Hydro operation in cold weather?

[ThreeHorses 20]

Is it normal to have sluggish response of transmission and hydralic lift on 520 H when cold? Especially if tractor has been setting outside and not used for awhile.

[Rollerman 290]

In short ....Yes!

Any hydro tractor should be given a chance to warm up a while before use when it get cold.

[Sparky-(Admin) 22,923]

Absolutely its normal. I've owned a few hydros and they all needed some "warm up time" in the cold weather before they could be moved or an attachment lifted. Not to mention the hydro tranny and hydraulic lift stuff will probably last longer if a sufficient warm up time is used.

Mike.........

[Duff 206]

Is it normal to have sluggish response of transmission and hydralic lift on 520 H when cold? Especially if tractor has been setting outside and not used for awhile.

I believe I've read on a number of threads here that the hydros can be very sluggish when cold. I think the recommendation is to let the tractor run for 10 or 15 minutes before trying to move anything to let the fluid warm up by circulating.

Those with more experience....?

Duff

EDIT: Wow! A whole bunch of us jumped on this one at the same time! :whistle:

[Sparky-(Admin) 22,923]

Duff

EDIT: Wow! A whole bunch of us jumped on this one at the same time!

Duff, its to cold to do anything but sit in front of a warm computer screen .

Mike.......

[Duff 206]

Duff, its to cold to do anything but sit in front of a warm computer screen .

Mike.......

Amen, brother! 7 degrees and dropping up here.......

Duff :thumbs:

[Docwheelhorse 2,739]

Hold on a sec.....OK, I threw another log on the wood stove , I have had two C125 Autos in use over the last month and they both wanted about 5 minutes of run time to get motivated to move or lift. 10w40 @ 0-5 above is thick stuff

Tony

[Sparky-(Admin) 22,923]

Amen, brother! 7 degrees and dropping up here.......

Duff

Brrr....and I'm going to be "sneaking" into Maine tomorrow for a Wheel Horse mission on the coldest weekend of the year . Just my luck.

Mike........

[WheelHorse_of_course 99]

:rtfm: and I believe you will find that it warns that proper warm up is required or damage will result.

At least that is the case for the two manuals I have read, both for Sundstrand systems.

I suspect that the ones with Dextron ATF warm up faster than the ones with Oil.

:thumbs:

[MaineDad 87]

Sneaking into Maine!

Are you horse stealing in my State? Where are you headed? <_<

[Docwheelhorse 2,739]

Read the **(&Y*) manual he says I have a whole pile of these beautiful Red tractors and boy it sure is easier to post a question than it is to go and buy all the manuals I don't have

Tony

[jerrell 1]

:thumbs: Right on wheelhorse of course, anytime you force cold or thick fluid thru those O rings and valves it will cause wear and tear, can cause old oil rings to break or move out of position. even in our autos it is better to let the engine warm up a bit before driving...

[noncritical 5]

i dont have any hydros but on my log splitter i use a heat lamp next to the hyd oil tank for about half an hour to get it warmed up a little

[pfrederi 18,566]

I have decided I prefer the gear tractors for winter use. The speed control advantage of the autos is offset by the warm up time.

Interesting that the Charger 12 auto with snow blower can at least move herself out of the shop to warm up..the 418 Auto has to run for 2-3 minutes in the shop before I can drive her outside. (Warming them up in the shop makes for too much fumes and smoke!!).

This morning at -4 I used the 8 speed C-81 (repowered with a 12hp magnum) and plow to clean up some drifting...I was started, out, plowed and back in what it would have taken the hydros to warm up. I guess next year the blower may go back on the C175

[WheelHorse_of_course 99]

Interesting that the Charger 12 auto with snow blower can at least move herself out of the shop to warm up..the 418 Auto has to run for 2-3 minutes in the shop before I can drive her outside.

So, does your Charger have Dextron ATF or 30 W oil in the transmission?

:thumbs:

[pfrederi 18,566]

The sunstrand on the Charger has dexron...the 418s eaton has 10w-40

[Sarge 3,464]

I can certainly attest to the oil difference - picked up another 1277 last week and it still had Dexron in it vs. the 10w30 in my old one . Big difference in warmup time and response from the hydro for sure !

