Heater for hydraulic fluid?

[53gravely]

I have a B7610 with an FEL on the front and a 6’6” old manual angle snowplow on the 3 point. Vermont is lovely this time of year. It was -14 this morning. I religiously run the block heater below 10 for an hour….longer for colder temps. I’ll start it and let it run for a couple minutes with the PTO turning to “exercise” the hydraulic fluid.
She moves good and plows really well. The FEL, however, is slower than bloody death when I go to do some “snow bank management”.
It takes a solid 5-10 minutes til the stinking thing moves at a reasonable rate.

Has anyone installed a magnetic or silicone pad heater to pre-heat the hydraulic fluid so the bucket moves at a reasonable rate right from the start? I’m thinking to plug it in when I plug in the block heater.

Where would be best to stick it? (Probably should rephrase that
What type did you use?

 

[PHPaul]

B7610 is a hydrostat, right?

From there, I'd assume it uses the same fluid for hydraulics as for the transmission.

If that's true, then I'd apply the heat to the transmission housing which would likely mean a magnetic heater.

Someone more familiar with the 7610 will be along and correct me if I'm full of it.

 

[53gravely]

B7610 is a hydrostat, right?

From there, I'd assume it uses the same fluid for hydraulics as for the transmission.

If that's true, then I'd apply the heat to the transmission housing which would likely mean a magnetic heater.

Someone more familiar with the 7610 will be along and correct me if I'm full of it.

Yup. Hydrostatic. I wonder why it rolls at normal speed but the bucket is so slow? I assume smaller orifaces going to the FEL controls?

 

[nbryan]

My B2650 has pretty much the same HP as a B7610, but almost double the total hydraulic flow. They're both HST units too. So likely why this doesn't affect me nearly as much.
I cover all but about a 4" square area of my rad in the winter, and that also slows the cooling for the hydraulic cooling loop right in front of the rad. Could that help you a bit for warmup time? Is your hydraulic oil cooling radiator in front of the rad dust screen like my B2650? Blocking some rad fan flow through it will speed up warmup, somewhat at least.

 

[pigdoc]

For an El Cheapo solution, I'd consider a dipstick heater.
Used to use one of those on our Ford Jubilee...

-Paul

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

Is an insulated shop (or better yet, heated shop) an option? Or maybe add a wood stove that could be loaded the night before?

 

[JonM]

in extreme cold below 20f oncevthe engine warms up i drive slow letting the hst warm the fluid after a shirt bit i start running the fel through its full motion range up down tilt and same with my remotes and 3 point after a few complete cycles it works like normal

 

[BruceMc]

Has anyone installed a magnetic or silicone pad heater to pre-heat the hydraulic fluid so the bucket moves at a reasonable rate right from the start? I’m thinking to plug it in when I plug in the block heater.

Where would be best to stick it? (Probably should rephrase that
What type did you use?

Block heater and silicone pad heaters on oil pan and HST is standard equipment from the dealer here. Pad heaters are relatively cheap and seem to last forever.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

A magnetic heater would do squat for you, the housing is aluminum!
A silicone heater will help a little but it's hard to find enough flat to attach it.
What Hydraulic fluid are you using?
When was the last time you changed fluid and filters?

 

[number two]

Are you using SUDT2?
Good Luck!

 

[Old Machinist]

Slide a metal pan with a few charcoal briquettes under it for a while. I used to do that with my Triumph Bonneville so I could kick start it in the winter.

 

[bird dogger]

I'm way up north near the Canadian border, and like @nbryan , have a B2650. The first time out in subzero temps moving snow the tractor couldn't warm up and the hydraulic oil was so sluggish it wouldn't reach normal pto rpms. Now I run a full set of winterfront covers (front and both sides) and both the engine oil and hydraulic oil stay toasty warm after quick warmups.

As @JonM mentioned, before starting out.... I fully raise/lower, curl the FEL a number of times along with the 3pt hitch to circulate the warmed hydraulic oil through the cylinders to replace the cold oil and warm the cylinders up. Then all is good.

 

[Yooper]

You might try doing what the loggers do with their loaders when it’s that cold. They will work one of the controls all the way until the cylinder bottoms out so the fluid goes through the pressure relief valve. Don’t know how long but they claim it heats the oil up fast.

 

[MINICUP28]

I have a similar setup and do not have that problem. Mine is sheltered but not heated. We had -12* last week and it behaves normally. I'm the one very slow at low temps....

 

[nbryan]

Has anyone here tried warming their HST fluid after a cold start by placing the transmission into Neutral gear then holding down the hst pedal in F and/or R?
Asking this well versed community because someone here might know way more about any possible damage risk to the tranny this may cause.
I've done it before when in a minor rush to get going, but not as a habit. It seemed to quiet and warm the HST fluid from sub-zero temps way faster. Or am I imagining this?