Tachdriver
Silver Member
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2010
- Messages
- 224
- Tractor
- Kubota bx25
As you may remember, we last talked about my Engine Oil Filter relocation project and during that discussion a gentleman, Volfandt suggested I ramp it up a notch and launch a project to relocate the hydrostatic trans filter and install a cooler with thermostatic bypass while at it.....http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/209562-bx-25-remote-oil-filter.html
....well I accepted that challenge. The parts you see are the following
1. Steel tubing
2. Dakota oil psi gauge 0-150
3. Dakota trans temperature gauge
4. 1993-95 Mazda Rx7 stock oil cooler
5. 7" Amazon.com cooler fan
6. Simple on/off switch
7. Summit Oil filter relocation kit
8. Various fittings
The Rx7 oil cooler is top notch design. 10 row plate all aluminum oil cooler with a 140F oil bypass. After 140F is reached - ALL oil is passed thru the cooler. Up until then it is primarily bypassed.
The flow is as follows - Out of the Transmission, past a oil pressure tap, into the oil filter, out of the filter and into the cooler inlet, out of the cooler and past a temperature tap and back to the transmission. All openings are at least 1/2" or bigger.
I am running out of usable room so the gauges had to be mounted in CF pods and installed on the hood. Had some reservations over this but once installed I like it. I can see the readings clearly. The raising of the hood is unimpeded.
Mounting the cooler took more thought. Again the BX25 is strapped for room and I already have a lot of mods installed. I ended up making a bracket and drilled/taped the bottom side of the ROPS for the bracket. Originally was going to clamp it but ran out of room, I was surprised to see the ROPs thickness to be almost 1/4" in this area. Threads are 3/8" -24 fine thread. The oil filter pedestal is mounted on the fender. Getting to the fuel cap is not a problem.
I put a switch on the fan so that I have control of the temperature, especially in colder weather.
Now for the test. The pump outlet pressure runs 110 psig to the oil filter. This was confirmed by the gentleman who looked it up for me in his manual (thanks). Everything is rated to sustain this pressure. Rx7 oil pressure is greater than that at times, so the cooler is good. I had a large pile of dirt from a recent excavation that I needed to move and spread around. The outside temperature was close to 90F that day. I worked on that pile for a good three hours until it was gone with the FEL. My oil return temperature never got over 130F and that was with the fan off. Turn the fan on and it drops 5 to 10f quickly. It takes a long time to get to 130F and once there lingers +/- several degrees. Even though the cooler is still in bypass at that temperature I know a flow is passing thru it also because it gets warm. You can see the oil psi on the left gauge and the temp on the right one.
In summary I believe this mod will extend the life of my Transmission, the hydraulic lines and cylinder seals. I have read of BX hyd oil temps getting over 200f in others machines. It was satisfying to think this out and make up all the plates and adapters. I had to weld fittings on the stock Rx7 oil coolers to accept 1/2" npt.
I believe I am about done modifying my machine for now, at least the major stuff. I worked on my road today with the Ratchet Rake and enjoyed every minute of it. I had bought a canopy for it off of ebay and put it on when working in the hot sun, another good piece to have on these machines.
So, thanks for the challenge Volfandt....and in the words of one of my good friends - "Is that all you got" ! Hope you like it
Later
....well I accepted that challenge. The parts you see are the following
1. Steel tubing
2. Dakota oil psi gauge 0-150
3. Dakota trans temperature gauge
4. 1993-95 Mazda Rx7 stock oil cooler
5. 7" Amazon.com cooler fan
6. Simple on/off switch
7. Summit Oil filter relocation kit
8. Various fittings
The Rx7 oil cooler is top notch design. 10 row plate all aluminum oil cooler with a 140F oil bypass. After 140F is reached - ALL oil is passed thru the cooler. Up until then it is primarily bypassed.
The flow is as follows - Out of the Transmission, past a oil pressure tap, into the oil filter, out of the filter and into the cooler inlet, out of the cooler and past a temperature tap and back to the transmission. All openings are at least 1/2" or bigger.
I am running out of usable room so the gauges had to be mounted in CF pods and installed on the hood. Had some reservations over this but once installed I like it. I can see the readings clearly. The raising of the hood is unimpeded.
Mounting the cooler took more thought. Again the BX25 is strapped for room and I already have a lot of mods installed. I ended up making a bracket and drilled/taped the bottom side of the ROPS for the bracket. Originally was going to clamp it but ran out of room, I was surprised to see the ROPs thickness to be almost 1/4" in this area. Threads are 3/8" -24 fine thread. The oil filter pedestal is mounted on the fender. Getting to the fuel cap is not a problem.
I put a switch on the fan so that I have control of the temperature, especially in colder weather.
Now for the test. The pump outlet pressure runs 110 psig to the oil filter. This was confirmed by the gentleman who looked it up for me in his manual (thanks). Everything is rated to sustain this pressure. Rx7 oil pressure is greater than that at times, so the cooler is good. I had a large pile of dirt from a recent excavation that I needed to move and spread around. The outside temperature was close to 90F that day. I worked on that pile for a good three hours until it was gone with the FEL. My oil return temperature never got over 130F and that was with the fan off. Turn the fan on and it drops 5 to 10f quickly. It takes a long time to get to 130F and once there lingers +/- several degrees. Even though the cooler is still in bypass at that temperature I know a flow is passing thru it also because it gets warm. You can see the oil psi on the left gauge and the temp on the right one.
In summary I believe this mod will extend the life of my Transmission, the hydraulic lines and cylinder seals. I have read of BX hyd oil temps getting over 200f in others machines. It was satisfying to think this out and make up all the plates and adapters. I had to weld fittings on the stock Rx7 oil coolers to accept 1/2" npt.
I believe I am about done modifying my machine for now, at least the major stuff. I worked on my road today with the Ratchet Rake and enjoyed every minute of it. I had bought a canopy for it off of ebay and put it on when working in the hot sun, another good piece to have on these machines.
So, thanks for the challenge Volfandt....and in the words of one of my good friends - "Is that all you got" ! Hope you like it
Later
