Great video series. Thanks for taking the time. I just bought a new (to me) X300R with the infamous K46. It’s in beautiful shape with only 150 hours on it. I mow about 1.5 acres and some of it is fairly hilly. I can hear a slight amount of tranny noise going uphill when it gets warm. However I don’t feel like there’s any decline in performance. I typically run from 1.5-2 hours at a time. Is some noise from the hydraulics normal with the K46 or am I starting to head for a service like this? Seems early at 153 hours on a pristine machine. It was JD dealer serviced prior to my purchase at 149 hours. My prior green machine was older with gears so this is my first hydro JD. Thanks again for a great video series!
No need to be concerned with a bit of noise. A properly functioning hydrostatic unit will make some noise. A healthy unit will be fairly uniform in sound, only getting louder as load increases. A worn unit will, as you mentioned, have a noticeable power decrease as transaxle temps increase and the tone will turn into more of a growl at higher loads. Just going off memory, I think the earliest dead K46 I’ve come across was around 350 hours. I have also seen a 1,000 hr unit that was stock but at the end of its life.
Normally that would not be a problem, but we’re moving shop and house before long and I’m already racing the clock trying to get all the work slated done before starting to tear apart the shop.
my 2010 Ariens tractor with a K46AW has the usual symptoms: slowed down, could not go up uphill. Drive belt is good. Free wheel works. I emptied the oil and it was clean and light colored. I took bottom case off and inside was pristine. Looked new. Filter was clean. Magnets had little dirt on them. I did not disturb anything inside. I hate to spend $400 on repair kit for what looks like a new transaxle. Any helpful hints?
Used for about 15 hours per year for 11 years. Did not change oil before. Ariens Manual says "fluid maintenance is not required for the life of the transaxle."
@@danielduff512 at 150 - 200 hours I agree with you that it shouldn’t be due for a rebuild yet. That said, anything is possible. I’ve seen them go at 300 hours before. I would refill it and see how much power fade you have after an hour of hard work with it. If it slows down noticeably, it probably have a worn pump and motor.
I don’t believe the Lucas to be a bad choice, but I saw no advantage with using it that justifies the added price. I have had some noticeable improvements using Lucas products in gear cases however.
Great video. My machine has all the same symptoms you list at the begining of here. I watched all 3 segments and can not recall you mentioning exactly what the failure is. Though I may have missed it.
It really depends on the exact model of Tuff-Torq transmission, to what degree the severity of wear on the components, and the local shop rates in your area.
Interesting, do you have any studies or oil analysis to support this recommendation? Also, what type of climate do you live in? 20/50 when plowing snow in below zero sounds like a possible problem in the making.
@@AWoodworkersLife many many years ago we tested this theory. Wear and scuffing is less than 50%. 20w50 as long as it is full synthetic has been fine in the winter. 600+ hours on the current k46 and not even a single hydraulic whine. Food for thought, commercial Kohler engines call for 20-50 now as well.
So simple inside that remove/replace is more of a PITA than the actual service
Thanks for your comment about the future and to be careful about oil waste
Great video series. Thanks for taking the time. I just bought a new (to me) X300R with the infamous K46. It’s in beautiful shape with only 150 hours on it. I mow about 1.5 acres and some of it is fairly hilly. I can hear a slight amount of tranny noise going uphill when it gets warm. However I don’t feel like there’s any decline in performance. I typically run from 1.5-2 hours at a time. Is some noise from the hydraulics normal with the K46 or am I starting to head for a service like this? Seems early at 153 hours on a pristine machine. It was JD dealer serviced prior to my purchase at 149 hours. My prior green machine was older with gears so this is my first hydro JD. Thanks again for a great video series!
No need to be concerned with a bit of noise. A properly functioning hydrostatic unit will make some noise. A healthy unit will be fairly uniform in sound, only getting louder as load increases. A worn unit will, as you mentioned, have a noticeable power decrease as transaxle temps increase and the tone will turn into more of a growl at higher loads. Just going off memory, I think the earliest dead K46 I’ve come across was around 350 hours. I have also seen a 1,000 hr unit that was stock but at the end of its life.
The housing is Cast Aluminum Alloy very strong and durable..
I have a Craftsman yt3000 and it's pull great forward but barely goes in reverse . Put new oil in trans but to no prevail ... Any suggestions?!?
Hi! I made the rebuild but when i use the mower the forward end the backward exchanged?! What can be the problem?
You need to flip the wedge shaped block that interfaces with the drive motor.
I bought new differential gears , disassembled every part of it. Can I send it all to you in a box to reassemble and rebuild the pumps?
Normally that would not be a problem, but we’re moving shop and house before long and I’m already racing the clock trying to get all the work slated done before starting to tear apart the shop.
my 2010 Ariens tractor with a K46AW has the usual symptoms: slowed down, could not go up uphill. Drive belt is good. Free wheel works. I emptied the oil and it was clean and light colored. I took bottom case off and inside was pristine. Looked new. Filter was clean. Magnets had little dirt on them. I did not disturb anything inside. I hate to spend $400 on repair kit for what looks like a new transaxle. Any helpful hints?
How many hours are on the transaxle and has the oil been changed before?
Used for about 15 hours per year for 11 years. Did not change oil before. Ariens Manual says "fluid maintenance is not required for the life of the transaxle."
@@danielduff512 at 150 - 200 hours I agree with you that it shouldn’t be due for a rebuild yet. That said, anything is possible. I’ve seen them go at 300 hours before. I would refill it and see how much power fade you have after an hour of hard work with it. If it slows down noticeably, it probably have a worn pump and motor.
Awesome video. Do you sell parts, or where can I purchase in BC or AB? Thanks,
Thank you. I don’t stock parts except for the more common ones. I purchase everything directly from Tuff Torq.
So I take it the Lucas oil didn’t work out that good long-haul because you are rebuilding it
am I correct in thinking that? Please advise
I don’t believe the Lucas to be a bad choice, but I saw no advantage with using it that justifies the added price. I have had some noticeable improvements using Lucas products in gear cases however.
How much ho/torque can these handle?
Great video. My machine has all the same symptoms you list at the begining of here. I watched all 3 segments and can not recall you mentioning exactly what the failure is. Though I may have missed it.
The primary source of failure on these is excessive clearance between the pistons and cylinder block assemblies of the pump and motor.
Hi how much does it cost to rebuild the trans ? Parts and labor
It really depends on the exact model of Tuff-Torq transmission, to what degree the severity of wear on the components, and the local shop rates in your area.
@@CanadianDirt I live in B.C, i was just wondering how much you charge? Thanks
@@CanadianDirt Ok great, Its a D160 and not for snow plowing, where are you located?
@@victorials249 Please feel free to contact me at stephan@crazydirt.ca thanks.
Where do you order your tuff torq parts from?
Zack, I get them from Tuff Torq's only major Canadian distributor:
Gardner Canada
420 Deerhurst Drive
Brampton, Ontario L6T 5H9
@@CanadianDirt thanks
Always run 20w50 fully synthetic oil. Nothing else
Interesting, do you have any studies or oil analysis to support this recommendation? Also, what type of climate do you live in? 20/50 when plowing snow in below zero sounds like a possible problem in the making.
@@AWoodworkersLife many many years ago we tested this theory. Wear and scuffing is less than 50%. 20w50 as long as it is full synthetic has been fine in the winter. 600+ hours on the current k46 and not even a single hydraulic whine.
Food for thought, commercial Kohler engines call for 20-50 now as well.
Wouldn’t 5/50 synthetic cover all the bases.
@@chrispederson4157yes it would but remember the larger the multi viscosity grade the less upper end protection you receive
Many variants of the Tuff Torq K46 transmission some are heavy duty. it's not one fits all