Hydraulic pump whines and chatters when it is very cold on Ford 3400 / 730 loader

[Ruddyneck]

I have a 1969 Ford 3400 with 730 loader. The hydraulic pump and oil take a very long time, up to an hour, to warm up when it is 15 degrees F and colder. The pump will whine, chatter and move slowly until the system is warm. The fluid is at the right level and is not low.

Can I use a different viscosity fluid that will work year round that will warm up more quickly?
I currently have Travellers All Season ISO 46 fluid in the system and the bucket works just fine when it is warm.

 

[ihuntbear]

i use cold climate hyd fluid in my tractor year round..rep says it wont hurt anything..Spirex last numbers of the part number are 92 on the bucket

 

[davesl708]

Synthetics work pretty good in the cold.
If there are no attachments hooked to the PTO turn it on during warm up. Will help warm the oil faster. Raise and lower the FEL and operate the BH to move the fluid to warm it up.

 

[Fallon]

Causing the pressure relief to kick in is a great way to heat thing up in a hurry. Normally a problem, unless you are trying to heat things up. It does put a load on the pump though, so you probably don't want to do that in the first minute or 2.

 

[CJONE]

Iso 46 is basically a 15wt. You need to be running a 10wt. oil or like was stated a synthetic 5wt or so for lower temps. Do not put that pump on a heavy load over a relief when it is making noise [cavitating] it will destroy itself in short order as the air bubbles burst under pressure on the discharge side of the pump. Fallon is right it builds heat quick as all the HP generated goes to heat but don't do it with a cavitating pump or it will live a short life. Also check for high pressure fittings or a hose on the suction side that is bad or anything else causing a restriction. Some systems are internal and then possibly a plugged strainer. If all that is good, drop your oil viscosity down. CJ

 

[art]

I didn't know that tractor had iso46 oil used in it!

 

[Jerry/MT]

I have a 1969 Ford 3400 with 730 loader. The hydraulic pump and oil take a very long time, up to an hour, to warm up when it is 15 degrees F and colder. The pump will whine, chatter and move slowly until the system is warm. The fluid is at the right level and is not low.

Can I use a different viscosity fluid that will work year round that will warm up more quickly?
I currently have Travellers All Season ISO 46 fluid in the system and the bucket works just fine when it is warm.

Does your machine have a separate hydraulic system for the loader or does it use the tractors hydraulic fluid with the reservoir in the rear axle housing. If it is the later You should not use ISO AW 46 hydraulic fluid in the rear axle! You owners manual should specify M2C134 equivalent oil. That maybe your problem.