Modifying the Tuff Torq K46 / T40J Transaxle For EASY Oil Changes (Oil Fill Mod Series Video 2)

Рет қаралды 27,675

Жыл бұрын

In this video we will modify the Tuff Torq K46 / T40J transaxle to allow for changing the oil without having to take the trans off of the machine. This is accomplished by drilling and tapping drain plugs in the bottom of the case, and swapping out the vent for an external expansion tank (drilling and tapping as well). Oil can then be pumped into the bottom of the case through a drain plug hole until it is visible in the expansion tank. This essentially overfills the transmission case, but provides a path for oil expansion via the external tank.
Correction: 04:51 The hose barb has 1.5 threads, NOT 1.25
Tuff Torq K46 Oil Fill Mod Series (⭐ = you are here)
1. • Tuff Torq K46 / T40J T...
2. ⭐ • Modifying the Tuff Tor...
3. • Filling a modified Tuf...
3.1. • Relocating a modified ...
Materials & Tool Links (some are affiliate links)
Drain plug parts/tools
- Tuff Torq Drain Plugs: ebay.us/oonhtw
- 17/64 drill bit: amzn.to/3ofQP3n
- M8x1.25 tap: amzn.to/3zYUqWa
- Marine lower unit oil pump: amzn.to/3obOWod
Vent to external tank barb tools / parts
- Hydrogear 71938 expansion tank: amzn.to/3A5ph3n
- Threaded M18x1.5 to 1/2" hose barb: amzn.to/3ohKS63 (I mistakenly said the threads on the barb were 1.25, they are actually 1.5)
- 1/2" oil/gas line: amzn.to/3oiK017
- 16.5mm drill bit: amzn.to/3UHuPdC
- M18x1.5 tap kit: amzn.to/3GN8sxE
- Stainless hose clamps: amzn.to/3MNwHjh
Tuff Torq parts
- Drain Plugs: ebay.us/oonhtw
- Case sealant: amzn.to/40gF8Xk
- Filter: amzn.to/40hWGlP
- Magnets: amzn.to/3KHxBuS
- Updated cap: amzn.to/3L0wd8a
Misc parts / Tools
- Cutting fluid: amzn.to/41aLo4o
- Squeeze bottle (I used this for oil): amzn.to/3GNcCpl
- Emery cloth: amzn.to/3KG1ZG3
- Hook and pick set: amzn.to/3KHr8QB
- Locking forceps/tweezers: amzn.to/3GLXlFo
- Magnetic pickup tool: amzn.to/3MHqN3b
- 99.9% Isopropyl alcohol: amzn.to/40d1RDP
- Long cotton swabs: amzn.to/3GOyErY
- Snap ring pliers: amzn.to/3KIDU1t (I have these cheap interchangeable ones. They are fine for casual use. If you plan to use the a lot, I'd recommend getting a more expensive full set without interchangeable tips)
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Пікірлер: 43

@MostlyBuilds 11 ай бұрын

I wanted to share the results from someone else who tried this mod and had issues. The person who kindly shared feedback indicated that he tapped the vent hole by hand because he didn’t have a drill press. His threaded barb ended up being crooked and leaked. Just a word of caution for anyone else trying this: make sure you tap your vent hole perfectly perpendicular to the case so it makes good contact where it screws in. The compression of the threaded barb + washer against the top of the case is what makes the seal (not the threads).

@billylowe507 12 күн бұрын

Great video

@jkepps Ай бұрын

Great video!

@peterm3964 3 ай бұрын

don’t blame tuff torque for not putting oil change holes in , thaey make these transmissions for many manufacturers and the manufacturers specify NO DRAIN HOLES !! Because they want to sell you a new trans when this one burns up .JOHN DEERE !! That’s right eh JOHN DEERE .?

@nanodredge3324 Жыл бұрын

great video !

