Those with the hydraulic shuttle

Rustyiron · Dec 26, 2022

I like to warm up my M9540 especially under 20*, the colder the longer.
I've always warmed up the transmission by putting the "gearbox" in neutral and moving the shuttle lever to forward or reverse. I can hear it's moving oil or something as there's a very slight change in the idling rpm's.
I've done this with all of my past tractors with a shuttle and never had a problem.
I can't think of anything that might cause long or short term damage but I thought I'd run it by you guys especially if a kubota mechanic might read this.

ovrszd · Dec 26, 2022

Eric, that's how I warm mine. Just used that method a couple days ago when I cranked it at 03F temp using the engine block heater. Mine is a 2011 model with 1,950 hrs. Haven't had a single issue with the drivetrain.

We'll see what the experts say.

Rustyiron · Dec 26, 2022

That's pretty dang cold for MO isn't it?

ovrszd · Dec 26, 2022

Rustyiron said:
That's pretty dang cold for MO isn't it?

Yeah, especially this early. I saw -16F on my shop thermometer. We've been very cold since last Thursday. Barely got an inch of snow which was lucky. It's supposed to warm up starting tomorrow with highs back in the upper 40Fs and lows in the low 20Fs. Which is more normal for us. Our coldest 30 days is usually second week in January thru second week in February. I'm hoping not this year.

5030 · Dec 27, 2022

Do the same with both my M9's. Start them, trans in N but shuttle in forward or reverse and back in the house for a cup of coffee. Got to get the fluid flowing. Been doing that for years. I do kick up the RPM up slightly as well.

npalen · Dec 27, 2022

Seems like I placed a brick on the hydrostat peddle on my Kubota B9200 one time to circulate at least the hydrostat fluid to get it warmed up. Too bad there isn't a method to let it run and circulate all the hydraulic system fluid to warm it also and would be great to warm up the fluid in the loader and 3PH cylinders.

I suppose that by running the tractor it is also starting to warm the hydraulic system at least to and from the reservoir as the pump is running. That should speed up getting warm oil into the cylinders as they are stroked.

ovrszd · Dec 27, 2022

npalen said:
Seems like I placed a brick on the hydrostat peddle on my Kubota B9200 one time to circulate at least the hydrostat fluid to get it warmed up. Too bad there isn't a method to let it run and circulate all the hydraulic system fluid to warm it also and would be great to warm up the fluid in the loader and 3PH cylinders.

I suppose that by running the tractor it is also starting to warm the hydraulic system at least to and from the reservoir as the pump is running. That should speed up getting warm oil into the cylinders as they are stroked.

Pushing snow with the grader there are hydraulic functions that are rarely used. During extreme cold temps those functions will barely move when needed. Takes a few seconds to warm that circuit. Kind of freaks me out when I experience it. I always have a vision of being broke down in those conditions.....

stumblinhorse · Dec 27, 2022

ovrszd said:
Pushing snow with the grader there are hydraulic functions that are rarely used. During extreme cold temps those functions will barely move when needed. Takes a few seconds to warm that circuit. Kind of freaks me out when I experience it. I always have a vision of being broke down in those conditions.....

Most people in the lower 48 and in this forum don’t see the cold temps where hydraulic fluid gets too thick. But if you do there are alternatives that allow for flow at that temp. We are pretty cold where I live and I still run regular Hytran and Regular UDT down to about -20*F. My Kubota doesn’t have a block heater so it typically won’t start below -25*F so I can’t use it on our -40*F days. My new case has a block heater, and a cab!, so we’ll see this year what happens at -40*F with Hytran. I do use synth 0/40 CNH oil and T6 in the Kubota for cold starts.

For me what freaks me out in the cold is when the controls freeze and can’t be moved. Joystick or throttle pedal are completely frozen with ice….

ovrszd · Dec 27, 2022

stumblinhorse said:
Most people in the lower 48 and in this forum don’t see the cold temps where hydraulic fluid gets too thick. But if you do there are alternatives that allow for flow at that temp. We are pretty cold where I live and I still run regular Hytran and Regular UDT down to about -20*F. My Kubota doesn’t have a block heater so it typically won’t start below -25*F so I can’t use it on our -40*F days. My new case has a block heater, and a cab!, so we’ll see this year what happens at -40*F with Hytran. I do use synth 0/40 CNH oil and T6 in the Kubota for cold starts.

For me what freaks me out in the cold is when the controls freeze and can’t be moved. Joystick or throttle pedal are completely frozen with ice….

Yep. All sorts of things start happening in cold weather.

Where are you located? Might add that to your info.