Torque converter gets warm

I have never really checked mine out by touching it. I would expect it to get warm but not excessively hot. The torque generator is an open center configuration where there is oil flow through it all the time the tractor engine is running so just the pressure drop due to flow restrictions can be expected to cause the temperature to rise some. The torque generator flow rating is 3.5 gpm if it is the common 700 lb-in unit. If your pump generates more than that the heat will increase. If your pump is a typical automotive power steering pump it should be the correct capacity of about 3 or 4 gpm and should not be putting out too much unless you are running it a greater speed than normal. Some automotive power steering systems have special oil coolers to keep the temperature down because of the highly variable speed of the pump on those installations. A smaller than normal oil reservoir or smaller than normal line sizes can also contribute to a higher than normal temperature rise. Of course checking the unit right after steering manuvers will also indicate a warmer temperature. I am assuming you are using a proper oil. I use SAE 10 hyd oil because that is what my main hydraulic system is filled with. Automotive power steering fluid or automatic transmission fluid should be OK for a separate steering system. If you are using a heavier grade of oil, that could increase the temperature.

My system doesn't use a separate pump for the steering. I use a flow diverter/priority valve taking about 3 gpm away from my main pump capacity (20 gpm) to dedicate to the steering circuit. I also have a rather large (about 15 gallons) oil reservoir to support tha main pump. The lines and reservoir will get warm to the touch after a while, even when no work is being done. I don't have a dedicated oil cooler since the large reservoir offers much the same cooling effect.

I am not sure this has helped you any. Just sort of rambling thoughts on my part. I don't know why you are not experiencing any warmth at all on your other installation since I expect all should be warm to some extent. It could be due to some internal problem but I think that is probably unlikely. Of course if someone else has had the unit apart and not reassembled it properly, all bets are off.

Rod

Thanks for your information. I believe that the power steering pump is an old GM pump that should deliver about 4gpm. We did have to put on a 1/4 inch smaller pulley since the original was all bent out of shape. If this increases my pump speed by a percentage, then that may be the reason for the warmer torque generator- as explained by you. Thanks again for your help ---

--- Joe