Transmission problem

[DwayneB]

My Kama 354C has developed a very strange symptom. It comes and goes when the front end is pointed uphill, something is definitely wrong. Today while brush hogging I turned on a slight incline and pushed the clutch in to roll backwards a bit, as I have done many times. This time a low frequency squeal came from the tranny while rolling back with the pto engauged. I pushed the brake and stopped. Pushed the clutch all the way in and stopped the pto then took it out of gear.. I started the cutter again and and tried to put it in gear, lots of grinding and the squeal. Slowed RPM, a little grinding but went in gear. I used the tractor for a couple more hours and everytime it was rolling backwards with the nose uphill it did the same thing.

It was almost as if the pto drive line was trying to make something turn. Back on level ground and all seems well again. Both gear boxes have the proper amount of fluid. The clutches are adjusted correctly. My throwout bearing is greasable and in good shap. Something in the transmission or creeper box sounded like it had no lube.

Chip, Tommy, Anyone. What should I look at/for? I'm going back up to the farm tomorrow and will more than likely pull the covers on both gear boxes for a look around.

 

[greg_g]

First question; creeper box?
Second question; 2wd or 4wd?

//greg//

 

[DwayneB]

First question; creeper box?
Second question; 2wd or 4wd?

//greg//

It has creeper and I was in 4WD at the time.

 

[bluechip]

When you roll backward in forward gear with the clutch depressed and thePTO still rinning the concnetric shafts in the gearbox are running in opposite directions. there is very little lube between these shafts (as it would end up in the clutch). We have seen a similar thing happen on Jinmas where a noise would happen as soon as you hit the first stage of the two stage clutch and in those cases, could remedy by overfilling the trans temporarily, letting some oil get in between the shafts.

Did the noise stop when the tractor stopped moving or when the PTO stopped turning?

In normall operation, the two shafts spend most of their time turning the same speed.

If you point the tractor uphill, the oil runs to the back of the tractor.

All sounds fine on flat ground forward and reverse?

 

[greg_g]

It has creeper and I was in 4WD at the time.

Interesting, mine is a shuttle. Didn't know the TS354C came with a creeper option.

Anyway, the transfer case is also in the approximate area you say the sounds are coming from. Chip's probably got the problem identified, but it would be interesting to try reproducing the offending noise in 2wd.

//greg//

 

[bjr]

I've read old threads from the past that talked about loose bolts from transmission to the rear engine bell housing and the bolts that held the bell housing to the engine. I would look to see if all mating surfaces look tight. I thinking something going out of alignment when go up hill or on a obscure angle. Just my thoughts. bjr

 

[DwayneB]

Did the noise stop when the tractor stopped moving or when the PTO stopped turning?

when the pto quit turning.

All sounds fine on flat ground forward and reverse?

Yup. I even mowed for 2 more hours on more level ground and never heard it but when I was on the incline and rolling backwards it happened every time.

I'll try overfilling and going to neutral when rolling back. I'm done with the brush cutting for the year. I got 90 wt in there , will more than likely go with a synthetic 85W-140 next spring and see what happens. It was near 100 here yesterday and everything was HOT!!! that probabably didn't help. That was the highest temp I had run the brush cutter in.

 

[DwayneB]

Interesting, mine is a shuttle. Didn't know the TS354C came with a creeper option.
//greg//

I think I got the last one Chip imported. I don't use it a lot though. It does come in handy when try to push stuff with loader and you want the tractor to spin instead of break something.

It's a pretty tough little tractor. Cutting 3 and 4 inch saplings with a 6 foot cutter on a 100 degree day may just about be it's limit!!!

If it breaks tomorrow I wouldn't be disappointed in how well it's held up. The driveline in this thing is tough. I've used it past what it was designed for a lot. Our farm is getting in better shape everytime I mow it.

The hour meter isn't correct, it only works when it wants. I'd guess it at around 225 hrs but, it only shows about 148.

 

[Soundguy]

Are those meters tach meters.. or straight hour meters 9 hobbs style meter.. )?

Soundguy

 

[greg_g]

The hour meter isn't correct, it only works when it wants. I'd guess it at around 225 hrs but, it only shows about 148.

A complete lack of schematics for the cluster gauges makes issues like this extremely aggravating. Do you feel your other gauges are working properly? Because an hour meter typically needs a trigger circuit, often either the OPSU or the tach. Less common, the ammeter or the voltage regulator or the alternator. If the hour meter isn't being triggered properly, it can't count accurately. Also - if it's the tach - some hour meters don't count at full speed unless/until the tach is registering working RPMs. That is, the hour meter may count slower when the engine is operating at lower revs.

But - before you start tearing into things, it may be nothing more than your concept of time. I suggest the next time you mow, make sure the throttle is set so the tach needle is at the PTO mark (the green one). Note the time on your watch, note the tenths counter on the hour meter. Mow for one hour by your watch, then see what the tenths counter reads. If in fact it's got the error you perceive, the tenths counter will only have advanced between six and seven digits.

//greg//