TuffTorq K46 Repair Guide with Pictures

[essexcoupe]

Not Sure, I have the parts to rebuild it (pumps)
so will watch
there is a thread on u tube to pull it all a part
if you watch you may see where you possibly went wrong

 

[EdZachary]

I was looking for some info on another transmission and found this link to new K46 transaxles for $219. I have bought from these people in the past and they are good to work with, have been around for a long time

TUFF TORQ K46 TRANSAXLE

I checked on the Tuff-Torq site for the rebuild parts. The only way you can order a motor and pump these days is with a rebuild kit which includes the valve body and costs about $150 more than the complete transaxle these guys have.
I noticed that it is shipped filled with 10W40. Think I should drain that and replace it with synthetic as soon as the tranny gets here?

 

[essexcoupe]

there is a guy advertising on e-bay that had broken down new units
I brought from him got the 2 pumps and the pump housing, and filter for $149-00
runs under Barnyardmoo; if that's any help
I looked at the 1s above but they a specific to a model which i didn't have

 

[GeorgeBrennan]

After a year using my last K46 rebuild (with lapped casing, rotors and 5w40) it developed an oil leak around the rubber plug so it's been replaced with the spare unit for this season. The spare has had the lapping done plus new planetary gears and a couple of spacers to remove the ridiculous amount of slack in the differential.

As I intend using it with some small chain harrrows (yes I know I shouldn't) I've added an oil temperature gauge to the Countax dash just in case.
Countax have an oil header tank so I just dropped the sensor through a grommet in the tank and down the header pipe into the top casing, just and inch or two into the oil and tied it off.
The digital readout fitted nicely into the dash too.

So hopefully I should now see when I'm overworking the K46.

For the work involved I'll be happy if I rotate the units every couple of seasons.

the temperature stuff came from;
DROK® Digital Thermometer Electronic Temperature Monitor with Long Probe Sensor Portable Light Pocket Temp Test Measurement Meter Gauge Device for Fridge/Refrigerator/Lab/Wall/Pool/Baby Bath Water/Body Temperature/Inside & Outside Auto/Car/Indoor & Ou

 

[GeorgeBrennan]

Follow up, first attempt using the rebuild with a temperature gauge and 5w40 synth - all the store had at the time of the rebuild ;-).

FYI, running well without the harrows, oil temp creeping up slowly no noticeable problems, haven't recorded a typical temp as I was more concerned about general running.
With the added loading of the chain harrows, once the oil temp start to rise to above 37-40 c the tranny starts to loose power noticeably and when left alone to cool down the power comes back again, in fact just dropping the harrows and riding around lowers the temperature. The 37-40 variation seems to be dependent on the degree of roughness and slope so I'm assuming it's internal temperatures at the motor/pump is rising quicker in some areas of the landscape than others while dispersing the heat at an equal rate.
The infra red temp at the hottest spot is 2 about degrees higher than the gauge.

Interestingly the Countax service bulletin from 2000 says at PDI, top up with standard SAE30 engine oil.

 

[Junk Deer]

The below transmission is not for my JD. However the part numbers for the hydraulic motors are the same and the valve body part # is only off by 2 digits. Anyone have any luck/tried to either replace the axles from our busted transmission or just use the internals from this cheaper one? Like many, very frustrated with this mower and even more upset that tuff torq has ripped opened the wound by jacking up prices over the last few years for replacement parts to new transmissions 1700.00 for an upgraded transmission! Absurd!

TUFF TORQ K46 TRANSAXLE

 

[sgf9254]

I have a GX345 that smokes like a dog, but moves great. Can I replace the K46 in my L180 with the GX345 trans? I also have an old L100 with manual trans and was wondering if I can use this trans in my new/used L180 to get it going? Thanks!!!

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

The below transmission is not for my JD. However the part numbers for the hydraulic motors are the same and the valve body part # is only off by 2 digits. Anyone have any luck/tried to either replace the axles from our busted transmission or just use the internals from this cheaper one? Like many, very frustrated with this mower and even more upset that tuff torq has ripped opened the wound by jacking up prices over the last few years for replacement parts to new transmissions 1700.00 for an upgraded transmission! Absurd!

TUFF TORQ K46 TRANSAXLE

I was thinking of getting one and hybridizing the new parts with the old parts to get her done. My LT180 has almost 300 hours and is 10 years old this June. Haven't touched the transaxle yet. But it does sound rough when it's cold for the first 30 feet.

 

[aberthet]

I don't know if my question as been discussed before (I did a search but didn't find any answers). I have just finished changing the oil in my K46BT and I am unable to seat the oil cap. Each time I tap it down, it pops up. I understand that the oil cap is compressing the air trapped above the oil, but why the pressure is not released by the vent valve? Has anybody experienced this problem before?
Andre

 

[smithbro]

I don't know if my question as been discussed before (I did a search but didn't find any answers). I have just finished changing the oil in my K46BT and I am unable to seat the oil cap. Each time I tap it down, it pops up. I understand that the oil cap is compressing the air trapped above the oil, but why the pressure is not released by the vent valve? Has anybody experienced this problem before?
Andre

I assume you mean the "plug", round and flat with the metal ring around the underside mounting area. No I have not experienced your problem in any of the 3 times I have changed the oil in both of my mowers. Hopefully you are using new parts to replace both plugs when you are putting everything back together.