Redesigned transmission cooler

[Gerald Farris]

I received an email from Ed, a former BAC member who had been working with an engineer at Rocore (the manufacturer of the transmission cooler that is in the lower radiator hose on many Beavers) to develop a floating bundle cooler to stop the thermal fatigue failures that some Beaver coach owners have experienced, and discussed in depth on this forum. Here is the information.

As mentioned, Rocore now has a floating bundle transmission oil cooler to replace our PN 3-1249T used on various motorhome applications, including Beaver.   Many OE’s are changing to the floating bundle design, as it virtually eliminates the potential for thermal fatigue in the tube bundle that results in a fluid mix and damage to the clutch friction material in automatic transmissions.   And, the Viton O-ring seals on each end of the tube bundle reduce the resident vibration loading, thus extending service life of the floating bundle coolers.

Our new PN is 5-7063H (drawing attached).   Current end user price for the old PN 3-1249T is $1,102, FOB Burkesville, KY 42717.   Drawings are attached for comparison.

Current end user price for the new floating bundle design PN 5-7063H is $988.00, FOB Burkesville, KY.   A $30.00 fee would apply for all major credit card payments.

Current lead time is about 2 weeks ARO for PN 5-7063H.    Also attached is a drawing for typical mounting brackets with referenced McMaster-Carr PN.

If you have a problem opening these files, let me know and I can email them to you.

[Jerry Emert]

I received an email from Ed, a former BAC member who had been working with an engineer at Rocore (the manufacturer of the transmission cooler that is in the lower radiator hose on many Beavers) to develop a floating bundle cooler to stop the thermal fatigue failures that some Beaver coach owners have experienced, and discussed in depth on this forum. Here is the information.

As mentioned, Rocore now has a floating bundle transmission oil cooler to replace our PN 3-1249T used on various motorhome applications, including Beaver.   Many OE’s are changing to the floating bundle design, as it virtually eliminates the potential for thermal fatigue in the tube bundle that results in a fluid mix and damage to the clutch friction material in automatic transmissions.   And, the Viton O-ring seals on each end of the tube bundle reduce the resident vibration loading, thus extending service life of the floating bundle coolers.

Our new PN is 5-7063H (drawing attached).   Current end user price for the old PN 3-1249T is $1,102, FOB Burkesville, KY 42717.   Drawings are attached for comparison.

Current end user price for the new floating bundle design PN 5-7063H is $988.00, FOB Burkesville, KY.   A $30.00 fee would apply for all major credit card payments.

Current lead time is about 2 weeks ARO for PN 5-7063H.    Also attached is a drawing for typical mounting brackets with referenced McMaster-Carr PN.

If you have a problem opening these files, let me know and I can email them to you.

Gerald, excuse my non-mechanic question but...I understand what thermal fatigue is in general.  What does it mean exactly in relation to our coaches?  More specifically is that what may be causing my transmission to always run 220+ as high as 250 before I pull over to cool down?  I've asked the question here before with no one really knowing what the cause is.  Rad and CAC has been cleaned with no difference to speak of.  It has been suggested that a cooler might be bad but A Stewart and Stevenson in Grand Junction checked it and said no.  Anyway could this be the fix?
Thanks

[Mike Shumack]

Was that "in-line" style transmission oil cooler used on all the early (1996 -2002 ) Coaches and with all engine options/sizes (CAT and Cummins)?

[Fred Cook]

I received an email from Ed, a former BAC member who had been working with an engineer at Rocore (the manufacturer of the transmission cooler that is in the lower radiator hose on many Beavers) to develop a floating bundle cooler to stop the thermal fatigue failures that some Beaver coach owners have experienced, and discussed in depth on this forum. Here is the information.

As mentioned, Rocore now has a floating bundle transmission oil cooler to replace our PN 3-1249T used on various motorhome applications, including Beaver.   Many OE’s are changing to the floating bundle design, as it virtually eliminates the potential for thermal fatigue in the tube bundle that results in a fluid mix and damage to the clutch friction material in automatic transmissions.   And, the Viton O-ring seals on each end of the tube bundle reduce the resident vibration loading, thus extending service life of the floating bundle coolers.

Our new PN is 5-7063H (drawing attached).   Current end user price for the old PN 3-1249T is $1,102, FOB Burkesville, KY 42717.   Drawings are attached for comparison.

Current end user price for the new floating bundle design PN 5-7063H is $988.00, FOB Burkesville, KY.   A $30.00 fee would apply for all major credit card payments.

Current lead time is about 2 weeks ARO for PN 5-7063H.    Also attached is a drawing for typical mounting brackets with referenced McMaster-Carr PN.

If you have a problem opening these files, let me know and I can email them to you.

Yep, had to replace my PN 3-1249T cooler last year costing over $1000. The outside casing had rusted through leaking fluid on the ground. Luckily the inner tubes were ok and coolant did not enter into the transmission.

[Gerald Farris]

The above mentioned cooler was used on most, if not all Magnum chassis (1996-2002 Cat - there were no Cummins used), and some of the early Roadmaster chassis equipped Beavers, but Monaco started deleting the transmission cooler or making it much smaller and moving it to inside the radiator around 2004 on most coaches. So I would have to visually check any Monaco built coach to determine what was used as a transmission cooler or if one was used.

Jerry,
The thermal failure problem with these coolers will allow commingling of the coolant and transmission fluid which will result in a transmission failure. If your transmission is running hot and there is no coolant in your transmission fluid, you probably have one of the coaches where Monaco did not install a cooler or it is in the radiator. A quick visual check will determine what model of cooler you have if any. If there is no cooler, you can either add the above mentioned cooler or install an auxiliary cooler in front of your radiator. The problem with a cooler in front of the radiator is that it can overcool the transmission and prevent it from reaching proper operating, especially in cold weather but it is cheaper to install.

Gerald     

[Paul Meehan]

I had the new model installed two weeks ago.  The new heat transfer device, new radiator and a clean charge air cooler has me running at 192 degrees versus 210 - 215.

Paul