Transmission problem 1995 L35

[Audiofn]

Hello all. I have a 1995 L35 that I just purchased. The previous owner had told me that occasionally the tractor would not go into gear. He thought that if I left it in the gear it was in that it would keep working OK. Turns out that it kind of works for a while then will start to slip. After doing some looking around on this forum and a few others it looks like the likely culprits could be the GTS valve body (hope not) or the shift linkage? It sounds like the shift linkage would be more common? To do the GTS valve is the only option to split the tractor? Due to the age of the machine I am fine with cutting out a portion of the floor and welding it back in. This is not a cream puff of a tractor so that would not bother me even a little bit. So far the symptoms are:

1) Start up the tractor and everything seems to work perfectly. Has plenty of power when I push the bucket into a pile and backhoe works perfectly. Power steering is fine.

2) As the machine warms up I start to loose forward power no matter what gear I am in. If it was a car I would say the clutch was slipping but it sounds like this could be more complicated than that? Reverse does seem to work even though I can not get it to go forward but still not perfect. If I have it moving forward even down a hill and I push the brake pedal in at all it will stop easily. Steering still works perfectly and bucking and backhoe all work perfectly. Just no forward or revers.

3) When shifting either forward or revers and 1-8 I sometimes get a weird squeaking noise out of it. Short squeak like letting air out of a balloon while pulling the neck with both hand. This is fairly repeatable. It shounds like it is coming from around the base of the steering column. I am going to try and have my son move things around a bit while I look a little more.

4). There are some wiring issues. Is there any chance that a wiring issue could cause this problem?

Thanks!

 

[Audiofn]

One additional thing. If I put it in gear and let the clutch out and let it sit that way for a bit sometime it will engage and move OK.

 

[Audiofn]

I went back out again this evening and when it was cool everything works perfectly again then as soon as things warm up it starts to slip.

 

[jeff9366]

I just purchased a L35. The machine sat for a long time out in a field (about 10 years).

I wonder what fluid is in your hydraulic system. It may not be hydraulic fluid.

Consider draining unknown fluid and replacing it with the factory recommended hydraulic fluid. Change the hydraulic filter too, installing a factory replacement.


After purchasing a second hand tractor "best practice" is to change all fluids and filters immediately.

 

[Audiofn]

I wonder what fluid is in your hydraulic system. It may not be hydraulic fluid.

Consider draining unknown fluid and replacing it with the factory recommended hydraulic fluid. Change the hydraulic filter too, installing a factory replacement.


After purchasing a second hand tractor "best practice" is to change all fluids and filters immediately.

This is the way I am looking to move next. I wish it was not a 4 plus week wait to get into a dealer. I would just drop it off and have them do the testing.

 

[Audiofn]

I wonder what fluid is in your hydraulic system. It may not be hydraulic fluid.

Consider draining unknown fluid and replacing it with the factory recommended hydraulic fluid. Change the hydraulic filter too, installing a factory replacement.


After purchasing a second hand tractor "best practice" is to change all fluids and filters immediately.

So the dealer gave me Kubota AW 46 all weather fluid. I just checked with my owners manual and saw that they recommend super UDT. So I have the wrong stuff in there for sure. So tomorrow I will drain everything back out and put the new proper fluids in as well as change the filter again. Expensive mistake to make but I don't have huge hopes that this will fix the problem. The dealer did say that with the thicker fluids it can cause issues with the fluid going through some of the small holes in the valving system. So maybe as doubtful as it is I will get lucky.

 

[Peter 315]

If the filter is new just let it drain out and put it back on...

 

[Audiofn]

If the filter is new just let it drain out and put it back on...

I replaced all the hoses so I left the old filter on and was going to run it for a very short time and then change it.

 

[Peter 315]

I replaced all the hoses so I left the old filter on and was going to run it for a very short time and then change it.

Ok change it......

 

[jeff9366]

I have a 1995 L35 that I just purchased. Turns out that it kind of works for a while then will start to slip. So far the symptoms are:

Start up the tractor and everything seems to work perfectly. Has plenty of power when I push the bucket into a pile and backhoe works perfectly. Power steering is fine.

As the machine warms up I start to loose forward power no matter what gear I am in.

When shifting either forward or revers and 1-8 I sometimes get a weird squeaking noise out of it.

I went back out again this evening and when it was cool everything works perfectly, then as soon as things warm up it starts to slip.

This suggests the existing fluid is thinning out when hot.

 

[RickB]

This suggests the existing fluid is thinning out when hot.

It also could suggest a pump, clutch pack or other problem. In the absence of any pressure testing your symptoms point me towards a control circuit supply/pressure problem caused by a bad pump, plugged filter, screen or orfice or less likely a pressure regulating valve issue. Be prepared for collateral damage to one or more clutch packs from operating with the initial fault.

Proper fluid and new filter first, then see what you have.

 

[Audiofn]

I replaced the fluid with the proper fluid as well as filter. The problem still is persisting so I am planning to make an appointment with the dealer and see were it takes me.

 

[rbargeron]

For GST questions there's a guy on Orange Tractor Talks (member North Idaho Wolfman) who knows that system. I believe the shifting controls are mounted inside the trans left side cover and may not require a split for access. GST diagnosis starts with pressure measurements to isolate symptoms & causes. Good luck, Dick B

 

[Audiofn]

For GST questions there's a guy on Orange Tractor Talks (member North Idaho Wolfman) who knows that system. I believe the shifting controls are mounted inside the trans left side cover and may not require a split for access. GST diagnosis starts with pressure measurements to isolate symptoms & causes. Good luck, Dick B

Thanks! I just dropped it off at MB Tractor While maybe I could have fumbled my way through doing all the testing it would have required me to buy all the gauges and fittings and sometimes it is best to just let someone else do things and I go and do what I do best. They said it will probably be around 2 weeks before they can get to it so it will be a tense 2 weeks waiting for what I hope is not bad news but that is what I am preparing for.

 

[Audiofn]

Update: After dropping it off at the dealer they took a look at it. Unfortunately it is going to need the clutch in the transmission. Going to head over in the next day or two so that we can take a look at things and see how much it is going to cost... :-(

 

[Peter 315]

You drop it off in Tilton?...

 

[Audiofn]

You drop it off in Tilton?...

No North Reading.

 

[Peter 315]

No North Reading.

I been to that location over the summer its a newer store I think it was Dyar sales before any word back yet?....

 

[Audiofn]

I been to that location over the summer its a newer store I think it was Dyar sales before any word back yet?....

They said it was the dry clutch. That is supposed to be new (around 50 hours on it) but of course anything is possible. I mentioned to them that the dry clutch is new and they said that they are going to take a longer look at it the machine to see if anything else comes up. So waiting for that to happen. The mechanic is having conversations with the guys in Plastow. We will see.

 

[MHarryE]

Isn’t it odd that the problem is in the dry clutch if it only happens as the oil warms? It really sounds like the Glide Shift clutch pack has a problem or the pressure regulator is dropping GST pressure as the oil warms. I believe the GST gets its oil from the power steering pump but the GST operates at a much lower pressure than the power steering so it has a pressure reducer to keep it in the 300 to 400 psi range. The dry clutch and GST clutch pack are the only places where slippage can occur in your power train. From symptoms it would seem to be the GST pack but maybe your dealer saw something not in the WSM.