Hydro Cooler Failure TC-40D

PineRidge · Mar 10, 2006

Yesterday when I went to jump on our TC40D I noticed a wet spot under the tractor. Upon closer inspection I located a stress crack in one of the hydraulic oil lines right where it exits the shell of the oil cooler. I understand that NH has since come up with an improved oil cooler because of failures in the inlet and outlet tubes on these oil coolers. (Part number 87301196) Can anyone elaborate on this problem a bit more?

PineRidge · Mar 10, 2006

The oil cooler

PineRidge · Mar 10, 2006

The damage, follow the arrow and you can just make out the stress crack. This happened at 500 hours on the meter.

kensfarm · Mar 10, 2006

Hey PineRidge.. I see you have some dirt on your tires.. but your engine looks pretty clean.. isn't there any dust in Ohio?

I also have a stress crack on the oil cooler.. it is not on the oil line exit.. but on the weld for the bracket.. right next to the oil line exit. Wonder if it's just from all the vibration... bad welds?

PineRidge · Mar 10, 2006

<font color="blue"> Hey PineRidge.. I see you have some dirt on your tires.. but your engine looks pretty clean.. isn't there any dust in Ohio? </font>

Ken you're right we were out playing in the mud just before we shot the picture. Seems like right now there's an excess of mud on our property. I'm going to need to spread more gravel and extend the drive once the weather breaks. We see our share of dust here in Ohio too but the pressure washer makes short work of it.

If your cooler is no longer under warranty think I might suggest that you repair the mount before it gets any worse. If it looks like mine you could probably double up the thickness of the metal at the mount to eliminate that from happening again in the future.

jinman · Mar 10, 2006

I probably should keep my mouth shut and not jinx myself, but I've never been known to be that smart. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I have 1050 hours on my tractor and the oil cooler is holding up good so far. When I put the battery box in, I did modify the mounting slightly so maybe mine is just different enough to not be subject to the harmonics.

I'm also thinking the age of my tractor is at least two years more that yours, Mike. I'm not sure about Ken's. I think "techinNY" posted about quite a few failures just like yours. Every time I have my hood open, I try to remember to check.

Mike, have you discovered how the fitting is attached? Brazed? Welded? Since you caught it at this point, maybe it will be a simple fix. Hope so...

DieselMonk · Mar 10, 2006

i wonder if you could fix that with a little mig welder and Co2? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

PineRidge · Mar 10, 2006

Jim it appears to me that the tube passes through the end plate and is mechanically welded to the plate to stabilize the stub from vibration. Unfortunately the harmonics eventually cause the failure at the junction of the plate/stub (probably the weakest point). I haven't seen a new style cooler since my dealer didn't have a cooler in stock. Can't make a comparison at this point. Maybe once the new cooler comes in I can snap a picture or two of it to compare. It's not a bad job at all changing a cooler, 15 minutes and it was out, I'm sure installing the new one won't be any more difficult. In fact it will most likely take more time to top off the hydraulic fluid after the job has been completed.

kensfarm · Mar 14, 2006

"I might suggest that you repair the mount before it gets any worse."

Right now it has a temp fix.. loop of wire twisted tight.

I've been spreading manure for 2 days straight.. my piled accumulation from the winter. The manure spreader is a 2-beater NH 518. Of course the Mrs. gave me her approval coming out of the house w/ her shirt on her face.. telling me "It Really Stinks!"

Took Mon. off to plow it all under.. great day for plowing.. it was in the 80's. After a dozen passes.. found that the right sway-bar welds.. where it attaches to the lower lift arm.. broke completly off. I plowed the rest of the day w/ only the one working sway-bar.. had to tie-up the broken one to keep it out of the way. A local welder showed up that afternoon.. took the pieces w/ him. I have to ask him to look at the bracket too.. he also took my bent-up potatoe plow w/ him. He always does super work.

djradz · Mar 15, 2006

My 40D does not have the bracket on the top at each side which connects the cooler to the radiator. It makes the cooler less stable, but also makes it easier to clean the front of the radiator as I can push the top of the cooler a little forward and get at the radiator easier. The cooler is only held by the brackets at the bottom which go down to the plate below the battery. Maybe, although this makes the setup less stiff, it somehow allows the cooler to move with the hoses and create less stress at the connection. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif