Login to enhance your online experience. Login or Create an Account
Logo
Shopping Cart

Shopping Cart 0 Items (Empty)

Perkins 400 series 403C 404C Engine Workshop Service Repair Manual

- Safety first
- Wear safety glasses, nitrile gloves, and protective boots; hot oil and pressurized lines can injure.
- Work on level ground, engine cooled, battery disconnected and keys removed.
- Have a suitable fire extinguisher nearby and absorbent pads/containers for spills.
- Collect and properly dispose of drained oil/ATF/hydraulic fluid — do not pour down drains.

- Identify what type of transmission cooler you have
- Inline cooler (separate small radiator-like core in front or on chassis) — easier to replace.
- Radiator-integrated oil cooler (transmission/hydraulic circuit runs through radiator) — more complex; may require radiator removal or replacement.
- Locate supply and return lines (follow metal/hose lines from transmission case to cooler).

- Basic diagnostic checks (what to look for)
- Visual inspection for wetness, oil streaks, brittle/cracked hoses, loosened clamps, corroded fittings.
- Feel lines for soft/swollen hose sections and pressurized blisters.
- Pressure/flow symptoms: overheating transmission, low fluid, poor shifting (if applicable).
- Temporary check: clean area, run engine briefly to see fresh leak source (use drip tray).

- Tools you should have (every tool described and how to use it)
- Socket set (metric): use to remove brackets, bolts holding cooler/radiator shrouds. Select correct socket; pull gently and work in short bursts to avoid rounding heads.
- Combination wrench set (metric): open/close nuts in tight spots; hold one side with wrench while turning with socket on the other.
- Flare-nut / line wrenches: slip over hex-shaped tube fittings without rounding them; use to loosen hydraulic/transmission line fittings gently, counter-hold the other side if needed.
- Torque wrench: set to the specified torque and tighten bolts/nuts to workshop-manual values to avoid leaks or broken studs; use for final fasteners.
- Flat and Phillips screwdrivers: remove hose clamps, trim shields; use the right head size to avoid camming out.
- Pliers (slip-joint and locking/Vice-Grips): remove/hold hose clamps and small parts; use locking pliers to clamp off lines if needed.
- Hose clamp pliers or spring-clip pliers: quickly remove/install spring-type clamps on hoses; hold jaws steady and slide clamp back.
- Drain pan / catch container: place under cooler/lines to capture fluid; select a container with adequate capacity for the system.
- Funnel and clean measuring jug: refill transmission/hydraulic fluid accurately without contamination.
- Clean rags and parts cleaner (degreaser): wipe fittings and mating surfaces to inspect for cracks and to help sealing.
- Inspection light / flashlight: illuminate behind radiator or under chassis to find pinhole leaks or hairline cracks.
- Small pick / seal puller: remove O-rings and old seals from fittings without gouging the metal.
- Hose pick tool: use to separate hoses from fittings and pry out chunks of old hose.
- Jack and axle stands (or an appropriate lift): raise vehicle safely if cooler is under chassis; use stands to securely support.
- Glove-safe anti-seize and thread sealant (as specified): apply where workshop manual calls for it (do not over-apply; many hydraulic fittings use crush washers or O-rings instead).
- Replacement clamps / crimp sleeves (as required): new clamps often give reliable seal vs. reused old clamps.

- Extra/professional tools you may need (why they are required)
- Flare tool or hydraulic line tool: required only if you must remake metal hydraulic lines (bending/flaring) — otherwise avoid; remaking lines requires skill.
- Pressure test kit for transmission/hydraulic circuit: to pressurize lines and pinpoint slow leaks without running engine under load.
- Radiator removal tools (long reach sockets, trim tool): needed if cooler is integrated into radiator and radiator must be dropped.
- Bench vise: hold fittings or banjo bolts while replacing crush washers.
- Crimping tool for hydraulic hose fittings: required if replacing brazed/crimped hose assemblies instead of swapping pre-made hoses.

- Preparatory steps
- Park on level surface, engage park/handbrake, block wheels.
- Place drain pan under cooler line low point; loosen lowest return fitting and allow fluid to drain — catch and measure amount for refill.
- Label or photograph hoses and fittings so reassembly orientation is correct.
- Depressurize cooling/transmission circuit before disconnecting lines; run engine briefly then stop and loosen a fitting slowly to relieve trapped pressure (wear eye protection).

