Question for Tom Arnold

MtMan · Oct 1, 2015

I enjoy reading your answers and your expertise on Case equipment. My question is my 646 calls for 30 wt. oil in the hydraulics and its getting old and maybe a little slow. Would heavier oil help or not. Thanks.

Tom Arnold · Oct 2, 2015

Yes.... you can use straight 40 or straight 50 but only if you are operating the tractor in ambient temps above the freeze point of water. Of course, you do realize that this is just a stop gap measure that will improve things marginally but more than likely..it is time for a new pump. In order for that heavier oil to be effective, you have to drain the reservoir and all of the cylinders or the old oil will thin out the new oil and you won't notice much difference. There is also the possibility that the banana plate parts are getting badly worn and that pressing on the foot pedal is not giving you full travel of the spool into and out of the control valve. That too will make the tractor feel slow. I suggest that you spend some time doing a bit of diagnosis to try and ascertain the true cause of your difficulties.

MtMan · Oct 2, 2015

Thanks for the comeback Tom, I know both the tractor and me are getting old and a little slow. The reason that I never put anything but 30 wt. in the hydraulics is as you said because of cold weather. I only have a bucket on mine and that's all I use it for. Very handy machine for moving snow in close quarters. I don't approve of bandaiding repairs either. Good Luck to you

Tom Arnold · Oct 2, 2015

You can use the heavier oil in cold weather providing you take steps to keep the tractor warm between usage. Throw a heavy tarp over it that hits the floor all the way around and weight that tarp so it is away from the tractor. Then put a small heating device that will not start any fires under the middle of the tractor and leave it on during cold weather. As long as it keeps the air temp under the tarp a bit higher than 32 degrees F, then the tractor should be happy with the heavier oil.

Question for Tom Arnold

MtMan

Member

Tom Arnold

Well-known Member

MtMan

Member

Tom Arnold

Well-known Member

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