frozen hydraulics

whoodle · Jan 7, 2006

Howdy All,

I have had a problem with my hydraulics freezing up for years, but today I really got annoyed. I have a JD 110 with all the outlets and I use it with a blower on the back with top an tilt and a shoot rotator. On the front I have a boss V-plow with hydraulic wings and a tilt cylinder. Sound like the Ultimate Snow fighter Right? Well not when the joy stick freezes and the plow will not roll and the blower will not tilt. Then, this morning. I limped down the driveway blowing with the plow up, and then the plow just rolled forward as thought it were dumpin the bucket and the blower simultaniously tilted as well. By the time I got the beast into the warm barn, everything cleared up, But I had driven 1800 feet up my driveway without doing any work! The machine is kept outside, but it has a block heater and hydro heater which I leave plugged in all the time. Anybody have any suggestions?

Hope so

tahnks

Bully · Jan 8, 2006

Park it in the warm Barn ? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Barnboy · Jan 8, 2006

You might try synthetic hydr fluid.I'm no expert but from what ive read here on TBN synthetic hydro fluid is the way to go for extreme outdoor temps.

normde2001 · Jan 8, 2006

I'm not familiar with that tractor, but on a Yanmar, I would say you need to change the fluid/filter and clean the hydraulic pickup screen if not done recently.

whoodle · Jan 8, 2006

The tractor has Amsoil synthetic oil less than 100 hrs old, and the screen and filters were changed at the time. With the heaters on, the hydraulics are quiet as though warm almost immediately, but the valves at the bottom of the joystick seem to freeze tight.

whoodle · Jan 8, 2006

Oh, the warm barn is the High Rent district !

IH3444 · Jan 8, 2006

It sound like you possibly could have a slight moisture problem. I would try to keep the valve warm with 12volt heat tape, and insulation. Make sure that your alternator is up to the task, as well as the battery. The warm fluid is cooling down after taking it out in the very cold climate. The heat is rapidly drawn out faster than the machine can generate more heat. The Amsoil is a good addition. How cold is it there anyway??? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

RickB · Jan 8, 2006

I am not familiar with a 110 but here are my thoughts. If the joystick operates cables which control the valve spools, water may be getting between the sheath and cable and freezing or freezing at the cable/spool interface. If there are no cables, or they are not freezing, moisture is entering the centering spring/detent housings and freezing. The housings cover the end of the valve spools opposite the linkage/cable connections. This is not a 'hydraulics' problem as such, but a hydraulic control problem. Using a hair dryer to systematically warm the centering spring housings and cables if equipped will locate the problem area.

whoodle · Jan 8, 2006

It has been ranging from about 0 f to 35 the last few weeks. the controls are solid bars which stick down under the machine and work levers on horizontal actuators. I have complete undercarriage plates which eliminate easy access.