HDJ81's....tranny temperatures!

[jcolvin]

For all you HDJ81 owners (seem to be more everyday), here is a piece of advice that may $$$ave you from needing a new torque converter.

The torque converters in these pre-1993 machines are real inefficient at low rpm. They get very hot going up long hills; hot enough to cook the TC on a long uphill. Fitting an extra transmission cooler will help keep overall tranny temp down a bit, but won't be enough to stop the TC itself from cooking.

If you can, fit a transmission temperature gage. The probe should go in the outlet union (the outlet from the tranny to the cooler), which can be drilled and tapped. Rodney at automatictransmission.com.au sells these ready-done if you don't want to do it yourself. A probe in the pan will only tell you the overall tranny temp, and won't tell you much about the torque converter temp, which is what tends to cook on these machines. Don't even think about towing without a gage.

If you don't have a gage to keep an eye on, the key is to keep the revs up around 3000 rpm when climbing hills if you can't make it up with the TC locked. The 1HDT has huge torque/power and will to go up big hills at 2000-2500 rpm, but this is TC-cooking range. Switch down a gear and keep the revs at 3000 +.

I have one of Rodney's gages attached to the outlet union of the TC and the temp will climb quite fast to 150 C plus when climbing a big hill at 2200 rpm out of lockup. Get the revs up to 3000 rpm and the temp never goes over 100 C.

Just my 2 cents' worth....

[steverb]

good to know. ill let my buddy jay know.

[canucksafari]

Any tranny which is hunting a lot will suffer from overheating. Even with a big aftermarket tranny cooler it is best to lock it in a gear and drive the correct rpm (speed) for that gear until you top out the incline. It also important to place the tranny cooler in a place where it will get some air.

[toynut]

any one have a recomendation for a tranny cooler i need to throw one one my 62 as preventetive maintenance .

[RockDoc]

Hope these links help.

Cheap ATF "gauge"

Discussion on appropriate coolers

Extreme valve body in my 62

Longevity of the A440F

[dieseldan]

Definately good advice - mine just cooked two weeks ago (after installing 35's which contributed some) at 200,000km with 10-15% of that towing - tranny cooler but no guage... now have the new tranny from Oz with the bigger torque converter and valve body - the difference isn't much until you hook up a big load - the lock up is far better which is huge on the hills in keeping them rpm's up.

[jcolvin]

Originally Posted by dieseldan

Definately good advice - mine just cooked two weeks ago (after installing 35's which contributed some) at 200,000km with 10-15% of that towing - tranny cooler but no guage... now have the new tranny from Oz with the bigger torque converter and valve body - the difference isn't much until you hook up a big load - the lock up is far better which is huge on the hills in keeping them rpm's up.

What I'd really like is the ability to lock up the TC in any gear. Unfortunately with the all-mechanical tranny seems there just aint no way to do this. One day I may have to trade in the old girl for a 1993+ ride with the electrically controlled box... lock up in 1st, 2nd or whatever you want.

[canucksafari]

Originally Posted by jcolvin

What I'd really like is the ability to lock up the TC in any gear. Unfortunately with the all-mechanical tranny seems there just aint no way to do this. One day I may have to trade in the old girl for a 1993+ ride with the electrically controlled box... lock up in 1st, 2nd or whatever you want.

You sure the Aussies don't have a kit for this. I know they have one for the Patrol autos. Try here Wholesale Automatic Transmissions. They have had a good rep. Only problem is I heard they will no longer sell direct as they have given exclusive North America licence to:
Pacesetter Products
6 Versluce Place
Whitehorse, YT
Phone: 867-6335909
Fax: 867-4562824
sales@pacesetterproducts.ca

Which of course probably means more $$$.

[Tapage]

Originally Posted by jcolvin

What I'd really like is the ability to lock up the TC in any gear. Unfortunately with the all-mechanical tranny seems there just aint no way to do this. One day I may have to trade in the old girl for a 1993+ ride with the electrically controlled box... lock up in 1st, 2nd or whatever you want.

Interesting info dude ..

Did you have any advice for A442 . ..?

Mine runs normaly between 140 - 160ºF ( 315, stock gears, aditional B&M tranny cooler and no towing ) down here .. 190 in a freaking hot day around 34ºC heavy traffic around the city.