FIRST vENTRAC SNOW EXPERIENCE

[prs]

This is my first season with attachment for snow removal with Ventrac, the big broom. It did a great job yesterday, clean to the pavement and quick too. It was only a light snow, about 1"+ a tad bit and I typically did not mess with it unless more than that when I was using a grader blade on the utility tractor, but I wanted to have it clear for the garbage service.

The only down side I saw was getting the tractor warmed-up. At 6AM it was only 16F outside and the unheated equipment garage thermometer read 18F. The 4500Z's starter was turning it over very sluggishly regardless a full charge on the battery (Deltran Tender had been in use). I think that synthetic Amsoil 10-30 was about the viscosity of Jello. I backed it out of the shed slowly at just above slow idle and let it idle outside at 2,000 RPM waiting for the hydraulic filters to feel warm as directed by the owner's manual -- after 10 minutes it was obviously NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! They were still stone cold.

So I went to work, going easy at 3,200 RPM at first and after a couple of minutes opened her up to git'r done. 15 minutes later and 6/10 mile driveway down and back (elevation change is 120 feet)) plus a large parking area were all clear AND the hydraulic filters just barely warm to touch, like I was expecting before starting work. I hope this tractor is up to cold weather use.

prs

 

[zmountaineer]

This is my first season with attachment for snow removal with Ventrac, the big broom. It did a great job yesterday, clean to the pavement and quick too. It was only a light snow, about 1"+ a tad bit and I typically did not mess with it unless more than that when I was using a grader blade on the utility tractor, but I wanted to have it clear for the garbage service.

The only down side I saw was getting the tractor warmed-up. At 6AM it was only 16F outside and the unheated equipment garage thermometer read 18F. The 4500Z's starter was turning it over very sluggishly regardless a full charge on the battery (Deltran Tender had been in use). I think that synthetic Amsoil 10-30 was about the viscosity of Jello. I backed it out of the shed slowly at just above slow idle and let it idle outside at 2,000 RPM waiting for the hydraulic filters to feel warm as directed by the owner's manual -- after 10 minutes it was obviously NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! They were still stone cold.

So I went to work, going easy at 3,200 RPM at first and after a couple of minutes opened her up to git'r done. 15 minutes later and 6/10 mile driveway down and back (elevation change is 120 feet)) plus a large parking area were all clear AND the hydraulic filters just barely warm to touch, like I was expecting before starting work. I hope this tractor is up to cold weather use.

prs

When it gets real cold you won't be able to move it, let alone raise the attachment. I ran into this problem last year. I had to let it warm up for about 30 minutes and then it would bearly move. My solution this year was to modify my outbuilding door to fit the ventrac with the dual wheels through. Ok, so it's still cold as heck in there. My next solution was to add magnetic block heater to the oil tanks. Unfortunately they are not magnetic! I think they are aluminum. So, I got a couple heat lamps and pointed them at the oil tanks. This morning the tanks were nice and warm.

 

[Old Red]

So I had a sweepster for snow removal on my grasshopper. My apologies for the videographer. But this is the only video I have of it. This was my only snow weapon for one giant (for us anyway) storm back in Feb 2015. Tood me forever to do my 100 yard of concrete driveway. They really shine on 6 inches or less, but the 2 foot snow we had was a bear. I had to scrape the top layer off, then go deeper, until I hate pavement.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Pictures? Please.

 

[Looking4new]

I put a winter front on my Kioti so it would warm up quicker and stay warm. Even after blowing snow for 3 hours it wouldn't get up to operating temps with out one. You just have to keep one eye on the temp gauge.

 

[4570Man]

I put a winter front on my Kioti so it would warm up quicker and stay warm. Even after blowing snow for 3 hours it wouldn't get up to operating temps with out one. You just have to keep one eye on the temp gauge.

Isn't the thermostat supposed to block flow through the radiator until it gets warm?

 

[Looking4new]

Isn't the thermostat supposed to block flow through the radiator until it gets warm?

It is supposed to, but it doesn't and hasn't since day 1. A hunk of cardboard box the same size as the front of the rad works good.

 

[prs]

For me, the engine heated-up well once started, it was the hydraulic filter cases that did not become warm. Operator's manual says to wait for those to warm before working the machine.

I am no photographer, sorry.

prs

 

[Looking4new]

When I worked in the gravel pit back in the '70s the loader operators in winter would warm up the engine, then slowly roll out of the shop and as they were traveling to their areas of operation (huge pit area) they would work the hydraulics, bucket up and down and curl and dump and up and down and curl and dump until everything got working smoothly. I do the very same with my loader and it works to (a) get the hydraulic oil moving and (b) warm it up. I also have the third function couplers on the rear of my tractor and an anti-deadhead hose that runs in a loop from the outlet to the inlet fitting. I kick this into gear as soon as the tractor is running smoothly on a cold start. I define a cold start as any time I start the tractor after an overnight of being shut off.

