1811 hydraulic problems
 

I moved my 1811 out of the garage the other day so I could put my car inside it. We have had a bunch of sleet and now we are having a blizzard. Its been under a tarp this whole time. Now I went out and started it up and the blade wont move, nor will the tractor move. The engine is running just fine, and there is no resistance when I move the lever for the blade or when I move the engaging lever for the tractors drive. Nothing happens at all.

Is it possible for the hydraulic fluid to freeze? The tractor was running just fine the other day when I parked it. The temperature is around 19 degrees with a 1 degree windchill. The only thing I did differently then normal is I left the blade raised so it didnt freeze to the concrete.

Please lord dont tell me I got a bad hydraulic pump.

Does the back end of the input shaft of the hydro turn? If not, you probably sheared off a spirol pin in the driveshaft. That's extremely common.

If it was cold enough to freeze the hydro fluid, the last thing you'd worry about is your hydro fluid freezing.

I figured the hydraulic fluid freezing was a huge long shot. I dont know if the shaft is turning or not. I will have to wait for this blizzard to die before Im gonna go back and mess around with it. Figures the one time in 3 years I absolutely need this tractor it takes a dump on me.

Matt can you tell me one more thing, how do you unlock the hydro system so you can freely push the 1811?

It has auto release valves...just push it and it'll release and roll.

Thanks for the answers Matt. Hope your not getting it as bad as we are here in Springfield.

I just shoveled the entire length of my drive way by hand, and I have one long drive way. Nothing like a bulging disc and arthritis in my spine to make it even better.

I'm currently at school in sunny Florida, where there's no snow and it was 75 and sunny today:biggrin2::OhOh::HeeHee:

I haven't heard from my parents yet as to how much snow there is in Rockford. We have a 550' driveway, but between my Dad's Farmall B, walk-behind, and my 782/QA-36A and 1872/364 blower, something's got to work...:biggrin2:

Hahahaha nice, enjoy Florida :beerchug:

:bigthink:Didn't know if you were able to see the shaft turning but another quick way to tell is when the hydraulics are cold you will hear a winning noise if you hear this noise when you first start it up you may just be low on fluid mine was a little low and and nothing worked it didnt take much about 1/2 qt good luck!

Where is the quick release valve? I'd like to know if my 1811 has one.

Mbull,


Welcome to OCC!

Your 1811 has auto release valves. Just push it and they should release.
They are located under the tunnel cover on top of the hydro unit.

I will be darned!

I went out and started my 1811 for the first time since the blizzard and the darn thing had no problems at all with the hydraulics. The blade went up and down and the tractor went back and forth just like normal.

I am completely baffled by this, but Im also very happy to have my tractor working like normal. Though I am worried that the tractor may have developed a more complicated problem then a sheared spirol pin.

I think it is possible that the spirol pin is sheared, and possibly is galled to the shaft at present.. it may last for a very long time, or it likely will break loose again- at the bottom of your driveway, or some very inconvenient place.

Murphy's law will never be repealed.

Well I talked to the Cub Cadet service center here in town. The mechanic I spoke with said he believes the problem was the ambient temperature. He said on even new model Cubs the hydro system wont work if its cold enough. He suggested keeping it in the garage and letting it sit and run for a while to warm up.

So I dont know

If I have the problem again when its warm out I will know its not that. If I experience the problem again while its cold out still Im gonna hook up some space heaters around the Cub and see what happens. When I get time I will pop the tranny tunnel cover off and take a look inside to see what I can see.

Have you changed the fluid lately?
They can collect moisture, and it doesn’t take but a small amount to freeze in the sump inlet.
That will stop all fluid from flowing till it thaws, those hydro's are pretty much trouble free.

When it is near o* they still work but need warm up time and they are noisy, as is typical of any hydraulic system when cold.
You say the shaft is turning, have you actually checked the rear of the hydro to see if the shaft that is sticking out of the back side of the hydro is turning??
not just the drive shaft between the hydro and the engine.

I disagree with your service center. The hydro should work even when it's really cold. It may whine alot at first but it should still work even right after start up at least for an 1811.

I agree with AGGITCH, My 1211 sites outside year around. It was -7 a couple weeks ago when I plowed the driveway and normally in the teens and low twenty's. It started rite up and lifted the blade off the ground so I could kick the snow off it. It whines for a minute or two, after that it is no different than in the summer time.

Ol'George, I have not changed the hydro fluid. I honestly have no idea how long its been since its been changed if ever. Its been on my to do list. But what your suggesting about moister in it freezing it something I wondered myself. I have not seen if any of the parts are turning yet as I have yet to take the time to check it.

Aagitch, Jbollis, you guys might very well be right that the service center is wrong. The part that didnt make sense to me was the fact I have run it when its been colder out with out problems, but it has always sat in the garage where the ambient temperature is slightly higher then the outside. So I dont know at this point.