Frozen FEL curl?

DavidVT · Feb 13, 2008

Hello,
Every time I startup my tractor in cold weather, the FEL curl is pretty much frozen. After some time passes, the FEL will work just fine.

My question is, is there anything I can do to speed up this 'thawing' process or prevent it all together?

kennyd · Feb 13, 2008

When is the last time you changed the hydraulic fluid? It's possible you have moisture collected in the cylinders.

john_bud · Feb 13, 2008

Drain the fluid and replace with SUDT or a 5w30 multiviscosity trans-hydraulic fluid (that's what SUDT is). I think JD has a fluid for cold weather that is thin.

jb

RFB · Feb 13, 2008

I use the Chevron AW Synthetic THF, and find performance enhanced. I especially see an easier start and markedly faster "ramp-up" in colder (single digit and sub-zero) temps.

Here is another option: "TEXACO TDH SS Oil"

I examined the msds and product sheets from this and Chevron AW Syn THF and the product is identical.

Egon · Feb 14, 2008

Mine has started doing the same thing this winter.

Past posts here indicate that moisture accumulates at the bottom of the control valve and may freeze. As soon as the hydraulic fluid warms up the problem will go away.

If I can recall correctly the solution involved drilling small holes to drain this area of the control valve????

Me, I will just wait for warm up and then go on my merry way!

Sully2 · Feb 14, 2008

DavidVT said:
Hello,
Every time I startup my tractor in cold weather, the FEL curl is pretty much frozen. After some time passes, the FEL will work just fine.

My question is, is there anything I can do to speed up this 'thawing' process or prevent it all together?

A friend of miine with a new Kubota just experienced that. It would go up and down but no curl. The dealership came the next day and there is some sort of "cable"..???...from the control to the actual vavle that operates that stuff ( ????) and it had some water in or on it..and THAT was what was freezing up. They pulled the cable..warmed it to be sure it was thawed out and dried and sprayed the bee-jeebers out of it ( lubrication) with silicon. Hasnt done ti since and its been below freezing here for the last week now

Wayne County Hose · Feb 14, 2008

David,

We need some more details. I would like to figure out if the problem is in the control circuit or the power circuit. Does the lever operate normally? If the lever does operate normally, does the relief valve kick out? Do you see the hydraulic hoses out to the curl cylinders "jump" when you activate the lever? Any info you can provide will help troubleshoot your problem.

digger2 · Feb 16, 2008

My B7610 w/FEL used to do the same thing.Is your control stick hard to operate when this happens ? If it is its prob. in the control valve.
I remember if i let mine sit and idle for a few minutes(just like you said)
it would work fine.Seems to me i did take the "cap" off the bottom of the control valve,and there was some moisture and some corrosion going on in there.I cleaned it up and smeared a little lube on it ,put it back together and it never did it again.
There was a guy who had a step by step (with pictures) on how to do this.
Do a search on here for "FEL control valve-freezing up".You'll prob. find where i asked the same question.
good luck,digger2

DavidVT · Feb 17, 2008

yes, the curl lever will not move when the problem is going on. Eventually it will move a little and finally it will move properly...

I've talked to locals and they are leading me down the water in the lever assy path rather than a hydraulics issue per say.

Having said all that, yesterday I notice this HST tractor is shuddering when trying to start moving despite seeing no movement in the wheels. It feels like the wheels are skidding on ice but they are not moving...

I have always noticed the 3 point is slow to rise. If I push snow in reverse with the back blade, I lift the 3 point lever and try to go forward. Usually the 3 point is still down when I start to go forward... Kind of like some weird tim delay. It always goes up, but it takes longer than I think it should... ?

I have about a month left on the warranty. You can bet it is going in for these things asap...