Follow-up to sticky hydro. pedals

[David2]

Am going to dealer tomorrow to pick-up new lower lift arm for TC40D [see previous post]. Was wondering how many owners have had similar problems that was not corrected by external means [lube, adjustment]. Has anyone had it corrected by dealer, or are their more of you like me who just accepted the fact that I would just have to live with it? A tech. bulletin would be a great help, because I know my dealer is not going to know anything [he says]. Mine sticks under heavy load especially in cold weather, although it was 60 degrees when it mangled the lift arm. I agree that unless I am the Lone Ranger, this has to be addressed on a wide-scale basis. The danger to life and property is obvious.
What makes this ironic for me is that I paid more for the hydrostatic because I have Multiple Sclerosis and have difficulty with my legs. Now that difficulty is compounded by the fact that I cannot lift my foot onto the opposite pedal fast enough to stop motion. Unless load is relieved, it keeps churning until it chokes down. Not a good thing.

 

[djradz]

David, my 40D sticks. It was made in late 2000 and I got it in January of 2001. I've not followed up further with the dealer as just this winter it has gotten really noticeable. Now it's out of warranty. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[tc35dforme]

My TC35D does it too!! Its mostly a problem in the cold. I have kinda gotten used to it /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. It does occasionally do it under load, but I don't seem to notice that very often. When I start to plow, I can climb the hill out of my garage and then have the sticky situation jump me when I let off the pedal. After plowing ( warm fluid ) I don't seem to notice it.

It must be a function of the internal construction of the hydro transmission unit and the viscosity of the fluid when cold. I'd like to see if anyone has the problem after they have changed to the winter grade oil ( ? f200 ). Also is this a class II only thing. Do you Class II owners have the same problem ??

 

[brad_oatley]

My TC35D does it under load. Greater the load, greater the problem. Plowing up my 18% driveway it sticks to the point that it just grinds its way to killing the engine if I can't react quick enough. I love the machine but this is more than a nuisance it's a hazard. Anyone working machinery knows that when the machine is under its maximum load is when your safety is at greatest risk.

 

[jinman]

Mine gets a little stiff about every three months, but a spray of lube along the B-roller path has always freed up the pedal movement. I've never even adjusted my return spring. I have noticed that if the engine starts to lug down, stepping down on the pedal will cause the engine rpm to drop even more and the pedal becomes sluggish. I've finally reached the point where my normal response to "give it more gas by pushing down" has been overcome by a natural tendency to lift my foot when the engine bogs down. I either do that or reach up to increase the throttle.

This action of the pedal is a problem. The fact that I've learned to work my way around it is by no means saying that New Holland doesn't have a sluggish pedal problem. I believe everyone of us has experienced the problem and only some of us have found a way around it. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I can see where someone with limited reaction time could have problems exactly as you described, David. I think your dealer should add a heavier return spring or check the return damper that's on your pedals. The damper could easily be the source of your problem since you've said you have your spring fully tensioned. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[jinman]

Here's an exploded view of the entire pedal assembly from the parts manual. The yellow highlight is t he "B-roller" I was referring to because it's shaped like a "B." On the right of the plate you can see the damper assembly that is supposed to keep the pedal from slamming back to the neutral position. If that assembly is too stiff, it could cause the pedals to lag your foot movement. I think New Holland installed this device so if you went out of cruise without having your foot on the forward pedal, your tractor would not come to a screaming stop. Anyhow, I hope this helps describe what the assembly looks like and how it works.

David, don't look for too much help from your dealer without being able to show a specific warranty claim. In order to work on this assembly, you have to remove the operator's platform and that is not fun. I have done it and so has Dave Verbarg. We'll both tell you it is not something we want to do again. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

The pictures at the bottom are how my assembly broke. I guess I could say I am intimately familiar with the hydro pedal assembly. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Mark_in_NH]

My 35D suffers from the same ailment, seriously amplified in the cold weather. Once things warm up enough the prblem mostly goes away. When I inquired abut this problem, my dealer ( per a mechanic ) said to adjust the return spring.
I have yet to even look under the tractor to see if an adjustment makes any sense. I am waiting for the weather to warm up.
It will be most interesting to eventually find out, just What exactly is the cause and what is the correct and proper cure.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Jim,
I have yet taken the time to really crawl under my tractor to study the assembly. Can you explain your lubricating procedure to us ? Is this B roller readily accesible ?
You could save some of us (me) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif some skinned knuckles and swear words. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
We await your Wisdom /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[BillyP]

I wonder when someone gets hurt or killled, will they fix the problem then? It sounds to me like a recall fixing to happen.

 

[tc35dforme]

Mark, stick your head under the deck and all will be quite obvious. It's pretty easy to get around under there, unless you need to disect it ala Jinman.

Its supposed to be -15 F in your neighborhood tonight...what are you waiting for !!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif