transmission cooler

[Josef]

I was reading a thread the other day about the transmission cooler and about not running the tractor hot as you could seriously damage your transmission. After looking at the transmission cooler and the radiator, it seems to me you could have a plugged transmission cooler while your radiator is just fine. I can't find any indicator of transmission temperature, so must not be too much of a problem. I do my very best to keep both clean but after shredding for a day, both are pretty Jamed up. Looking for advise as always.

 

[rjcorazza]

If you are concerned about the transmission temps, you could shoot the case with temp gun. My previous tractor would get up to around 190-200 when worked hard. I wouldn't worry too much as long as you keep the radiator clean of debris.

 

[JasonW]

Interested in other replies also. I asked my dealer about this when I bought my tractor and had absolutely no idea why I wanted a removable screen for the trans cooler like the radiator has, or why I wanted to keep track of the temperature of the hydro fluid. Obviously he doesn't monitor temps when operating like some of us do.

You can easily install an inline temp sensor in the system, but where we cut in the fall the grass is so bad I only make it an acre or two before having the clean the radiator screen(which only catches about half of what's blocking it) and the transmission cooler that's plugged completely.

I plan on adding smaller wire to the factory screen and building a set up to go in front of the transmission cooler. Before anyone says that it will stop up faster I am well aware of this but it's easier to pull the screens out and clean them than clean out the radiator without compressed air or low pressure water miles in the woods.

Sorry of the long winded post.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I would think that if it was an issue that Kubota would have come up with a solution for it after all this time.

In other words I would lose any sleep over it!

 

[JasonW]

I would think that if it was an issue that Kubota would have come up with a solution for it after all this time.

In other words I would lose any sleep over it!

Every auto maker knows heat is the number one killer of automatic transmissions yet a very large number of vehicles are under equipped with a transmission cooler. If they know this is a problem why don't they do something about it?

Vehicles with Diesel engines can melt heads, head gaskets, EGR systems, turbos and more from high EGT's (yes even stock not tuned) yet none come with, that I know of, a factory EGT gauge. Why is that?

It's the people like us that want to monitor our investment.
I would rather know the exact temperature of something important than a reading on a gauge without and numbers.
I have 15 different gauges set up on my pickup truck at any given time and I monitor every single one while I'm driving.
Maybe I'm over conscious about my stuff.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I have 15 different gauges set up on my pickup truck at any given time and I monitor every single one while I'm driving.

Talk about the definition of distracted driving!

What in the world could you possobly monitor on a pickup truck that you would need 15 Guages for???

I guess I lucky enough to have a truck that will tell me if there is an issue before it's a real problem!

 

[afret]

I would think that you could add a transmission temp gauge on a tractor like I did on my old junk car. I used the drain plug hole to place the sensor and just mounted the gauge where I could see it.

 

[scdeerslayer]

You'd think there would be at least a warning light for trans temp. Maybe double check the owner's manual. I'll check mine if I think about it.

 

[skeets]

I think I would like to see the rest of this OLD JUNK as you put it

 

[D2Cat]

Afret, "I would think that you could add a transmission temp gauge on a tractor like I did on my old junk car."

Sure looks like junk!

 

[afret]

Oh, and you can add a fan in front or back of the trans cooler like I did on my old junk car and turn if on if the temperature starts getting too hot. A puller is better than a pusher but either is better than none and if you get the direction right, you might be able to blow debris away from the cooler.

 

[JasonW]

Talk about the definition of distracted driving!

What in the world could you possobly monitor on a pickup truck that you would need 15 Guages for???

I guess I lucky enough to have a truck that will tell me if there is an issue before it's a real problem!

I don't look at gauges instead of driving. It's no different than glancing at your stock gauges while driving. If that special truck you have that tells you whats wrong before it's a real problem, is any make or model that has a standard obd2 plug, an event(problem) has to happen more than three times and maybe several key cycles before it triggers a check engine light. So that means your "real problem" has already happened.

The the person mentioned the fan on the cooler, that is a good idea as long as you have a proper debris screen or it will get stopped up like everything else, another big issue with the fan is limited space for one.
On my L3800 the battery is only a few inches away from the cooler. Could relocate the battery which I may look into.

 

[ipz2222]

The crossmember tells me it's a Ford and the dash says '69 or 70 Mustang or cougar.

 

[lugbolt]

The crossmember tells me it's a Ford and the dash says '69 or 70 Mustang or cougar.

FE power? Can't remember the last time I saw one, but I think I recognize the Edelbrock head and the odd FE exhaust port setup. Maybe I'm wrong? C4 transmission I assume?

The trans cooler on tractors does in fact clog with dirt, but not as quickly as the radiator core does. Typically I like to look at them every day of use if in dirty conditions such as bush hogging, mowing, etc. Wash with a garden hose-never a power washer. Seen too many of them in the shop with bent over fins.

Isn't there also a fuel cooler up there too on the MX5200? Can't remember-I don't see many of those.

 

[afret]

Hey, you guys know old cars pretty well.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

If that special truck you have that tells you whats wrong before it's a real problem.

Why thank you, she does feel special!

 

[Newlyme]

Every auto maker knows heat is the number one killer of automatic transmissions yet a very large number of vehicles are under equipped with a transmission cooler. If they know this is a problem why don't they do something about it?

My 2013 VW Golf Diesel has the sensor to monitor the transmission temp and send the car into limp mode if it gets too hot. This info can be pulled out through the OBD2 port and seen through an app on my phone.

Vehicles with Diesel engines can melt heads, head gaskets, EGR systems, turbos and more from high EGT's (yes even stock not tuned) yet none come with, that I know of, a factory EGT gauge. Why is that?

It also has a sensor in the exhaust near the DPF. Temperatures reach just under 1,500 Degrees F. during a regen. Stock not tuned. Again I can monitor this by phone. When I take my foot off of the accelerator pedal going down a long hill I can watch the EGT's go below the coolant temp since the fuel injectors shut down with my foot off the pedal.

Hey, you Old guys know old cars pretty well.

Yeah we do.

 

[JasonW]

Why thank you, she does feel special!

Not what I said but okay.

 

[JasonW]

My 2013 VW Golf Diesel has the sensor to monitor the transmission temp and send the car into limp mode if it gets too hot. This info can be pulled out through the OBD2 port and seen through an app on my phone.



It also has a sensor in the exhaust near the DPF. Temperatures reach just under 1,500 Degrees F. during a regen. Stock not tuned. Again I can monitor this by phone. When I take my foot off of the accelerator pedal going down a long hill I can watch the EGT's go below the coolant temp since the fuel injectors shut down with my foot off the pedal.



Yeah we do.

Do you happen to know what the temperature of the fluid is? Older Toyotas had this feature and the fluid would hit around 260 degrees Fahrenheit, well beyond the operating temperature of the fluid, cooking the fluid and glazing the clutches inside the transmission.

Also on your EGT's. monitoring them that far down the exhaust isn't helpful. Those are needed for the ECU to read during regens. EGT's should be measured on the exhaust manifold itself for a true reading. Also some diesels (mine included) have aluminum cylinder heads, melting temp of aluminum is 1221 degrees Fahrenheit. So when your EGT's are pushing 1600 degrees it's kind of important to know when to let off.

 

[Newlyme]

Every time I checked the transmission temperature, even when monitoring, it always read the same as the radiator.