Help! Mighty Mouse Nibbled Kryptonite Maybe

[dex3361]

I will definitely do everything you say before I go into it. It is still functional, just suddenly not right after always being right. It is hard to believe this could be caused by wear so suddenly. Its only been 100 or so hrs since the changeover to SUDT, filter change and screen cleaning. The fluid looks perfect - like when I 1st poured it in. The trans is getting up to luke warm so no frozen water. Not likely any water in so clear a fluid either. Im thinking something is sticking because of the cold. Ill keep using it for the snowthrowing -no choice really- and just baby the travel/push mode. Every thing else works perfect and its running strong.
When/if the time comes Ill have no problem making the measurements. I just need to know where and what I should see under what conditions.
Does anybody know if the suction screen is just a prefilter in the same line as the hydro filter canister. If so its just a restrictive bird catcher with no more birds to catch at this point. Removing it would ease the suction and the finepore high filter area in the canister would keep the oil just as clean. I removed the one in the Mahindra at suggestion of the tech rep. He said they only serve during break in then just get in the way.
Thanks for all the helpful stuff everybody.
larry

I would not permanently remove the suction screen. The screen is a cheap replacement and add little restriction to the suction(if clean) but may pay off big if something gets into the oil. The first thing I would check is the Screen it sounds as though it has been overlooked thus far and can cause the grief you are describing. The screen is on the suction side the Hydraulic pump and the filter is on the discharge(high pressure) side of the pump.

 

[AKfish]

OK. A brand new filter helps but doesnt cure. I ran it around in hi range a good bit. Another thing I noticed is letting off completely on the pedal for "braking" going down hill can send it into a freewheeling mode - hydraulic coupling is lost. I can see this being very dangerous under the wrong circumstances -- but a clue just the same. When the pedal goes dead [no control] the pto clutch remains engaged -- and the 3ph lift operates normally. In fact, it almost seems the operation of the 3ph lift actually resets the pedal in that case so it works again. Also, problems seem to be worse at full throttle than reduced throttle. .........Any more ideas?? I wonder if this is going to go away when the weather warms.
larry

Do you have a normal amount of power at the pto? Not just operates - but will work under load? And the 3pt lift? Not just moves up and down normally - but will pick up and hold a heavy attachment?

I'm wondering if you have a problem at the sump?

AKfish

 

[oldnslo]

To summarrize:
1) Fluid is warm so moisture is ruled out.
2) OP states lift and steering are working properly so pump is operational.

To me this narrows the suspect list down to:
1) The travel control linkage is not connected properly to the input control shaft on the HST.
2) The charge relief is stuck open. If this is true you might do some damage to your HST if you keep operating it in this fashion.

I realize it is difficult to see the control linkage input but might be worth a look.

Roy

 

[dex3361]

I would say he has found the problem and is busy using the machine and forgot to tell us.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I would say he has found the problem and is busy using the machine and forgot to tell us.

No, too much snow and no good place to work under the circumstances. Too many other things to do because of the snow. Im going to check the suction screen 1st. May get to that this weekend.

I wont forget to post when theres news.
larry

 

[dex3361]

No, too much snow and no good place to work under the circumstances. Too many other things to do because of the snow. Im going to check the suction screen 1st. May get to that this weekend.

I wont forget to post when theres news.
larry

I replaced the suction screen on my BX1500 I ordered a new one from Messicks for around $10 if I remember right. There was very little on the screen when I pulled it off. I replaced the fluid with SUDT. The fluid appeared to be milky and when I checked it it was moisture(could have been air bubbles).

 

[The Haymaker]

Milky white fluid is water. I was going to say that when someone mentioned the crackle test.

I'd chase that before anything else, always start with the cheap stuff instead of "Your transmission is going to fall out and be broken when you run it over". Even if the filters are plugged, the water could be settling in a low spot and impeding flow. But that scenario should disappear once the unit is warmed up.

The symptoms you mentioned sound like a starving issue, right down to the erratic 3pt lift. Is power steering effected too?

My rig had the same symptoms when I broke a filter housing. No leaks, but turns out it was sucking air.

E

 

[SPYDERLK]

Milky white fluid is water. I was going to say that when someone mentioned the crackle test.

I'd chase that before anything else, always start with the cheap stuff instead of "Your transmission is going to fall out and be broken when you run it over". Even if the filters are plugged, the water could be settling in a low spot and impeding flow. But that scenario should disappear once the unit is warmed up.

The symptoms you mentioned sound like a starving issue, right down to the erratic 3pt lift. Is power steering effected too?

My rig had the same symptoms when I broke a filter housing. No leaks, but turns out it was sucking air.

E

Yes, a starving issue seems right. Everything else works normally, but affects the ability to go while using PS or lift. I get a kick from the PS (loss of assist) occasionally Never seen that before. My fluid is SUDT about 100 hrs old and perfectly clear. Filter changed and screen cleaned at the time.
Im going to check the screen when I can get a round tuit. Not conducive now with snow,muck, farm work, job ...
I will report back.
larry

 

[The Haymaker]

Yes, a starving issue seems right. Everything else works normally, but affects the ability to go while using PS or lift. I get a kick from the PS (loss of assist) occasionally Never seen that before. My fluid is SUDT about 100 hrs old and perfectly clear. Filter changed and screen cleaned at the time.
Im going to check the screen when I can get a round tuit. Not conducive now with snow,muck, farm work, job ...
I will report back.
larry

If it truly is starving, I'd run it as little as possible. Pumps do not like being dry.

E

 

[SPYDERLK]

I finally got to it last week. Screen was pretty clean so I took it to the shop to get checked.

Well, yesterday I got word back from the shop. The transmission checks out ok via all external hyd pressure ports, so the problem is mechanical. The mechanic has talked to Kubota and they believe it is a broken cradle bearing. Near as I can tell that supports the internal point linking the pedal to the variable displacement pump. The mechanic was puzzled as to a cause of it breaking. He said "maybe repeated slamming the pedal forward to reverse could do it". That has never happened .. or maybe once - who knows.:confused2: ... It does bring up a worry about quick stops and starts tho. [Theres a thread about some models that do wheelies when you let off while backing up.] What its looking like is a component that is fragile in relation to its function. I expect this will start showing up in hi hour tractors that people use firmly, thinking they are as strong as they act. I thot these transmissions were inherently self protecting via the hydraulic relief settings.
larry