working on a Franklin 170 PGS. Mid 1990s model. Questions on trans pump.

[Atlasman]

we have about 4 Franklin 170 skidders.  One of them is a C-7 tree farmer.  The one good one we have works well.  You do have to park it with the rear end up hill or the transmission charge pump will lose prime.  I understand this is a common issue.  The one we are currently working on is the Franklin 170 PGS.  serial number 16011.  We finally found a kit to rebuilt the transmission pump and the pump itself looked good and went together good with the kit.  The problem is, we still aren't getting good pressure.  We heard the pump prime and it acts like it picked the oil up after the pump rebuild but when we check pressure on top of the shifter solenoid valve, we are seeing about 50 psi.  We think it should be around 350-400??  We are wondering a couple of things.  #1. we are checking the pressure on the top center plug hole of the shifter solenoid block that has the 4 or 5 solonoids on it.  is that the right place to check the pressure?
#2.  Is there a way to check our pump pressure to make sure it is working as it should after the rebuild kit?
#3.  It appears there is another block down about 1/2 way on the transmission the I saw Kiko had posted a photo of that says "transmission regulator valve".  We was thinking it had something to do with the brake or service brakes?  From this block, a hose runs up and feeds the "converter pressure regulator" block that has all the solenoids on it.  Both of these blocks have pressure relief valves in them.  We are thinking that one or both of them blocks may be allowing the oil to bypass without building pressure.  Can someone explain how the flow works to me and maybe have a diagram of the flow and where to check pressures and all.
#4.  Finding any diagrams or parts breakdowns has proven to be difficult.  Any service manuals or parts manuals of these parts or pressures would be awesome.  Especially a parts breakdown of them two blocks and the pressure relief valves.  I think that may be our problem, but can't find a schematic.

Several of you guys seem very knowledgeable and I have read several of Kikos posts.  He or anyone else who has worked on one of these id sure appreciate a nudge in the right direction.

thanks in advance.

atlasman

[quilbilly]

Good luck. We've had mostly electrical gremlins when it comes to ours. One little trick we did, not recommended for long term use, is to take off the solenoid underneath your left thigh, closest to the main door, and replace it with a plug. That disable park brake for us, but isn't good to run that way long term. We'd run it that way for ten or fifteen minutes and put the solenoid back in. All other things seemed to be electrical related

[kiko]

The trans pressure regulator is on the block on the front of the transmission where park brake solonoid.  There is a port to check trans pressure on that block. On the control valve is the torque flow valve, it splits the flow between the control and convertor.  The low pressure reading is likely lube pressure. The most common issue why they loose prime is the suction hose. Because the oil  has to be pulled uphill the hose can look good and still let it leak down over night.