@MostlyBuilds Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Please consider subscribing 😀

@robt3305 8 ай бұрын

Nice job on the drains and i too have thought about modifications to allow filling eithout removal of unit. Its all for nothing though. I have done full service and overhauls on several dozen of these and the issue is never just the fluid. The filters always clog, sometimes in as little as a year. Chaning the fluid/oil without changing the filter provides very little if any improvement.

@MostlyBuilds 8 ай бұрын

Well that's a bummer. When you say the filter is dirty, is it like totally caked with stuff? When I took mine apart for this video series, the filter didn't look clogged at all. My trans had 130 hours on it. I guess I'll see what the oil looks like when I drain it in the spring. Another thing to consider is if you overheat the trans, oil can't spew out of the vent cap anymore because of the expansion tank. When I took the trans off before the mod, it had dried oil all over the case on the vent side.

@robt3305 8 ай бұрын

@@MostlyBuilds yes, almost completely clogged. Sat old filter on flat metal workbench and filled filter with fresh oil, that small volumn of oil took almost 12 min to seep thru. Love you work though. Im older in declining health. I wonder if a you guy like you who is more up to date on tech things couldnt use 3D printer to make a new lower cover with a removable cap to allow changing of the filter without removal of transmission, would be great with your other mofifications.

@MostlyBuilds 8 ай бұрын

@@robt3305 thanks for the kind words. I like the idea of a removable filter mod. Totally replacing the bottom pan is interesting. I’ll have to give it some thought. Hope you consider subscribing.

@gillgraham2699 Жыл бұрын

never forget to try to turn the brake disk before torquing the bolts on the center case. That way you can make sure that both the motor shaft bearing and the motor housing are seated correctly!

@MostlyBuilds Жыл бұрын

Great advice! Thank you

@willloy8901 Жыл бұрын

Wow! I have my tt laying on my truck tailgate. Just starting this journey. If I put a single drain under the filter, will all the fluid drain?

@MostlyBuilds Жыл бұрын

Hi Will. Unfortunately all the fluid won’t drain if you do that. Only the pump side will drain, not the gear side. The two reservoirs are connected at the top, not the bottom. If you are drilling drain plugs, it is probably my advisable to only drill them in the two reinforced locations where tuff torq intends for them to be. The rest of that bottom pan is pretty thin. I’d be worried about the bolt stripping out because it doesn’t have enough to grab onto. Best of luck with your transaxle journey!!! Consider subscribing. I posted an update for this project the other day (linked in the description of all the videos in this series)

@willloy8901 Жыл бұрын

@@MostlyBuilds outstanding reply! I’ll drill them like you did; glad you stopped me from uh ohh; the hydro is still on my tailgate! My lil local retailers don’t have 5W50, so I’m now waiting on oil from Amazon. I also used your links for a couple other things. Thanks for your advice!

@MostlyBuilds Жыл бұрын

@@willloy8901 awesome! Thanks for supporting the channel! I highly recommend double checking the sizes of your drill bits, taps, and fittings. I linked directly to all the stuff I used, but it can be easy to grab the wrong thing if you click around some of the Amazon pages to look at different variants of things. Best of luck with the project! I’d love to hear how it turns out and if you have any thoughts for further improvements.

@nanodredge3324 Жыл бұрын

if you pack your taps with grease it will catch the filings

@MostlyBuilds Жыл бұрын

Great tip thanks!

@GeorgeSTANFIELD-ju5gd 18 күн бұрын

Is there a way to add external oil cooling radiator?

@MostlyBuilds 18 күн бұрын

I haven’t tried this but I’ve seen a few people attempt this with solutions that look a little hacked together (using things like JB Weld). Here are two: www.mytractorforum.com/threads/k46-oil-cooler-custom-my-way.1321309/#replies (Expand the first post on this one) Another one I found when I was looking up that first link to paste on here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/o86XmciAv9y3dH0.htmlsi=KgD5ZbpDEOTr5_1B I think it would be interesting to add an oil cooler. I’d also be interested in building in an oil filter that can be easily replaced. I might do this one day, but I’d like to come up with a more “production” looking design than the two links I pasted. Please share if you come up with anything or have any interesting ideas. Would love to collaborate.

