Need some advice! (Champion grader)

[soltesz]

Hello everyone,

I'm hoping someone out there may have some knowledge on a problem I've encountered.

I have a champion 730 grader, as a personal business.

I believe there is an issue with the electronic control for the transmission, the display freezes..showing the current gear but the grader goes into neutral and the sticks are disabled. I can wait 15 min and start the grader again and it will work for an undetermined ammount of time.

Now it's a 5,000 dollar part so I'm told so I need to know if it's servicable.. or does it have to be replaced?

Is there anything else that can cause this?

Thanks!

 

[Grader4me]

What year is your grader?

 

[soltesz]

G'day ... It's a 1990

 

[Grader4me]

Does your operators manual give you any info on what this problem might be? The 96 Champion that I run had solenoids that would go dead. One in particular that went on me basically took out the transmission functions. They were all interchangeable, so I took one off the float control and switched it with the bad one on the transmission. The console display flashed a fault code number and the manual showed what solenoid that it was.
Had it been any other one on the transmission (I think there was 3 or 4) I could have used the "limp home mode" but unfortunately it was the one that disabled it.
Of course it happened to me in the middle of no where, snowing like crazy and colder than hell. Also it was the solenoid that was the hardest to get at..

Yours as said is a 90 model so maybe your set up is completely different.

 

[soltesz]

Thanks for the reply,

The manual does say that it should display a fault code.. and indicates which solenoid each fault code goes with. My problem is that the display freezes.. only showing the last gear the grader was in, no code at all and it goes back to normal when it's shut off / started again after waiting a while.

I did notice that it seems to happen only after I've run it for a while, shut it off and start it again. I've been running the grader all day lately without it happening... but I know it'll happen if I shut it off / start it up again.

 

[MKTEF]

I can double that G4M.

We have had problems with the solenoids on ours too.(936 series IV, 98? mod)
Though most of the time, it was the oil pressure solenoid.

 

[Grader4me]

Thanks for the reply,

The manual does say that it should display a fault code.. and indicates which solenoid each fault code goes with. My problem is that the display freezes.. only showing the last gear the grader was in, no code at all and it goes back to normal when it's shut off / started again after waiting a while.

I did notice that it seems to happen only after I've run it for a while, shut it off and start it again. I've been running the grader all day lately without it happening... but I know it'll happen if I shut it off / start it up again.

Good luck at finding your trouble. Hopefully it won't turn out to be to expensive to fix. Welcome to the forum by the way. If you don't mind me asking, what part of N.S. are you from?

 

[soltesz]

Thanks.. let's hope

I'm from Cape Breton, NS (Sydney Area)

 

[Grader4me]

Beautiful country down there...Also don't be shy about posting some pics of your Grader

 

[Dieselguy2011]

Thanks.. let's hope

I'm from Cape Breton, NS (Sydney Area)

Champion graders have 3 relays under the dash you may want to change them they act up when hot especially when the machine is shut off and restarted , the computer does not sound like it is fried , you will get a code of 2.7 when computer is junk and they dont come out of it. , I ran an 87 , 88 730 champ , 89,91 740 and most common problem was a relay , solenoid ground failure , nut to tight on solenoid and high resistance in a solenoid. and yes i have sat in one that would not move a time or two. if or when you change the ralays you should use atleast a 30 amp relay

 

[Diagonal Brace]

I have had trouble with the microswitch on the F N R lever itself. Only found out what it was when in frustration I slammed the lever from forward to reverse and back and away she went. Does the back up alarm work when it acts up? I would also swap relays as Dieselguy says.

 

[JBF]

I've had good luck with taking the computer to a local electronics specialist. He takes his time and sometimes finds a bad connection somewhere, most times it's right near the main plug-in. Done 4 or 5 this way. Saves $5000. Just a thought if your relays aren't the problem.

