Lockup Torque Converter Operation

The torque converter assembly is made up of the torque converter and the gears to
drive the transmission and hydraulic pumps. The torque converter is a single-stage,
rotating housing, three-element type with a stator freewheel clutch and lockup
function. The housing is mounted to the engine flywheel housing. The flex plate
adapter connects to the flywheel and impeller.

The impeller is driven at engine speed and becomes a centrifugal pump forcing oil to
flow out of the impeller and into the turbine, causing it to turn in the same direction as
the impeller.

The turbine is connected to the output shaft which drives the transmission input shaft.
The lockup function locks the turbine (output) shaft to the impeller (input). When
lockup torque converter occurs, the transmission input rpm is the same as engine rpm,
with no slipping due to the torque converter.

The accessory drive gear is driven by the engine through the impeller hub. The drive
gear turns the idler gears which drive the pump drive gears. One set of pump drive
gears drives the main hydraulic pump and transmission pump and the other set drives
the hydraulic fan pump. The pump drive gears turn slightly faster than the accessory
drive gear.

Inlet pressure oil comes from the transmission control oil valve cooler circuit. Oil
flows through the manifold, through the passage formed by the stator carrier and
impeller hub, through the thrust bearing and into the impeller side of the torque
converter. Outlet pressure oil flows from the turbine side, through the thrust bearing,
through the passage formed by the stator carrier and output shaft, into the manifold
and then out to the oil cooler.

Lubrication oil is delivered to the drive gears through a lubrication line and orifice
which are connected to the converter inlet oil passage.

Converter leakage and drive gear lube oil drains back to the transmission case through
a drain line located in the bottom of the accessory drive housing. The transmission
case is vented to ensure proper oil drainage.

During normal operation, oil from the turbine is flowing in the opposite direction of
the oil entering the impeller. To change the direction of oil flow, the stator redirects
the oil from the turbine to flow in the same direction as the oil entering the impeller.
This improves the efficiency of the torque converter. Torque multiplication occurs
when the velocity of the turbine oil flow flowing through the stator is added to the
impeller oil flow to drive the turbine at a higher speed than what the impeller alone
can produce. The increased turbine speed is converted into additional torque for the
transmission to use.

When the lockup torque converter is activated, two hydraulically actuated clutch
plates are locked using transmission charge oil pressure controlled by the Lockup
Solenoid (Y20) on the transmission control valve. This lockup function locks the
impeller to the turbine, locking the torque converter and making the machine operate
with no slippage between the engine and transmission. There are several factors that
control whether or not the lockup torque converter is active.

In order for lockup torque converter to occur, the following conditions must be met:

 Lockup Torque Converter Switch (S37) must be turned ON.

 Transmission must be in gear longer than 2 seconds.
 Transmission temperature must be above 16°C (61°F).
 Engine speed must be 1875 rpm or above.
 Torque converter slip must be between 0 and 20 percent.

The torque converter will remain locked through all upshifts and downshifts as long
as all the above criteria remain constant. The torque converter will unlock if any of
the following criteria are met:

 Lockup Torque Converter Switch (S37) is turned OFF.

 Transmission is shifted to Neutral.
 Transmission temperature falls below 16°C (61°F).
 Engine speed falls below 1450 rpm.

When the machine is operated in reverse, the lockup torque converter function is
identical except the torque converter unlocks between every upshift and downshift in
reverse regardless of engine rpm.

There are two diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) that will cause the torque converter to
unlock but not fault the transmission to neutral if they occur:

 177.12 Transmission oil temp out of range.

 2000.9 Engine is not communicating.