523Dxi hydro problem

[Marchettiman 0]

Have recently bought a 523Dxi wheelhorse here in the UK, only 750 hours showing since new.

When cold the transmission only drives forward and reverse with low engine speed, the power steering doesn't work despite cycling the steering wheel through full lock nor does the hydro deck lift work. After 10 minutes or so the tractor will drive ok, power steering works intermittently and finally all works well after about 20 minutes of use. The last thing to come on line is the deck lift. It seems once the hydro unit is hot everything works well. 

I have changed transmission oil for 10w30 synthetic oil, changed the hydro filter with a new Toro part and cleaned the power steering filter,  there are no obvious leaks.

Any ideas before I change the hydro pump unit?

 

[boovuc 1,090]

I don't own an Xi Series but I have seen threads on this topic over the years. You are not the first person to experience this anomaly with an Xi series tractor. This just may be how they act when cold though if others don't experience this with their tractors, there must be a reason it is doing it. I know I let my 520H spin for 5 minutes minimum in cold weather before moving it.

If you haven't done so, do a search on transmissions about it and see if you come up with one or two threads/topics on sluggish when cold hydros.

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,040]

Welcome to the forum.

 

In case you don't have it here is the service manual for the transmission

 

Garry

[RMCIII 838]

Marc - I have an "xi" and have expierenced a little of what yo udescribe.... Nothing to what you are saying though. It only does it when it is very cold... Mine is the lift is slow and forward movement seems to be "slower" than normal. So, as Boo pointed out, I just let it warm up and no issues.

 

Rob

[shallowwatersailor 3,213]

I have three 5xi including a 523Dxi which I purchased this past summer. Last winter I used the 518xi for snowplowing.  It does stay in a garage that cools when really cold to approximately 4 Degrees Celsius. It only gets used when it snows plus I live in an area that receives less snow compared to other parts of the country. This winter we are predicted to receive a maximum of 1.27 meters of snow for the season. The 523Dxi is doing the snow duty this winter so I don't have experience yet with extremely cold weather and its operation. Probably not related but I have noticed that there is more air movement due to the radiator fan than with the air-cooled Kohler.

 

I have a 200 watt magnetic heater to place on the transaxle case when cold. It does seem to help with the response when first starting out. At the end of plowing one time last season I felt the sump on the 518xi transaxle and it was warm, even though it was -8 degrees Celsius. I would suggest the heater and maybe one for the engine sump as well before considering tearing into the transmission.