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.

 

[Rowski]

Just a thought that maybe the fluid is contaminated with water and it slighty frozen causing the wheel to be stuck.

Derek

 

[Bird]

Derek, I hadn't thought of that before, but that sure sounds like a good possibility if it's only happening when it's cold. And JohnT, if there's water in that front axle, I'd sure get it drained, flushed, and refilled with clean oil as soon as possible.

Bird

 

[Rch]

JohnT, I think "posi-traction" and limited slip differential is the difference between Kleenex and facil tissues and a differential lock is the manuel(usually by a pedal) locking of both wheels.I could be wrong.At any rate a limited slip differential has more to go wrong.

RCH

 

[JohnT]

Derek & Bird,

I'll check for it, but I my doubts because the only other time this has happen was in early fall. Never even came close to freezing temperatures.

Thanks for the sugestion(s)... everyone!

 

[dieselpwr]

I also have a TC45D. Just got it July 2000.

As for the temp. never going up - join the club. I actually had the dealer come out & put a new thermostat in mine shortly after buying it since it would only warm up to normal when you "worked" it but not when running under light duty use. I called another dealer who called New Holland for me & they said that unless you work it a little harder you won't see much temp. on the gauge & that it is normal. In the winter I have cut a hole in a piece of cardboard that allows about 50% of the radiator to get air & that helps a lot. I was cautioned by the dealer not to block much more than 50% due to the plastic fan. (even with the cardboard - at 20 below 0 it still won't move off the bottom peg much if at all) I would like to here if others have "cold blooded" machines too.

I don't believe front wheel should ever lock up or drag. I have parked mine in FWD a couple times & never experienced a problem.

My FEL sometimes pops out of "float" when it gets a little below 0 F. I believe that is normal.

Good luck with your front end.

tf

 

[Bird]

tf, apparently very low readings on the temperature gauge is common on a lot of tractors. I have a 1999 B2710 Kubota and if the temperature EVER gets more than a quarter of the way up (even in 100 degree weather), I know the radiator screen is getting covered with grass, dust, etc. A number of other people have discussed having the same thing with their Kubotas (and New Hollands - don't know about the Deeres).

Bird

 

[paccorti]

My TC35D runs cool too. If the temp outside is 25 to 30 and I run the tractor lightly the temp will never get off the bottom peg. I use a piece of cardboard. I insert it between the oil cooler and the engine radiator. With light work, I can then get the temp just into the yellow. I have a hard time understanding how the cardboard could harm the fan. I have mine about 50% blocked. I guess it has to be really cold (below 20F) for the hydraulics to act strange. Mine seem to work perfectly at the above temps.

Peter

 

[JohnT]

TF, Bird, & Peter:

Seems we're all experiencing and thinking the same things. I too did the cardboard trick. Stuck mine between the radiator and hydro cooler. I was more agressive and covered 2/3's of the radiator. Now I get well into the green in sub-zero to temps. Neighbor called and asked if I could rescue his Polaris 4x4 ATV. Got it stuck at the edge of our lake right up to the top of his tires. Seem he found a new spring.... the HARD way. I mention this because tonight it was in the low 20's and my temp is still well running nicely in the green. Looks like the cardboard will stay until early spring. FYI - sure seems like loader float is more likely to pop out in low/extreme outdoor temps and when tractor operating temp is below green. Also, my suspicions about my left front wheel locking appear to be confirmed. Hasn't happend now that I only use FWD when needed and don't run it into the shop and park it in FWD. Simply..... user error!

 

[RobS]

I can confirm on my JD 790. Bush hogging last fall in some hot weather the temp only came up as the rad. screen got blocked, same as Bird said. Normally, it barely moves the needle.

Rob

 

[dieselpwr]

Peter

According to my dealer, their have been some issues with too much deflection of the plastic fan blades when too much cardboard is used. If there isn't enough room between the fan & radiator for the fan to deflect at high RPMs, it rubbs into the radiator. It was a generalization that the service manager made which may or may not apply to the new Boomers. At any rate it didn't sound like it was worth chancing. I recently cut out a new cardboard piece which allows about 37% air flow & that gets me into the green down to about 20 degrees F with no problems.

Troy