[Vwdiesel] Risks of Hydraulic Heating?

[Val Christian]

Gang,

On my DIESEL (idi, even) tractor, I have an annual problem with hydraulics
jambing up.  What I think happens is that moisture in the hydraulic system
(transmission, brakes, loader, etc.) crystalizes at low temps, and as a 
solid, clogs the hydraulic filter.

Heating the filter, with a propane torch frees things up, and after a 
period of operation at winter temps, the system seems pretty trouble free.

Here's the problem...how to cook out the oil?  

This year, I'm considering running the tractor at a moderate power 
1800 out of 3000 RPM, and putting the hydraulics into a lock mode, so that
the pressure limiter goes into bypass.  I'm a little concerned about
the effects on the bypass valve (erosion, etc.), and local heating of the 
hydraulic oil as it goes through the bypass.  Can anyone comment?

Val

ps: As the battery fails on the tractor, I find that running the block heater
pays of (timewise, not powerwise) over topping the charge on the battery.
Hello summer cylinders.  If my cars were harder starting, I'd be popping
frost plugs.

pps: Extreme cold starting technique...I've seen the gas/kero soaked rag
trick used at the quarries.  I did something similar on an old Rabbit, 
except that it was in the garage.  I wanted something cleaner.  I pulled 
off the crankcase vent hose, and used tissue saturated with isopropyl 
alcohol.  I reasoned that the tissue wouldn't hurt the engine when injected
and the alcohol wouldn't be as sooty.  Later refinements had an assistant
holding a propane torch in the intake manifold.  Preheating the propane 
in extreme cold helps, but the burn is short.  5 or 10 seconds.
The same torch is used to blast misquitoes in the garage in the summer.