The article considers the issues associated with the friction of radiation-hardened fluoroplastic on steel in a hydraulic fluid environment during the transition period at the beginning of movement. The friction coefficients are studied when starting from a standstill, at the beginning and in steady motion. Changes in the value of the friction coefficient and changes in the amplitude of oscillation of the friction moment are analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the influence of the restart of motion in a friction coupling. Quantitative relationships of tribological properties are established depending on the time of relative sliding of the samples. It is noted that the friction coefficients in different modes are differ a lot, however, the running-in process proceeds quickly and in the practice of operating hydraulic devices, the running-in process of fluoroplastic seals can be ignored