Hey guys need some help with a machine, i always get a great response here on Heavy Equipment forums. I have a John Deere 310E backhoe that operates great for the first hour sometimes two, but when it gets hot it seems to loose power to the wheels, I have to shift all the way down to 1st to get speed going when normally the machine would have plenty of power in all gears up to the end of the gear power band... what should i suspect here, i want to say transmission or maybe a head gasket? the machine operates best in the winter it seems which is when its the most busy moving snow etc. I haven't takin much time off to take an in depth look into the problem because i have to run the machine hard for a couple hours for the problem to arise. Any suggestions and starting points are most welcome. thanks!
Does the engine smoke? If so what color? Have you changed fuel or air filters ? Do you loose rpm?
VileMiss... You will have to be more specific for us to help. The engine loosing power it totally different that transmission problems. If your engine looses power your rpm will be dropping or will not increase when you push down on the throttle. If your transmission or clutch system is failing, your rpm will rise to the top at wide open throttle but your machine will not push hard or go fast. You need to tell us about these symptoms.
The engine does not smoke and the Rpms are steady so that would rule out head gasket obv. I don't believe it sthe engine at all it must be in the transmission. after a couple hours of working it looses power or Torque i should say with foot down engine revving but no go best way to describe it is like a slipping clutch. Are these drive trains mated with a clutch? ( i understand that most manual transmission are) and/or why would it be only when the machine is hot? I have only been following this machine since August so i cant say when the filters were last replaced but i suspect this to be a more major issue. What kind of transmission is in this? is it a regular 4 speed gear selector?
Ok, it seems like its drive train related. If the slippage is only in forward, it can be the forwards clutch pack that is failing. If it's in both directions then it could be the torque converter. Over heating oil can cause the torque converter to slip. I am not familiar with the 310E system but you can check the oil coolers for clogged cooler fins (dirt on the exterior of the cooler) or a restricted cooler pipe or hose ( look for dents or kinks). Check the oil level and colour of the oil. Your owners manual will tell you where to find these things and how to check them.
What he said^ By dirt on the exterior of the cooler, I think Deon means "not inside the tubes". The dirt can plug up the whole core and the radiator too and still not look too bad from the outside. It's probably not too hard at all to take the oil cooler off, then you can clean it from both sides, and have access to clean the radiator at the same time. If you put a light inside the fan shroud and look from the front, you just might be able to see that it's clean.