Eaton 1100 refuses to lift until warmed up.....

[Fordiesel69 263]

This is the strangest problem I have come across.  The hydro lift will not lift, it does not make noise, nada.  If you warm it up for just 5 min, it will lift sluggish on the first lift, then seems to be strong there after.  Yes a snowblow is heavy compared to a deck, and plow but still.  Based on the engine sound, it is not straining due to thick viscous tranny fluid.  Its like something in the tranny is not working until warm.  Forward and reverse seems strong.  It will lug the engine quite a bit, so it is not slipping.  Ideas?

[Ed Kennell 38,815]

If the temp is below 40F, my 312 hydro needs a 5 minute warm up for the lift to work,  then works fine.

At 60F, it works fine on start up.   So IMO the viscosity of the oil is the culprit.  I have not changed the oil, so I can not verify what oil was used by the PO.

Do you have 5W30 in your 1100 ?

 

Edited March 2, 2016 by ekennell

[WNYPCRepair 1,923]

My 520-H takes a few minutes too.

[Kurt-NEPA 755]

I've owned 3 520H's with the Eaton 1100,  All three needed to warm up a bit before the lift would work.  My best one would take about a minute, the worst was as much as 5 minutes. It seems to be better in warm weather and worse in dead of winter.

 

 

 

[MalMac 1,331]

It is the nature of the beast. Nothing to worry about. Almost all 1100's do it. I have found that Mobil 1 will help somewhat. Best thing to do is let it warm up. 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,107]

Lift is mentioned in this PSB as being slow on a cold start. Warm-up times are listed

Garry

[Kurt-NEPA 755]

Thanks gwest.  Strange that it says to drill a 1/4" hold in housing without explaining the purpose.  The hole is between the hydro and the top of the transaxle, it might act like a vent.

 

 

 

 

[MalMac 1,331]

Thanks gwest, I have the SB around here somewhere but could not find it to post it. Little side note to  the bulliten, It says this will occur when wear starts to appear. I have had a new one straight from the show room floor do it and have seen other new ones do it to. I do believe it's just a design problem. 

[pfrederi 17,913]

Even the SB says the lift being slow is normal the SB is about movement of the tractor

 

 

[Fordiesel69 263]

That's all fine and dandy, however with only 597 hrs I find it hard.  My 314-H's lift perfect even in the dead of winter.  This 312-H is newly acquired so I have no clue what people put in it.  I will probably do a filter and swap out for 5W-20 as it will only be used in the dead of winter. If summer I would do the mobil 1 10w-30.

[WNYPCRepair 1,923]

My 520-H only has 534 hours

 

[bds1984 1,444]

I must have an exception to this, my 520 has 1110 hard hours on it (I've only had it for 30), and it immediately moves and lifts as soon as it is running no matter the temperature.  Even though I have never been a Valvoline man, I suspect using their 10W30 synthetic and a Wix filter may have something to do with it.  Was there a design change that happened in 1988?  I know the Eaton 1100 was in use before then.  

Edited March 2, 2016 by bds1984

[squonk 41,474]

If it bothers you a lot get on of these 300 watt magnetic block heaters from like Napa and others. Stick it on the bottom of the hydro. I use these all the time on my Sunstrand hydro and the oil res on my Power King loader. They work great! Don't forget to remove them when you use the machine! 

 

Edited March 2, 2016 by squonk

[pfrederi 17,913]

3 hours ago, Fordiesel69 said:

That's all fine and dandy, however with only 597 hrs I find it hard.  My 314-H's lift perfect even in the dead of winter.  This 312-H is newly acquired so I have no clue what people put in it.  I will probably do a filter and swap out for 5W-20 as it will only be used in the dead of winter. If summer I would do the mobil 1 10w-30.

 

 

My 418A which has a lot of hours only some from me has to think for quite awhile before she will pick up the mower deck  or in previous years the snowblower.  Changed out the Walmart 10w-30 oil for Mobil 1 and wix filter....No difference.

 

She is off winter duty as i got tired of gassing myself while she warmed up enough to pick up the blower and move outside.  Those old Sundtrands running regular old ATF will pick up and move out right away

[Fordiesel69 263]

Does anyone know what inside the tranny would need looked at / modded to allow cold operation of the lift?

[shallowwatersailor 3,213]

4 hours ago, Fordiesel69 said:

Does anyone know what inside the tranny would need looked at / modded to allow cold operation of the lift?

You would probably need to "blueprint" the transmission. Make sure the tolerances of the machined parts are on the tight side, try and smooth any passages inside the castings, and possibly increase the pipes/hoses size. Check other user applications besides Wheel Horse of this transmission to see if there are any continuous cold operation suggestions. 

 

The problem with using the recommended motor oil is that the viscosity, even synthetic, is still pretty thick compared to ATF fluid used in a Sunstrand. I don;t think that I would use anything but the recommended fluid though. An engine has combustion creating heat so the oil thins quicker. The Eaton 1100 really needs an external electrical heater like Mike suggested for consistent cold weather operation.

 

I haven't used my Wheel Horse Hydros in the winter but have used my three 5xi. There must be a design difference with their Eaton 11 as I can use my lift almost right away. All are over 550 hours with Mobil 1 10W-30 oil. I actually have two Kat 200W heaters but have never needed to use them.

 

 

Edited March 2, 2016 by shallowwatersailor

[can whlvr 993]

my 312-h had tranny fluid in it when I bought it,i guess someone before didn't like waiting for her to warm up,it responds near instantly,but I wouldn't change oil types if it wasn't done allready

[Fordiesel69 263]

I am going to shoot for 5w-20.  I have loads of it laying around.  Im sure it won't hurt in winter.  I would not feel comfortable using it in the summer however.  In the winter the tranny can't even get warn when overworked.  In the summer I can barly place my hand on it. 

[cleat 6,420]

My old Ford LGT165 also had an Eaton 1100 hydro unit and it used ATF.

 

Everything worked instantly but it did moan a lot even in the middle of the summer.

 

[WH nut 553]

I have found that if you cycle the motion control lever a couple times mine will lift sooner

[shallowwatersailor 3,213]

40 minutes ago, WH nut said:

I have found that if you cycle the motion control lever a couple times mine will lift sooner

I forgot that trick. My log splitter has that in the directions for cold weather use. It says to cycle the ram a few times before beginning to split the logs.

[Dennis624 0]

Has anyone had any success overhauling a Eaton model 11?

[cleat 6,420]

I have 4 machines with the 1100 trans.

 

The older 520H and 520HC (from the late 80's) take a minute or two even in the heated garage.

The newer 520 and 416 (from the 90's) respond almost instantly.

All run 10W30 dino oil.

 

I don't know if there was a design change or what but that is what I notice.

 

However, I don't care because after a minute or two all 4 act exactly the same.

 

 

[Ed Kennell 38,815]

Strange Cleat... I only have two 1100s but they act the opposite. 

   My '88 520 lifts instantly, and my '95 314  needs a few minutes warm up to lift.   Both have 10W30 oil.

                                                                                                  

[Theroundhousernr 590]

3 minutes ago, ekennell said:

Strange Cleat... I only have two 1100s but they act the opposite.

   My '88 520 lifts instantly, and my '95 314  needs a few minutes warm up to lift.   Both have 10W30 oil.

                                                                                                  

lol I think we can all agree that they all have there own personalities.lol My 94 416H takes a minute or two to lift. Its really the only one i run in the cold. I will say though that this 1986 417 I just got lifted the deck right up in the cold weather the other day.