 

[Peter 315]

Try this in the hyd oil tank to keep it warm, Heated oil dipstick

 

[check]

Gee, I never had this problem with my Kubota BX25. I wonder what the difference is?

 

[prs]

Gee, I never had this problem with my Kubota BX25. I wonder what the difference is?

You are way colder than I am too. But, in this case I am not sure I had a problem. Everything worked OK, but I just could not reasonably follow the instructions in the Owner's Manual which advises to not use the equipment until the hydraulic filters feel warm. It just was not going to happen within any reasonable time period.

My my utility tractor, JD 650, has no such owner manual advice and I just fire it up and work it lightly until it warms. I have the low temp JD Hytran in the JD and that fluid is similar or same as the good Kubota stuff, although not tinted orange. Hydraulics work normally right off the "get-go". The Ventrac is a different sort of horse, no real hydraulic "tank", the gear cases and front axle are the case and no good place to insert the heated dip stick as the fill port is the opening to a recovery bottle, like a coolant recovery bottle. The Ventrac has Ventrac hydrostatic fluid almost certainly Amsoil, which again is similar to Kubota's best stuff.

Mountaineer reported not being able to move if too cold, he is also in colder area than I, but not that much. If I were he, I would make sure the hytran fluid is the proper low viscosity stuff. For me, I think I will let it let it idle a few minutes to get flowing and then work lightly for another few minuted and then GIT"R DONE!

prs

 

[zmountaineer]

You are way colder than I am too. But, in this case I am not sure I had a problem. Everything worked OK, but I just could not reasonably follow the instructions in the Owner's Manual which advises to not use the equipment until the hydraulic filters feel warm. It just was not going to happen within any reasonable time period.

My my utility tractor, JD 650, has no such owner manual advice and I just fire it up and work it lightly until it warms. I have the low temp JD Hytran in the JD and that fluid is similar or same as the good Kubota stuff, although not tinted orange. Hydraulics work normally right off the "get-go". The Ventrac is a different sort of horse, no real hydraulic "tank", the gear cases and front axle are the case and no good place to insert the heated dip stick as the fill port is the opening to a recovery bottle, like a coolant recovery bottle. The Ventrac has Ventrac hydrostatic fluid almost certainly Amsoil, which again is similar to Kubota's best stuff.

Mountaineer reported not being able to move if too cold, he is also in colder area than I, but not that much. If I were he, I would make sure the hytran fluid is the proper low viscosity stuff. For me, I think I will let it let it idle a few minutes to get flowing and then work lightly for another few minuted and then GIT"R DONE!

prs

I know for a fact that mine is the ventrac hydraulic fluid. How do I know? I changed it myself. Until this year, my ventrac sat outside in the direct wind/cold. Hoping this year makes a difference being in the shed.

 

[johara1]

View attachment 532063 Try this in the hyd oil tank to keep it warm, Heated oil dipstick

They don't have a tank.... Jim

 

[johara1]

I used a torpedo heater and blew it on the filter side of the machine. Now it is in heated garage, turn the heat on for a couple hours before I use it...... Jim

 

[Code54]

How about putting a heater like this against the tank -

Amazon.com: Kat's 2415 15 Watt 4"x 5" Universal Hot Pad Heater: Automotive

 

[prs]

I know for a fact that mine is the ventrac hydraulic fluid. How do I know? I changed it myself. Until this year, my ventrac sat outside in the direct wind/cold. Hoping this year makes a difference being in the shed.

Same here. That first change interval came pretty quick! Ventrac changed the intervals after I purchased mine, but I follow most recent procedures.

prs

 

[prs]

johara1, that would be good, but I would hate to have to go to the tractor building at 4:00AM to turn on the heat. When I snows, I do the residence and then go to the office early to get the sidewalks clear (shovel and hand broom) per City ordinance and being a good neighbor. On days I don't work, I don't worry much about it. lol

What code54 shows did occur to me ( I was thinking about a "pig warmer" ). That could be put on a remote control switch or timer.

prs

 

[Old Red]

Just get out there and let it eat!

 

[johara1]

johara1, that would be good, but I would hate to have to go to the tractor building at 4:00AM to turn on the heat. When I snows, I do the residence and then go to the office early to get the sidewalks clear (shovel and hand broom) per City ordinance and being a good neighbor. On days I don't work, I don't worry much about it. lol

What code54 shows did occur to me ( I was thinking about a "pig warmer" ). That could be put on a remote control switch or timer.

prs

just put a timer on the heater to come on at 0400, I get up at 0600 and go out and turn it on ........ Not much for the dark anymore....... a torpedo heater does it fast ...... Jim