tires. If you are warm you can enjoy your chores. ps It did get cold -40 this am with a light breeze making it close to -50.

 

[grsthegreat]

ok...it has to be posted hehe

I purchased a glue on 120 volt, 500 watt hater from
Wolverine Engine Heaters | Outperforms Engine Block Heater - Cold Starts

it takes 5 minutes to install. I glued it right to the side of the HST unit.

I also added a 250 watt to the bottom of the oil pan and another 500 watt to the rear 3 point mounted 20 gallon hydraulic tank i use for my loader mounted snowblower. There on a wall mounted timer. Cycle for a few hours before i need to use them

Work G R E A T. fairly cheep insurance and no groans from my tractor at all.

 

[dogleg]

Nice call on the glue on, we use them on the equipment that needs a little extra heat. Probably way more effecient than the water heater for the engine, just glue to the oil pan. You are right on the insurance thing.

 

[northpolefolks]

Buy your stick on's in the spring at the "surplus" sale at your motorparts store. Always handy to have a couple spares for who knows what.

 

[AKfish]

My JD110TLB is a hydro tranny. My JD5075M is a hybrid-hydro with the Powereverser (F/R) that is hydro.

JD makes a heater element that fits into the transmission sump filter housing. Looks like an in-block engine heater. With the Lo-Vis hyd fluid and 3-4 hours it'll go. Always go slow for the first 15-20 minutes of working the tractor and it'll be OK.

Might be that Mahindra has transmission heaters as well.

Alaska is not "eqiupment friendly" and this winter has been especially hard - with so many days of back to back below zero temps!

All my equipment runs on synthetic oil, too. But, after sitting for 6-7 days @ minus 35F or in "BareFlanks" at minus 55F even synthetic gets thicker.

AKfish