Mulcher heads: Hydraulic or PTO driven?

[whatsright05]

I was wondering if there is any one out there that is been around the Kodiak Kutter directed drive mulchers. we own 4 of them and was wondering if there has been any major problems with them? For instance the hydraulic oil heating up in them.

 

[cbturf]

If you own 4 of them you could probably tell us a few things. Hydraulic heating should not be a problem since the oil is only used for travel and head control functions. They are working on about 15 improvements on them right now and will have a super sweet machine in a few months. Since you already have yours that will not help you much.

 

[whatsright05]

There are 3 different flows of the hyd. oil. One for the head functions which is the only one that flows through the cooler. the other 2 are 1 for the travel and 1 for the torque converter. why they have the torque converter oil flowing with the hyd. oil i don't know yet. We have done some tests on the machines and we came up with that the hyd. oil is getting up to the tempetures of 226 F to 234 F
For the first two hours of the shift they run good but as soon as the oil gets hot they loose a lot of power and the head is constantly dies out. That is why i was wondering if you guys were having oil heating problems. on three of the machine we have replaced all the pumps on them. if any one has issues like this please write.

 

[cbturf]

I have not heard of this problem on the Kodiak. Has Oliver in Loiusville had any advice. I have run one for a full day in Alabama and not had any problems at all. On the brand new machine that they made several changes on they had som oil heating problems but that was caused by the dealer monkeying with the fan direction. That was fixed by putting a bigger cooler on the system. My only advice is to call Kodiak in KY and see if they guy who builds them can help you. Sorry I could not help but this is a new one.

 

[C.G.S.]

Wonder if it is the torque converter that causing the over heating.After the metal in the machine can no longer act as a heat sink the oil thins out which makes for more slippage which make more heat in affect a feedback loop.

 

[davo727]

Hi, Im curious- Does anyone know what rpm the cutting drums turn on the skid steer size units and the also the big machine units? Thanks, Dave

 

[TMTS]

I seem to recall my Fecon runs at close to 2000 rpm (carrier is ASV 4810 w/ +/- 49gpm at 3200psi)

 

[coastalcutter]

I just registered and read your post about your kodiak hydl oil heating issues. I have been running kodiak 160 for 2 years I would like to compare notes. Please contact me
coastal cutter

 

[southernmulcher]

skid steer units are around 2100 rpm and the larger units vary depending on the size - average is around 1700 -1800 rpm

 

[Eagleview]

There are 3 different flows of the hyd. oil. One for the head functions which is the only one that flows through the cooler. the other 2 are 1 for the travel and 1 for the torque converter. why they have the torque converter oil flowing with the hyd. oil i don't know yet. We have done some tests on the machines and we came up with that the hyd. oil is getting up to the tempetures of 226 F to 234 F
For the first two hours of the shift they run good but as soon as the oil gets hot they loose a lot of power and the head is constantly dies out. That is why i was wondering if you guys were having oil heating problems. on three of the machine we have replaced all the pumps on them. if any one has issues like this please write.

Have you tried running 15W40 engine oil in the system ? It may be normal for the temps to get that hot , with the multigrade oil you would not be losing the viscosity with the heat as you are with the mono oil .