- Removal of cooler or hoses
- Use line wrenches on the fittings; hold opposing fitting steady to avoid twisting lines.
- Cap or plug open fittings promptly after removal to prevent contamination and further leaking.
- Remove mounting brackets and any shrouds with socket set/screwdriver.
- If cooler is radiator-integrated, follow radiator removal procedure in workshop manual; support radiator and disconnect fan/shrouds, hoses, and mounts.

- Inspection once removed
- Visual: look for corrosion, pinholes, bent fins, oil saturation, damaged tube-to-header joints.
- Pressure test (recommended): bench-test cooler with low-pressure water or compressed air submerged to find bubbles; small leaks mean replacement.
- Hoses: cut open suspect hoses to verify internal collapse or soft spots; if inner lining is degraded replace hose.
- Fittings and unions: inspect O-rings, crush washers, banjo bolts for deformation — replace as needed.

- Repair vs replacement guidance (what to replace and why)
- Replace hoses and clamps if cracked, swollen, soft or older than a few years — hoses are cheap and prevent future leaks.
- Replace O-rings, crush washers and sealing washers at all fittings every time you open lines — they compress and leak when reused.
- Replace cooler core if:
- Visible pinholes, significant external corrosion, or brazed joints failing.
- Pressure test shows leaks not repairable.
- Integrated radiator cooler — generally replace entire radiator assembly if core is leaking.
- Repair only when:
- Leak is at an external hose or fitting (replace hose/seal).
- Leak is a minor pinhole on external tube and temporary brazing/epoxy is acceptable (not recommended for long term; replace cooler when possible).
- Replace banjo bolts or line unions if threads are damaged or bolts are stretched — reused damaged hardware can fail.

- Installation and sealing best practices
- Clean mating surfaces thoroughly; remove old sealant, dirt, and oil.
- Install new O-rings/crush washers and coat O-rings lightly with compatible fluid to avoid twisting.
- Torque fittings to manual specs with torque wrench; do not overtighten metal flare fittings — overtightening can crack the fitting.
- Reinstall clamps on hoses in their original orientation; pinch spring clamps fully closed with pliers until seated.

- System refill, bleeding and testing
- Refill with the correct fluid per Perkins workshop manual (check engine/transmission/hydraulic fluid spec) — using wrong fluid damages components.
- Start engine, cycle transmission/hydraulic controls if applicable to circulate fluid while watching fluid level; top up to correct mark.
- Check for leaks at all fittings while under normal operating temperature and pressure.
- Road or load test slowly while monitoring temperature and fluid level; recheck all fittings after test.

- Disposal and cleanup
- Store used fluid in marked containers for recycling.
- Clean tools and work area; replace any damaged clamps and keep spare O-rings and hoses on hand.

- Typical replacement parts list you may need
- Transmission/hydraulic cooler core (inline cooler) or full radiator assembly (if integrated).
- Rubber hoses for supply and return (specific lengths/diameters for your machine).
- Hose clamps (spring or worm-gear style as used originally).
- O-rings and crush washers for all fittings (match sizes).
- Banjo bolts or flare nuts if corroded or damaged.
- Thread sealant or correct sealing washers if specified in manual.
- Recommended transmission/hydraulic fluid (type and quantity per manual).

- Why replacement parts are often required
- Rubber hoses degrade with heat/age and fail unpredictably.
- O-rings and crush washers deform and lose sealing ability each time fittings are removed.
- Cooler cores corrode or develop hairline cracks under vibration and pressure; patched coolers often fail again.
- Proper replacement restores reliability and prevents contamination ingress.

- Final checks (before finishing)
- Verify torque and fittings cold and again after first run.
- Confirm correct fluid level at operating temperature and no air in system (cycle controls).
- Inspect for leaks after several hours/days of operation.

- Quick troubleshooting notes (concise)
- Persistent leak after new seals: recheck torque, mating face cleanliness, and correct O-ring size.
- Overheating: confirm flow through cooler, clean blocked fins, check radiator-integrated cooler condition.
- Low fluid reoccurrence: locate slow leak with inspection light or pressure-test lines.

- Last practical advice
- If cooler is radiator-integrated or substantial metal line work is needed and you are a beginner, prefer replacing assemblies or having a shop perform the job.
- Keep a small kit of spare O-rings, clamps and one spare hose to reduce downtime.

- Disposal/regulatory note
- Follow local regulations for used oil and fluid disposal.

End.
rteeqp73

You Might Also Like...

Kryptronic Internet Software Solutions