Yanmar 186d cold start

careyo63 · Jan 6, 2016

On your Hydraulics I believe there is a pickup screen behind the Inspection plate. I would think that's were it is on the 186. With it being slow as your saying it maybe dirty and actually the problem could be more than just cold or the Fluid Type. I would check into cleaning it. I tried real quick to find info on it but the only thing Hoye says Is be careful removing the cover. And my Fredricks Parts just shows the cover. That and the spin on Hyd. filter maybe dirty also and needing replaced. California or anyone what's up with getting to the screen? Easy or Pita? Just a thought and worst case you know it's clean when and if you do end up having to replace the Hyd. Fluid.

California · Jan 6, 2016

Oil strainer (wire mesh) is on side of transmission under operator's left thigh. Careful taking the cover off, it's cast aluminum and one of the corner ears was snapped off of my first YM186D. Work two putty knives under two edges (not corners!) and pry the cover straight out.

Prepare for a mess. One of my YM186D's had drained back and it was simply oily in the cavity. The other tractor dumped a cup of oil when the cover came off.

The cover seals with a re-usable o-ring. You don't need a replacement gasket.

Here's an old thread with the spin-on filter's OEM number and a Wix/Napa alternative you may find locally.

winston1 · Jan 7, 2016

Andy in Gap said:
If you ever want to add a block heater, this is the one I put in my 187d. It was about as difficult as changing a light bulb to install, although some have reported difficulty getting the frost plug to turn.

Amazon.com: Kat's 11407 400 Watt 1" NPT Engine Heater: Automotive

Interesting it is listed as 1"npt threads but showing picture of a freeze plug install.

alpinebigfoot · Jan 7, 2016

Should I try this when cold or warmed up?

woolyAcres · Jan 7, 2016

California said:
Here's the multigrade UTF (Universal Tractor Fluid) I use in my YM186D, 'Traveller' from Tractor Supply.

Traveller Universal Tractor Trans/Hydraulic Fluid, 5 gal. - For Life Out Here That's $40/pail. I think it's better than '303' for for a Powershift transmission.

Note in the column to the right they also offer '303' UTF @ $30/pail. I use this single-weight fluid in my backhoe, and in the YM240 with geared transmission - but I'm never out in weather below 40 degrees. Both of these Tractor Supply products are about the cheapest you can find in their categories. Both are claimed to meet Yanmar's minimum specs.

Over in TBN's Oil Forum you'll see a lot of people who won't go this cheap, and many discussions of more expensive UTF that I don't think is justified for 30 years ago technology. Also some other brands specify, or need, a better grade UTF with excellent anti-foaming specs or some other brand-specific attributes. But I don't see that we need to step up to that level.

One dealer who used to post here said he put ATF (automatic transmission fluid) in everything he sold and that runs more smoothly. This makes sense, the internals of a Powershift are nearly identical to an automotive A/T with clutch packs activated by hydraulic circuits as well as gears that need extreme-pressure additives.

Both of you guys are running in what I would call Severe cold weather, and possibly ATF has better cold weather performance in these conditions. You might inquire in the Oil Forum to start a discussion about this.

Thanks. I'll look into this for my loader upgrade. Back to your regularly schedule programming...

California · Jan 7, 2016

I started an ATF vs UTF thread over in the Oil Forum. Lets see what develops ....

Andy in Gap · Jan 7, 2016

winston1 said:
Interesting it is listed as 1"npt threads but showing picture of a freeze plug install.

You are correct, the picture is not accurate. It is a threaded heater that screws into the block.

Scotty Dive · Jan 7, 2016

If I could get the plug out of my 2020D I would have done this years ago. Hoye told me that there is typically not enough depth in the block to install one of those heaters in a freeze plug hole.