@75tomeks 11 ай бұрын

on John deere x155r and x167r this oil expansion tank is factory fitted

@MostlyBuilds 11 ай бұрын

I know that a variant of the K46 exists with an expansion tank. I didn’t know what JD models used it though. Before I started this project I looked at this variant to see if I could just put that OEM tank on my K46/T40J. It appears that the K46 with an expansion tank has a different upper case that has a neck where the tank connects to. Here is the product page for the one with the tank if anyone following along is interested: www.tufftorq.com/product/k46/ Here is a parts diagram where you can see the neck on the case that is different from other K46 variants: tufftorq.ordertree.com/catalog/partslist/view/group_id/426906/?assembly=Parts&assembly_id=2673

@75tomeks 11 ай бұрын

@@MostlyBuilds video in which a guy cleans the transmission in the x155r, because the cap fell out of the oil expansion tank kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mtZomrtnu7KuinU.html

@MostlyBuilds 11 ай бұрын

@@75tomeks nice! This is a solid reference. Looks like he has another video for putting it back together: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fpx2eq-esK7Ggo0.html You can get a good view of how the case is different. This doesn’t change anything for my mod, but it is a bit validating to see that the two reservoirs are connected in this variant too. Someone was asking me about oil migration between both sides of the case and if this is ok. I basically just assumed this was the same situation for the K46 that comes with a tank. Thanks for sharing the link!

@mbflower Жыл бұрын

The major flaw of the K46/TJ40 transaxle is that you need to split the cases to clean the magnets and filter. Just changing the oil is only 1/3 of the work.

@MostlyBuilds Жыл бұрын

Now that I can easily change the oil, I’m curious if doing that annually will reduce how dirty the magnets + filter get. I’m with ya though, it sucks that you have to split the case to access the magnets and filter. I don’t know that it’s a flaw though. I think it’s an intentional design decision to keep the cost of the trans down. Ignoring that, it’s a pretty simple & clever design for the price point. If I was in the market for a new machine, I would probably be hunting for something with a better trans that’s fully serviceable out of the box!

@grumpycat5991 Ай бұрын

@@MostlyBuilds I agree, if you take apart the transmission to drill tap and change the filter and clean the magnet and housing then change the oil every 50 hours .. i highly doubt you will clog those filters in say 500 hours or more as most of the particulates will be in suspension and those will get removed every 50 hours not allowing them to build up on the filter and magnets.

@Bigislandguy 9 ай бұрын

What oil do you use for a k46

@MostlyBuilds 9 ай бұрын

Tuff Torq recommends their blend of oil called Tuff Tech 187Q0899000. Here is their chart: tufftorq.ordertree.com/media/promo/TuffTorq/Fluids%20and%20Lubricants.pdf You can find it on Amazon: amzn.to/3OIKzKP If you prefer to use an off the shelf oil, the general consensus online seems to be to use a good synthetic 5w50. Tuff torq says to use their brand of oil because they put special additives in it. In my first video of this transmission mod series I talk about the history of Tuff Torq’s oil: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Zq1-Y7ecnpubeKM.html

@grumpycat5991 Ай бұрын

I have used mobil1 full synthetic 5w50 in my hydros. You mileage may very but it is VERY good stuff. It s like ly overkill if you are changing it out every 50-100 hours but its a lot cheaper then down time or a bad transmission.

@WayneMarion 7 ай бұрын

Pretty smart of Tuff Torque to sell equipment without drains and threaded, accessible fill ports. Those that can, will drill and tap their own. Those that cannot will buy a new trans. from TT or buy an entire new tractor that benefits Red China. Brilliant business model, and they don't even seem the slightest bit ashamed of their incompetence or greed.

