CK2610 HST Sluggish/dying when cold

[Amvcane]

Pdxkurt, I have a feeling that you are treating the Hst peddle like a gas peddle in a car, which it is not. Many analogies can be used, though for ease of understanding I will say it operates like a 4 speed manual transmission in a car. From a standing start depressing the Hst 1/4 of its throw is like starting in 1st gear. Depress it fully and its like starting in 4th gear. If you are driving along with the Hst depressed 3/4s (3rd gear) and encounter a hill, the engine will bog down and the tractor will lose speed. Further stepping on the Hst peddle would be like shifting into 4th gear and would bog it down even more. Lifting off the peddle to maybe 1/2 of its throw would be like downshifting to 2nd gear giving you more torque to get up the hill.
Your second question. Yes it is normal for the Hst peddle to slowly return to neutral. There is a dampener that will make this happen. Without it it would be like shifting from 4th gear to 1st gear. Possibly bucking you out of the seat and destroying some driveline components. The dampener is under the platform near the peddle. Keep this well lubed, especially where the rod enters the transmission case.
I see you are a new member so welcome to the Bynet.
Hope this helps you if not others.

 

[cowbridge]

I don't have either of the issues you are describing. But I'm only 30 hours in

 

[Sheldon Hamblin]

What Amvcane says makes a lot of sense. I started with a Case VAC. 4 speed. Whether I was plowing ground or snow, I would set the the hand throttle and forget it. If it bogged down, the governor would take over and bring up the rpm. When I purchased a new John Deere 850 with a loader, power steering and 2 speed transfer case, it seemed light years ahead of the VAC. Then 27 years later I bought a new Kioti 2610. It does more work than the 850 probably because it's heavier. But the HST did take some getting used to. As has been said on this site before, HST can be counter intuitive until you get used to it. This 2610, is again light years ahead of the 850, I just hope it lasts as long.

 

[chuckles148]

I have the same issue with my CK2610. After the tractor is running for 5-10 min things get better. I then move the buckets up and down a few times to get all the fluid moving. It Generally only happens when it is below -10C.

 

[Kwehme09]

I have a 2610 and have the same problem as the OP. It is VERY sluggish in the cold, and the HST pedal very slow, and sometimes even unwilling to return. It gets better after a very long warmup but is never the same as when it's warmer out. Is it out of the ordinary to keep a block heater on the hydraulic oil reservoir? I am running the standard Kioti oil, is there something better in the cold I can use?

200 hours on the machine. I had the same issues last winter. Changed filters and oil at 50 hours.

 

[Robin Veerman]

I am running the standard Kioti oil, is there something better in the cold I can use?

I have a 2014 CK30HST that I use for all kinds of farm duties all year round. From bush hogging to snow blowing etc. The tractor is always shedded about 300 yards from my house with no hydro to it. When starting in the cold, to blow snow, my hydraulics were always slow to respond initially too. Because the shed is not close to the house I would have to stand around for 10 minutes waiting for the tractor to warm up before working the tractor. I have AMSOIL in the engine and I checked their website and they have a synthetic Tractor/hydraulic fluid that doesn't need to be changed out for improved hot/cold season performance. Since installing AMSOIL in the HST a few years and 300 hours ago, my procedure is to start the tractor, wait a couple of minutes for the engine to settle down and then gently begin to blow snow at about 1800 rpm. Once the engine temp comes up to normal I increase the rpms to 2400 or so and dig right in... All that to say the the FEL, 3pt hitch and HST work in the cold almost as good as if it was summer weather (90%), right at start up. Once the engine temp is up to normal all the hydraulic functions work quickly and smoothly. The AMSOIL fluid is pricey but worth it to me, especially since it can be used year round(also saving on fluid change costs), which is important to me here in Ontario Canada. Here's a link. If you can't find it locally they will ship it to you. Dutchy
AMSOIL Synthetic Tractor Hydraulic/Transmission Oil SAE 5W-3�

 

[justman777]

At the temps you guys are seeing, have you considered a block heater?

 

[Robin Veerman]

At the temps you guys are seeing, have you considered a block heater?

A block heater only works at the barn. It's of no value when the tractor is parked in the woods for 4 or 5 hours while I'm cutting wood on a -20C day. I don't leave my tractor idling all day.... Dutchy

 

[justman777]

A block heater only works at the barn. It's of no value when the tractor is parked in the woods for 4 or 5 hours while I'm cutting wood on a -20C day. I don't leave my tractor idling all day.... Dutchy

That's true. Guess you could start it up occasionally to keep it warmed up, up do like the big rigs do and block off the radiator or something. :confused3:

 

[Robin Veerman]

You are confused. Maybe you didn't catch that I solved my issue by changing the HST oil to AMSOIL. I was just suggesting to the OP that he could do the same and find a better/suitable oil too. Also, the rad temp has nothing to do with the HST fluid temp. Only the pump pushing it around is what heats up the HST oil. Dutchy