Could there be THAT much water in my hydraulic fluid?

[lastcowboy32]

My Ford 3000 has been mostly parked for the off-season since about two months ago. With the exception of starting it every weekend to run it and using it to move some wagons around when I parked the haying equipment. It was outside up until about two weeks ago.

Once I got the hay loft all cleaned up and situated for winter, I drove it up the ramp and put it under cover.

Since then, it's on a battery maintainer, and I start it once every weekend for fifteen minutes or so, just to keep the engine lubricated and loose.

We had an oddball cold snap before the last time that I started it. It was below 32 for a few days in a row. When I got on that Saturday, it started, but when I let out the clutch, it would kill the engine.

Now, this isn't a situation like my old 2N, where the hydraulic pump only runs when the PTO is engaged and the clutch is let up.

The hydraulic pump in a Ford 3000 should be running all the time, right?

All that I can think is that there is SO much water in the hydraulic fluid that it froze the transmission so solid that, even when it's not in gear, I can't let out on the clutch.

It's been more seasonable this week and supposed to be in the forties this weekend. I'm thinking that I need to get it started and get it into the garage to change all of the hydraulic/transmission fluid.

As a side note, we got 10 inches of rain this October. A record for us. If there ever was a fall that a tractor sitting outside would get some water in it from a cracked shifting lever boot, or whatever...this would be the year.

 

[shaun wallace]

On 3000 hyd pump is engine driven. R/A and hyd is same compartment. Trans is separate, possible could freeze if water separated from oil. Can be checked by looseing drain plug. The water is condensation not getting in thru shift levers.

 

[lastcowboy32]

(quoted from post at 10:46:20 11/21/19) On 3000 hyd pump is engine driven. R/A and hyd is same compartment. Trans is separate, possible could freeze if water separated from oil. Can be checked by looseing drain plug. The water is condensation not getting in thru shift levers.

This tractor has never given me a shifting problem, but is there a possibility that the cold weather is just a coincidence and the transmission got stuck between gears (or in two gears, however you want to say it) when I parked it?

 

[5azzmonkey]

(quoted from post at 12:38:58 11/21/19)
All that I can think is that there is SO much water in the hydraulic fluid that it froze the transmission so solid that, even when it's not in gear, I can't let out on the clutch.

I changed the fluid on my neighbors 650 this spring I'd say over a gallon of water came out of the transmission and the rear end (each). As for the hydraulic fluid, there was no fluid nor water as the water in the sump froze over the winter and blew out the gasket.

-Dave

 

[Dean]

When was the trans oil last changed

Dean

 

[lastcowboy32]

(quoted from post at 12:04:15 11/21/19)

(quoted from post at 12:38:58 11/21/19)
All that I can think is that there is SO much water in the hydraulic fluid that it froze the transmission so solid that, even when it's not in gear, I can't let out on the clutch.

I changed the fluid on my neighbors 650 this spring I'd say over a gallon of water came out of the transmission and the rear end (each). As for the hydraulic fluid, there was no fluid nor water as the water in the sump froze over the winter and blew out the gasket.

-Dave

I still had hydraulics and I still had steering, which are in separate oil reservoirs... just couldn't let out the clutch than the tranny. The rear end of the tractor wasn't even in play yet, because the transmission has to be in neutral to start the tractor... which means that, even if I did let out the clutch, it wasn't trying to move the tractor.

If it's frozen moisture... it has to be in the tranny itself.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Yes it's possible.
I have seen two of those tractors that
the transmission froze on them.
Owners must have been brutes as they
revved them up and dumped the clutch.
Blew the input shaft gear out of them.

 

[Bob N.Y.]

I bought a non-running MF 35 a few months ago. When I drained the transmission/rear end, 2 gallons of water came out before the contaminated oil.

 

[RickB]

You can?t say with any certainty that water isn?t getting past the shifters and into the transmission.

 

[lastcowboy32]

(quoted from post at 13:15:04 11/21/19) When was the trans oil last changed

Dean

Good question. I've had it for three years, and I haven't changed it. Not sure about how long before that. Going to remedy that tomorrow.

 

[lastcowboy32]

(quoted from post at 13:10:51 11/22/19)

(quoted from post at 13:15:04 11/21/19) When was the trans oil last changed

Dean

Good question. I've had it for three years, and I haven't changed it. Not sure about how long before that. Going to remedy that tomorrow.

And, yes, I feel the proper amount of shame about that.