eMax 22 hst s rear differential/axle heat

[e1440]

New eMax 22 hst s (less then 10hrs). Ran mower for about 3 hrs., let idle for 2-4 min., shut down. Allowed to cool down for a 1/2 for cleaning (w/garden hose), started to spray of noticed steam from rear of tractor. Checked housing, it was so hot I could not keep my hand on. Allowed to cool down longer (45min.) It was still somewhat hot. Cleaned, started back up, checked for air flow over housing, from trans fan, seem to be good air flow.
?? has anyone else noticed if their rear axle housing and case getting very hot.
Just seems to be hotter than what I think it should be.
I'm going to borrow a heat meter from work tomorrow, just to see the temp.
Again ?? has anyone else notice this heat build-up ??

 

[Cramby]

That does not sound normal to me. Did you check oil level?

 

[e1440]

Up-date after looking over the tractor again. I noticed the their is no oil in trans-axle sight glass. We the sales rep and I had looked at sight glass, when it was dropped of earlier in the evening, and oil level was correct. The only thing I can think of is, I had operated loader to max and driven around for a while (some steep grades) to get used to traction and functions. The oil must have needed to flow into lower areas of housings.

Hopefully its a low oil issue and hopefully I didn't damage anything. going to top of and see just how much it takes. then I'm going to drain the hole system and replace with fresh oil and filter.

 

[dickfoster]

Up-date after looking over the tractor again. I noticed the their is no oil in trans-axle sight glass. We the sales rep and I had looked at sight glass, when it was dropped of earlier in the evening, and oil level was correct. The only thing I can think of is, I had operated loader to max and driven around for a while (some steep grades) to get used to traction and functions. The oil must have needed to flow into lower areas of housings.

Hopefully its a low oil issue and hopefully I didn't damage anything. going to top of and see just how much it takes. then I'm going to drain the hole system and replace with fresh oil and filter.

It's not good when a gearbox runs hot like that unless it's got brand new gears that are still breaking (lapping) in or something like that. It's normal for new gears to run hot until they work (wear) themselves together for a proper fit between them. When it is no longer running hot and starts running at normal temps (just warm), that's when you change out the oil and it should be normal after that. HSTs may run hotter due to all the fluid being worked harder but if it's that hot it needs a cooler in the oil line somewhere. I don't know about what EMax tractors have. Oh yeah make sure you aren't running around with the brakes locked, that would heat it up too.

 

[e1440]

Thanks for the advice, I'll top off differential and if it not an excessive amount low on gear oil I'll run out closer to Break-in period (50hrs) then change.
I'm still going to take heat reading of housing, to try to determine how fast the gear lube is going to break down and adjust maintenance schedule if needed.
Hopefully as I run more I will see the temps. come down, based on what you suggested (new part) may be causing excessive heat build-up.
Thank again

 

[dickfoster]

Well if it's the rear axle it take UTF or hydraulic fluid not standard gear lube. I don't know how hot is hot to you but new gears will generate heat over the warm to the touch temps. When I break in new diff gears in my truck I use a thermometer instead of miles driven to determine when the gears have broken it sufficiently to change out the oil.

 

[e1440]

Looking at my operator's manual for e Max 22 HST s/e Max 25 HST s, under capacity table. It shows 3.83-gal. of API GL-4Gear oil 80W. But I will double check with service department at Mahindra dealer.
And to the mount of heat build-up, the trans-axle housing was so hot I could not keep my hand on it in places (this is after it sat for a 1/2hr). I'm a welder/fabricator by trade and work at a foundry as a maintenance supervisor, so this is why the extreme heat build -up is so concerning to me.

 

[e1440]

I think you are correct, manual later recommends Mahindra universal tractor fluid. I have a call into then to let me know what type of fluid that is.
I'm starting agree with some of the -comments about Mahindra's manuals.

 

[Mattt2778]

Gear oil for the front axel and universal hydraulic in the rear. I used the premium universal hydraulic fluid from TSC with no issues in 220 hours. I'd check to make sure you aren't leaking fluid anywhere though. I had to tighten a few fitting within the first 10 hours, no leaks since though.

 

[e1440]

Yes you are correct (universal hydraulic fluid). That was the first thing I had checked for are (leaks), did not see any or any area that was damp. Parked in my shop on a dry floor and check again for any spotting, as far as I can tell there are no leaks.
That in the million dollar question, 3-hrs earlier fluid was at correct level in site glass, so where did it go?
I will know a little more when I top back off and see just how much I need to add.
Do not know enough about, internal make-up of trans/axle housing, to know if fluid seeped into an area that it is not suppose to be.