Frozen loader valve

Dim Pete · Jan 26, 2022

Hi, the loader joystick on my tractor will not work in some positions when it is below freezing. In the past it has freed up as it runs, but lately it has not. I have been using a propane torch to heat it up.
Is this bad for it? would a hair dryer work? I was thinking of sticking an oil pan heater on it, but they get pretty hot. I am not skilled enough to take it apart and look for water. thanks for any ideas.

jm. · Jan 26, 2022

water or ice in the control cabel if it has cables if not you may have water in you hydraulic
fluid. Nothing wrong with the torch but if you would find the water you problems would be cured. Is
the unit cabel controled if it is I can tell you where to look for the water?

Dim Pete · Jan 26, 2022

HI, it is not cable controlled, I did not want the torch to hurt any seals or anything internal to the loader valve.

used red MN · Jan 26, 2022

So are you operating it in a very cold area, say at 10F
or less? If so you might try blocking off the air flow to
the radiator so the hydraulic cooler is not taking so
much heat out of the fluid. Use paper sacks and
bungees, when it is real cold like that you can nearly
block of all air screens. Of course when it warms up
you will need to remember to open it back up. What
machine are we talking about, may have to take in
consideration if it has an air to air intake air steam
cooler. Placing a magnetic heater on the actual
hydraulic reservoir would not be a bad idea either.

Jim.ME · Jan 26, 2022

What it is on, how the valve is mounted, and a picture might help. I have had valves mounted so the spools are vertical collect water in the caps at the end of the spools. When the water freezes it can restrict the spool movement as it is around the centering spring and components. Cure was as simple as pulling the cap off, removing the water and cleaning things before reinstalling the cap.

Dim Pete · Jan 26, 2022

It is a northern hydraulic valve mounted on a Massey Ferguson 1240 tractor. It has been below 10 the last few days. I am going to try it again in the next day or so.

So is a propane torch OK to use to free it up?

Ken Macfarlane · Jan 27, 2022

Neighbours loader valve got water in the end caps and cables regularly such that it would freeze up. I think he keeps a bucket or old inner tube over it now, can't recall exactly.

BarnyardEngineering · Jan 27, 2022

As long as you are careful with the heat, you can use a torch. Just keep it moving and keep trying the valve. You don't need to get it red hot or smoking.

The only concern with using an open flame is if there's oil on the outside.

Hairdryer isn't hot enough. Get an electric heat gun if the flame scares you.

Jim.ME · Jan 27, 2022

(quoted from post at 18:14:18 01/26/22) It is a northern hydraulic valve mounted on a Massey Ferguson 1240 tractor. It has been below 10 the last few days. I am going to try it again in the next day or so.

So is a propane torch OK to use to free it up?

Well, I can guess it has caps on the end of the spools opposite the handle. And if it is mounted vertically there might be water in the caps which freezes when it is cold. The fix for that is to remove the caps and get the water out of the caps and from around the spool/spring of each. Then keep the valve covered if setting outside.

showcrop · Jan 27, 2022

It is probably that you are using UTF and not using your tractor long enough frequently enough to get it hot enough to drive the moisture out of the oil. You need to get it warmed up as well as you can and change it.

Leroy · Jan 27, 2022

I would be afraid of using torch for burning up seals inside. And those magnetic heaters and I have had and don't get warm enought to do anything, worthless. If you are where ypu can hook up a heat lamp that I would think is the best. The heat bulbs used to when we had hogs keep the water fountains open for hogs to drink.

Dim Pete · Jan 27, 2022

Thanks for all your help, I will try a heat lamp, and in warmer weather see if I can take the caps off and look for moisture.

showcrop · Jan 27, 2022

(quoted from post at 13:50:52 01/27/22) Thanks for all your help, I will try a heat lamp, and in warmer weather see if I can take the caps off and look for moisture.

Pete, to check for moisture you want to loosen the drain plug and just let a little out. Water isn't a very good lubricant.

Tslinger · Jan 28, 2022

It doesn't take much water in the hydraulic fluid to get it to freeze up. I think I got perhaps a cup, or two of water out of the 10 gal in the system on my JD300. That was enough to stop loader functions until the oil heated up enough to melt the ice. I haven't had to run yet this winter, so I'm assuming I'll be good to go now, but we'll see. (PITA to get that out since the sump only holds half of the fluid at any given time... Probably still some more in there, but hoping it's just a trace)

Frozen loader valve

Dim Pete

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jm.

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Dim Pete

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used red MN

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Jim.ME

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Dim Pete

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Ken Macfarlane

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BarnyardEngineering

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Jim.ME

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showcrop

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Leroy

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Dim Pete

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showcrop

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Tslinger

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