Pics soon as it warms up....

Sarge

[WheelHorse_of_course 99]

I can certainly attest to the oil difference - picked up another 1277 last week and it still had Dexron in it vs. the 10w30 in my old one . Big difference in warmup time and response from the hydro for sure !

Pics soon as it warms up....

Sarge

OK, that is what I thought.

Both my Charger and the 120-A I owned have the Dextron and warm up was a very minor issue (not really required, but advisable since that it what WH says in the manual).

I have been blowing using the Charger with no chains and the Hydro is really good for rocking out when stuck!

I have noticed when blading with the 854 that my right foot gets a lot colder than the left!

BTW, I would never want a foot activated Hydro, but I really do like having the brake pedal so I can slow down when I have one hand on the lift and one on the wheel! At least now that I replaced the dashboard I don't need one for the throttle too!

:thumbs:

[htopjimmy26 3]

My 2 cents are that with my sundstrand and eaton I use 10w-30 synthetic which stays thinner at colder temps and I usually only warm up for 1 or 2 minutes then I'm good to go. I currently have a single stage blower on my 82 c195 and my 79 c160, both operate fine at or above about 10 degrees, below that they are too hard to get started but I have done it. good luck :thumbs:

[Nick 13]

Those extra minutes of warm up for the hydro is probably good for the engine also. At these low temps the engine oil isnt flowing so great either.

[WheelHorse_of_course 99]

Those extra minutes of warm up for the hydro is probably good for the engine also. At these low temps the engine oil isnt flowing so great either.

Yeah Nick, that is what the manual says too...

...marching up the stairs...

... sound of pages turning... :rtfm:

doo do dee hum... what? Oh!

... sound of pages turning... :rtfm:

Yea, I knew it would be in this one....

OK, interestingly the Charger manual has no comments regarding cold weather operation. But, referring to the B C D Series owners manual (part # 810134R1) under "Correct Automatic Transmission Operation":

During cold weather, start engine with the parking brake engaged; on C-Series models also lift up the transmission clutch lever. Run the engine at full throttle for two minutes to allow engine to warm up and then engage the transmission clutch by pushing the lever down. For temperatures between 0 and 30 degrees allow the transmission to run in neutral for 5 minutes before attempting to set the unit in motion. For temperatures below 0 degrees allow the transmission to run in neutral for 10 minutes before attempting to set the unit in motion. Failure to do so may result in extensive internal transmission damage

... OK, so what fluid was used the year this manual was written...

... sound of pages turning... :rtfm:

hmmmm 10W30 or 10W40...

OK, so does anyone have a 73 or earlier manual for a Sundstrand trans tractor that has anything about this warm up procedure?

Cheers Rolf

[linen beige 15]

OK, so does anyone have a 73 or earlier manual for a Sundstrand trans tractor that has anything about this warm up procedure?

"68 Charger 9; "When starting tractor in cold weather set the park brake. This releases the drive belt, and the engine does not have to turn the transmission."

No mention of a warm up time. The manual calls for Type "A" ATF (later substituted with Dexron) for this one.

[Rideawaysenior 25]

It's strange, it appears as though WH engineers went back and fourth with this for a while. I'm curious as to why some of the Sundstrands would use ATF and other Sundstrands on WH products would use 10w30. Anyone have any insight? I've got a 69 Charger 10 with the Tucky and that uses ATF however my WH 10 uses 10w30 as well as all of the other hydros I have. I'm big on letting them warm up before use even the manual transmission machines. It's just good practice. My only complaint though is, that when I want to use the D160, warm up time is LLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGG. I suppose if the garage were heated 24/7 it would be different but I can't afford to do that.

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

I'm curious as to why some of the Sundstrands would use ATF and other Sundstrands on WH products would use 10w30. Anyone have any insight?

It appears that the oil type changed about the same time the Sundstrand Hydrogear was replaced with the Sundstrand piston-to-piston unit, which was sometime in 1973.

Which hydro is in your 10 Automatic, Jack?

[dave s 0]

My 520 sits in a heated garage, It takes about a minute to get pressure to the lift cyl. It started this after I changed oil & filter,(10W30),before this, the cyl. would lift as soon as the motor started. :thumbs: