TC45D a couple of things

[JohnT]

My left front wheel locks up - won't rotate - when I first start it. Anyone else experience anything similar? This is only the second time its happened and it eventually breaks loose after I play with HST controls, 4x4 controls, and use FEL to raise front end. I use 4x4 almost exclusively, but I'm beginning to think that parking it in the shop and leaving 4x4 engaged - sometimes for a few weeks - is causing the problem.

Last night we got snow from the storm - everyone's been forecasting - here in south central Wisconsin. My 20hp Craftsman w/blade couldn't handle the 3.5 - 4 foot drifts. Out came Big Blue.... boy the hydraulics definitly don't like cold weather. After 2 hours of moving snow engine temp never came of the first mark, and I was not able to get the FEL to stay in the float position (I attributed this to the cold also). So what do you folks know about NH cold weather hydraulic fluild and changing the thermostat to a higher temp?

 

[art]

John is this tractor left in the cold? It definitely should have gained temperature and the hydraulics should have gotten faster and more respondsive with the use. If you are using the NH oil it is about a 20wgt. and should work fine, did the temperature get colder as you were using it?

 

[art]

One thing I forgot to address is the locking front wheel. Definitely should not be happening.

 

[DVerbarg]

John,

The front wheel problem is not normal and should not happen even if parked for a few weeks at a time.

I have a TC40D and used it last night in temps around 0 degrees F here in the northern Illinois area. Hydraulics were very slow to begin with but came up to around 75% of normal speed after 20 minutes of work. My float position worked flawlessly from the get-go.

Others have mentioned using synthetic oil for the hydraulics in order to reduce noise and increase performance during the winter months. Did not have any noise but am considering trying the synthetic for performance reasons.

DaveV

 

[Anonymous Poster]

John. If your shop has a concrete floor it is definitely a bad idea to leave it in 4wd. Your are leaving it with all kinds of axle windup and pressure on driveshafts. I don't know if this would explain the locking front wheel but you might try using 4wd only when necessary and see if the problem goes away. Dave

 

[JohnT]

Art,

I store the tractor in an unheated part of my shop. It was about zero the other night, hydraulics did warm up, but they never came up to full speed after 2 hours of work. This is why I was asking if anyone hard first hand experience with NH Cold Weather hydo fluid.

 

[JohnT]

David,

I agree the wheel should be locking like it is. I was curious to see if anyone else had a similar experience. My shop is brand new and the concrete floor is level and slick. The left front tire easily slides across the floor without rotating. Actually... I'm suprised I ever noticed it to begin with. Note - it comes free quite easily and operates normally and quiltely thereafter. I'm going to keep an eye on it and change some of my parking habits.

My experience with cold weather operation appears to be identical to yours. I too have read about the advantages of synthetics hydr fluild and am quite interested. I was wondering if anyone visiting this site use NH Cold Weather hydro fluid?

 

[JohnT]

Dave,

I built my shop this fall and the concrete floor is level and slick. I too wonder about my 4x4 parking habit. I will park in 2WD and see what happens.

 

[Rch]

John, does your front 4 wheel drive axel have posi-traction where the power goes to the wheel wih the most resistence[traction]?

RCH

 

[JohnT]

Ray,

You make an interesting point. To tell the truth, I hadn't spent time thinking about it. Now that you've got me thinking that way.... isn't posi-traction when both wheels -on the same axle - are locked, and limited-slip is the wheel with the most traction is the one to receive power?

I believe my TC45D is limited-slip, base on my observation of it functioning. Posi-traction could make one wheel skip in a turn.... mine is dragging. I will pay more attention to my useage of 4x4 and only park it in 2wd. We'll see what happens. I will also check my owners guide for differential specifications.