MSSQL Linked Server to Oracle

I am trying to run a query from inside MSSQL 7 to a linked Oracle server. I am using a where statement to limit the returns based on a date field in the Oracle database (8i). I cannot get it to recognize it at all. It always locks up my SQl server. Any help??
I've tried:
where (TRANS_DT >= '01/01/2004')
and
where (TRANS_DT >= '01-01-2004')
and
where (TRANS_DT >= '01-FEB-2004')

The query will only work when I access the Oracle db directly.

Have you tried using CONVERT to turn it into a DateTime? It looks to me like you are trying to compare a date to a string.