Thanks for the welcome, just new here.
I like the idea of being able to have a place to go to dispel the incorrect ideas that come up about lubrication. Also I have my own question that I could use a real answer for.
To that point and I will start a thread for this.
I have just come across a situation that I have seen before or expected. A friend recently purchased an older but completely serviceable Bantham crane 19 t on a wheeled chassis. It has a set of tandem drives in the rear. Now I live in rural western Canada and this morning it is -16C or about 4F (ie. cold). We wanted to move the unit about in a cold shed and after plugging it in (for the night) the GM diesel started like a charm. But it would not move and Buddy had been using it before freeze up ?
We thought that the air brakes must be frozen to the drums, no not the case. (It is dam handy to be able to lift the drives of the ground with the stabilizer jacks). Ok, so what is wrong? It seemed like both diffs were frozen as the drive line would load up but there was no motion of the wheels. But how could that happen?
Water, both differentials we're filled, yes filled, with water. We pulled the inspection plugs and found ice. So two and a half hours later with stove pipe and a tiger torch (yes, two large fire extinguishers on had) we drained and I swear, two gallons of water then diff. juice from each.
The encouraging thing was that it came as water then oil after heating. We also left the drain plugs in ( inspection plugs out) so that the hot water would transfer the heat to the gears.
So Ok you experts, what is the best way to flush at minimal cost and labour? Now remember we may still have some ice/water at the wheel bearings.
One thought was fill with diesel fuel, drive far enough to warm thoroughly drain, refill drive to warm, drain. Then refill with quality diff. juice and a lubricity enhancer. Use for a bit and check for contaminated fluids.
Good idea or bad, remember the unit will probably only travel a few hundred miles per year.
I put this out to the informed for educated opinion.
Thanks in advance!
I like the idea of being able to have a place to go to dispel the incorrect ideas that come up about lubrication. Also I have my own question that I could use a real answer for.
To that point and I will start a thread for this.
I have just come across a situation that I have seen before or expected. A friend recently purchased an older but completely serviceable Bantham crane 19 t on a wheeled chassis. It has a set of tandem drives in the rear. Now I live in rural western Canada and this morning it is -16C or about 4F (ie. cold). We wanted to move the unit about in a cold shed and after plugging it in (for the night) the GM diesel started like a charm. But it would not move and Buddy had been using it before freeze up ?
We thought that the air brakes must be frozen to the drums, no not the case. (It is dam handy to be able to lift the drives of the ground with the stabilizer jacks). Ok, so what is wrong? It seemed like both diffs were frozen as the drive line would load up but there was no motion of the wheels. But how could that happen?
Water, both differentials we're filled, yes filled, with water. We pulled the inspection plugs and found ice. So two and a half hours later with stove pipe and a tiger torch (yes, two large fire extinguishers on had) we drained and I swear, two gallons of water then diff. juice from each.
The encouraging thing was that it came as water then oil after heating. We also left the drain plugs in ( inspection plugs out) so that the hot water would transfer the heat to the gears.
So Ok you experts, what is the best way to flush at minimal cost and labour? Now remember we may still have some ice/water at the wheel bearings.
One thought was fill with diesel fuel, drive far enough to warm thoroughly drain, refill drive to warm, drain. Then refill with quality diff. juice and a lubricity enhancer. Use for a bit and check for contaminated fluids.
Good idea or bad, remember the unit will probably only travel a few hundred miles per year.
I put this out to the informed for educated opinion.
Thanks in advance!