@MostlyBuilds 7 ай бұрын

It’s definitely a bummer that the trans isn’t serviceable. A few additional thoughts: - The mower manufacturers are who spec out what features the trans gets (within the capabilities of the k46 design - drain plugs for example) - The limitations of the trans might in part be what enables riding mowers to exist at this price point. Otherwise a riding mower might be out of reach for many. What bugs me the most is that the mower manufacturers just say the trans is a sealed, non-serviceable unit (that’s what John Deere says at least). When in reality it’s totally serviceable, but inconvenient. I’m sure it’s not worth it for a dealer to service them. But a handy consumer could totally service it with some effort. They could share info about “advanced servicing” or something. Thanks for checking out the video and for sharing your thoughts. Hope you consider subscribing.

@WayneMarion 7 ай бұрын

@@MostlyBuilds The mower manufacturers are who spec out what features the trans gets (within the capabilities of the k46 design - drain plugs for example) - The limitations of the trans might in part be what enables riding mowers to exist at this price point. Otherwise a riding mower might be out of reach for many. *Gibberish

@MostlyBuilds 7 ай бұрын

haha! I tried! All I can say is that I've had really positive interactions with the folks at Tuff Torq. I can't say the same about John Deere.

@grumpycat5991 Ай бұрын

The fact that the mfgs spec these transmission without serviceability tells you everything you need to know about what their intentions are. Tuff Torque makes their full line of transmissions with expansion tanks and drain plugs installed at the factory. OEMs are the ones that spec them W/O these critical feature. Sealed OEM transmissions are a giant SCAM to force you to buy a new mower every 5-7 or years.

@JohnSmith-uy7sv 7 ай бұрын

Your generation always wearing gloves to work on things. It's so hilarious. How could you be killed? will the transmission explode. I need to do this to my john deere x320 K58 tranny without taking the bottom case off. My destroyed lumbar region of my spine won't allow me to do all of this. Come to my house in south florida this winter and spend a few days and do it for me. thanks.😁You don't need a specific sealing washer. You can also put silicone on the threads or teflon tape. Teflon tape has been used for many many years. Your funny. 😄

@MostlyBuilds 7 ай бұрын

No glove no love!

@JohnSmith-uy7sv 7 ай бұрын

@@MostlyBuilds You younger people. Germaphobes and boo boo aphobes. Dawn or gasoline will clean all the grease and oil off of your hands. Your not making love to mechanics or anything else. 🙄🙄☺☺

@grumpycat5991 Ай бұрын

There is some "evidence" that repeated exposure to petroleum products is detrimental to your health , and perhaps it is but that not why I wear gloves. I prefer not to get oil and grease all over everything I own and/or have to wash my hands with pumice soap 5 times a day. I would rather not have everything I own be a greasy mess and not be allowed in my house by my wife b/c my hands are covered in grease and stain everything I touch. I don't live in a garage where grease an dirt is perfectly acceptable. My houses floors also dont look like the bottom of a oil change pit b/c I take my boots off ... b/c im not an animal.

@longracing25 Жыл бұрын

Is the pump block supposed to slide down snug on the main shaft splines, no play? I just opened mine.

@MostlyBuilds Жыл бұрын

On mine the block with pistons that’s on the input shaft slid off/on very easily. Not tight on the shaft with the splines. I didn’t really play around with it to see how much play there was. Nothing tipped me off as suspicious though. I slid off without any prying. Hope that helps (I’m not an expert!)

@chipjumper Жыл бұрын

Consider using Permatex hydraulic thread sealant too. I put that on everything especially anything with tranny fluid. Buy a magnum sized tube and you'll have a lifetime supply.

@MostlyBuilds Жыл бұрын

Ah that would have been good for the 3 bolts on the center case for the pump. I’ll get some and give it a shot if I open the case again. Thanks for the tip.