DK 45 Losing Power under load

[wxtrendsguy]

2014 DK45 with a vineyard CIMA airblast sprayer on the 3 pt. Running at 2500 RPM which is the PTO at 540. Flat ground not seeing any issue, however going uphill in low gear at 2-3 mph and the tractor is fine but after about 100 feet going up a 10% slope the RPMs drop and the tractor slows and sounds like its really lugging. Stop forward motion and the RPM comes back up but as soon as I try to move forward the RPMs drop. Turn off the PTO and the RPMs come right back to full power and I can drive up the hill with no issues.

I am guessing its a hydraulic issue since this tractor model is a hydrostatic transmission so the hydraulic system is heavily used for everything. I don't think its a fuel issue but it could be the fuel filter...

 

[Robin Veerman]

How long since you changed the fuel filter? If you haven’t done that recently that’s the first and easiest thing to do….

 

[D&D]

2014 DK45 with a vineyard CIMA airblast sprayer on the 3 pt. Running at 2500 RPM which is the PTO at 540. Flat ground not seeing any issue, however going uphill in low gear at 2-3 mph and the tractor is fine but after about 100 feet going up a 10% slope the RPMs drop and the tractor slows and sounds like its really lugging. Stop forward motion and the RPM comes back up but as soon as I try to move forward the RPMs drop. Turn off the PTO and the RPMs come right back to full power and I can drive up the hill with no issues.

I am guessing its a hydraulic issue since this tractor model is a hydrostatic transmission so the hydraulic system is heavily used for everything. I don't think its a fuel issue.

Is there any wheel slippage? Thats a pretty decent slope for one wheel to pull

 

[wxtrendsguy]

How long since you changed the fuel filter? If you haven’t done that recently that’s the first and easiest thing to do….

Its been some time but I can change that easily enough and was planning to do that before a full blown messy hydraulic dump and filter change.

 

[wxtrendsguy]

Is there any wheel slippage? Thats a pretty decent slope for one wheel to pull

There is no wheel slippage. When the sprayer is loaded there is plenty of weight on the back end to keep from spinning wheels. Its the engine RPM that drop dramatically, if I was spinning a wheel I would not expect to see the engine lug like it does...could be fuel filter or hydraulics are still my first guess.

 

[LouNY]

How long have you had this tractor and that sprayer hooked together?
Looking at those sprayers the smallest requires 25 PTO just for the sprayer, then add in the Hp required to move your tractor up that hill in addition to powering the sprayer.
Trying to maintain that 2-3 mph to keep the same sprayer coverage may require more tractor Hp then you have.

It may be a fuel problem or even an air flow restriction.

I doubt that it is a hydraulic problem, your tractor has a hydrostatic transmission which consists of a hydraulic pump and motor in a combined unit for ground work. Your PTO is strictly mechanical in power transmission, your hydrostatic transmission is separate from the PTO and the other tractor hydraulics.
The tractors hydraulic pump(s) supply hydraulics for cylinders and such and your 2 point hitch and power steering.

It is also the charge pump supply for your transmission, in other words it makes up fluid for what "leaks" from the pump/motor it does not power the tractor.

 

[wxtrendsguy]

How long have you had this tractor and that sprayer hooked together?
Looking at those sprayers the smallest requires 25 PTO just for the sprayer, then add in the Hp required to move your tractor up that hill in addition to powering the sprayer.
Trying to maintain that 2-3 mph to keep the same sprayer coverage may require more tractor Hp then you have.

It may be a fuel problem or even an air flow restriction.

I doubt that it is a hydraulic problem, your tractor has a hydrostatic transmission which consists of a hydraulic pump and motor in a combined unit for ground work. Your PTO is strictly mechanical in power transmission, your hydrostatic transmission is separate from the PTO and the other tractor hydraulics.
The tractors hydraulic pump(s) supply hydraulics for cylinders and such and your 2 point hitch and power steering.

It is also the charge pump supply for your transmission, in other words it makes up fluid for what "leaks" from the pump/motor it does not power the tractor.

Interesting. I have been running this combo for nearly 10 years with no issues. One time late last summer I had an issue where the PTO would not engage the sprayer but no power loss. Added hydraulic fluid and the PTO worked fine and has been fine all year up till now. (I start spraying in May and every 10-14 days till September and each spray session is often 2-3 hrs of operating time.) So its a workout but the Kioti has not seemed to have any trouble till now. Going to swap out the fuel filter and air filter tonight to see it that is an issue before diving into any further causes. Thanks for the suggestion and info

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

Hadn't seen you say, have you checked the hyd fluid level? Is it discolored?

 

[wxtrendsguy]

Hadn't seen you say, have you checked the hyd fluid level? Is it discolored?

Yes it was about a quart low when I checked it cold last night. Cannot seem to get an answer from anyone on the proper timing of when to measure using the dip stick. Fluid is nearly clear.