 

[BDFT]

I owned a 96 750 Champion for 5 years. It only let me down once and it sat on the side of a logging road for a week. A very similar problem only it wouldn't move at all. The first thing I would do is go under the dash and replace or swap around the relays as Dieselguy said. After a mechanic crawling over the entire machine with his voltmeter, we finally swapped one relay for another and away I went. Never had a problem again. The trans computer requires at least 12 volts to operate. 11.9 won't cut it. A little corrosion in a relay is all it takes. If not the relays then go through the shift coils on the front of the trans. There is a procedure to go through to test them with a ohmmeter. I can't remember but its fairly straightforward. Your shift display should show a fault code. Your dealer could tell you what it means or there's always the internet. My set of service and parts manual went with the grader when I sold it.

 

[kiwichampionman]

Hi all, i have had same prob on my 1990 710a and my 1996 720a both times it was due to lack of volts from alternater put new one on and away we went. I be thinking of checking that first to make sure its putting out the right volts maybe easy fix ? Cheers fellows and keep up the good posts i really enjoy reading and graders rule !

 

[Motor Grader]

Here is a dealer that specializes in the older Champion graders. http://www.jadeequipment.com/pages/default.aspx
[/URL]
Jade has a big inventory of used parts and they are very knowledgeable about the older Champion graders.

 

[Abscraperguy]

Here is a dealer that specializes in the older Champion graders. http://www.jadeequipment.com/pages/default.aspx
[/URL]
Jade has a big inventory of used parts and they are very knowledgeable about the older Champion graders.

They're good but quite expensive. For older graders there's an outfit in Saskatchewan that's pretty good. I believe it's called CW Enterprises

 

[steve2147]

hey guys I am having a transmission problem with a '89 730a. The problem is that when you pit it in forward it feels like you are driving with the brakes on. I know it is in the trans because we just had it out to re-build the reverse clutches and we didnt have this problem previous to that. So I am wondering if there is a mix up on the wiring harness to the solenoids and maybe we have them hooked up wrong and the wrong clutches are locking up, or maybe it could be something else. Like I said we had no problems witht the forward gears prior to rebuilding the reverse clutches and the forward gears worked great. Any help would be great. I think I am going to pull the harness off of the solenoids and with some help from the service manual I am going to try to double check which one is which and hope that it is a simple mix up like that and hope that I don't have to drop the trans again. LOL

 

[hill grader]

Hi everyone i also have a problem with my 726A series 111 AWD ,the AWD system has stopped it seems to be low voltage sending to the front i have changed relays in cabin box controller,does anyone know what or were is the voltage controler that supplies power to the box or to the front.thankyou from Wales

 

[loveak77]

hey guys I am having a transmission problem with a '89 730a. The problem is that when you pit it in forward it feels like you are driving with the brakes on. I know it is in the trans because we just had it out to re-build the reverse clutches and we didnt have this problem previous to that. So I am wondering if there is a mix up on the wiring harness to the solenoids and maybe we have them hooked up wrong and the wrong clutches are locking up, or maybe it could be something else. Like I said we had no problems witht the forward gears prior to rebuilding the reverse clutches and the forward gears worked great. Any help would be great. I think I am going to pull the harness off of the solenoids and with some help from the service manual I am going to try to double check which one is which and hope that it is a simple mix up like that and hope that I don't have to drop the trans again. LOL

Steve, did you resolve your problem??? Ive got a 93 780a that just quits moving the more load you put it under, it tries but the torque isn't getting to the wheels!!! the lower you drop the gears the better it gets but its progressively gotten worse to the point now it will barely drive. i started with the tranny/power steering pump and it was trashed, had a piece of metal floating around in the gears. Just installed a new pump and new fluid (the old fluid looked great as did the telltale magnet in the sump. i have no idea where the poppets are, they arent on the back of the pump like the shop manual i have shows. Anyone have any ideas!!!!!
Thanks James

 

[Blue-Fox]

Champion graders have 3 relays under the dash you may want to change them they act up when hot especially when the machine is shut off and restarted , the computer does not sound like it is fried , you will get a code of 2.7 when computer is junk and they dont come out of it. , I ran an 87 , 88 730 champ , 89,91 740 and most common problem was a relay , solenoid ground failure , nut to tight on solenoid and high resistance in a solenoid. and yes i have sat in one that would not move a time or two. if or when you change the ralays you should use atleast a 30 amp relay

Thanks for this info, When you say relays under the dash, do you mean the side console? where all the electrical crap is, or the housing around the steering cluster?