VBT Deluxe Test Machine
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Simplified quick fit hose connections.
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High specification 64 Bit PC with Windows 10 Professional.
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24" Industrial grade touch screen panel mount monitor.
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Pre-written test scripts compiled by experienced "hands-on" valve body rebuilders.
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Free unrivaled back up support service included with every system.
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100% United Kingdom manufacture with elaborated original technology mastered and enhanced over years.
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Ease of updates (Software) – systems designed for remote login capability to update and correct software issues.
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Ease of updates (Hardware) – North American support to work with customers on machine updates. Onsite service available if required.
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Ease of Use – On site technical training available.
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Most comprehensive adapter coverage.
SOFTWARE
Our in house developed software allow a user to run a series of tests to check the performance of a valve body at various gears and pressures for proper operation. Simply put, the user can emulate transmission performance of the actual vehicle. Our team has diligently written scripts for all supported valve bodies that the controller uses to perform a standard test sequence to the unit under test. By running a used valve body through a series of carefully written steps and recording the pressures, the system gives the operator a graphical display of the unit under test compared to an original new valve body of the same model. This comparison makes it possible for valve body rebuilders to determine the exact source of valve body problems - be it a damaged solenoid, a worn valve and bore, or plunger.
HT-VBTs have become an essential step in automatic transmission rebuilding and remanufacturing process, giving a prominent advantage to transmission rebuilding services.
CONTROLLER
The Hydra-Test Unit Controller functions as the "brain" of the testing system. Its performance and accuracy allow a rebuilder the ability to definitively check the quality of the valve body rebuilding process. The HTC-S Controller allows the most precise and detailed graphs of any of our systems to date and meet or exceed our industry’s testing requirements. With the help of our experienced engineers we have taken our original VBDaq+ concept and improved both the Hardware and Software. This has been achieved whilst still retaining the ease of operation. Ideas and features developed internally, as well as those from customer and industry feedback have been incorporated into the design whilst retaining the original architecture and logic. For example, our very own “easy limits” percentage calculator software feature allows an easy way to set limits for testing and is a favorite among many customers.
Library of Reference Results
The vast experience of the Hydra-Test team collected over the years has allowed us to accumulate a large database of test results. Based on this, we have created an extensive library of reference results, which include tests for all of the common automatic transmission models available in the market today. This library allows new users with at a novice level of test experience to successfully be able to test and qualify solenoids. As for professionals, they are given a vast library good test samples and statistics for scrutiny for any unusual “non-standard” behavior of tested solenoids. This significantly reduces the rejection of “suspicious” solenoids, giving the operator confidence in the results that they achieve. The reference results provided with the purchase are also templates for users to create their own library from, making the process simple and entertaining.
ADAPTER PLATES
Hydra-Test offers an ever-increasing line of valve body test plates that allow you to test the valve body hydraulically, just like it performs in the vehicle while being able to see leaks, potential wear, or other valve body issues that would be impossible otherwise. Our dedicated engineering staff is continually developing new test plates to cover the latest transmissions on the market before they get to your shop. These plates are made from precision ground aluminum to keep them light and easy to install in the machine. Steel thread inserts and steel braided hoses mean these plates will last many years and can handle the daily wear and tear of service. High quality quick connect hose connections to the machine allow for leak free and secure connections for accurate readings.
Newest development - 0AM (DQ200)
The new 0AM valve body testing tool serves as an add-on to an existing Hydra-Test solenoid tester or VB tester running on HTC. It is driven and controlled very similarly to a standard adapter plate.
The 0AM (DQ200) tool verifies:
• Pump performance
• Pump motor degradation
• Pressure loss
• Solenoid Amperage
• External and internal leaks
AVAILABLE ADAPTER PLATES LIST
VIDEOS AND DOWNLOADABLE MATERIALS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Hydra-Test US office is available from 8am to 5pm CST to answer any questions you might have on our flagship Valve Body test machine HT-VBT Deluxe. Here is a list of Frequently Asked Questions that most customers ask about our VBT Deluxe.
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What are the voltage requirements? The Valve Body test machine for the US comes as 230V/60Hz/3-phase standard. Other valve body tester voltage configurations are available upon request and can be quoted and specified at the time of order.
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What about Valve Body rebuilding spare parts? The most popular automatic transmission tools for restoring worn valve bores and replacing valves and solenoids are vacuum testers and reaming kits. Hydra-Test has vast experience with Valve Bodies and advises on reliable suppliers, quality tools, and a minimal stock requirement for specific valve bodies.
Where can I get Valve Body repair training? Hydra-Test offers online valve body test machine training, training at clients’ facilities, and in-house training – various options are available, some of which are free of charge.
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How do you handle TCM / TCU / TEHCM testing? ​Hydra-Test removes the TEHCM from the valve body testing process and uses a dedicated harness to test the valve body without the TECHM. There are many tools on the market to test and check the TEHCM. With the VBT Deluxe, we focus on just the valve body, so if there is an issue you can find it directly rather than trying to guess if it is the valve body or the control module.
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Does the machine come with a heater? How is the temperature controlled? The VBT Deluxe test equipment comes with an oil heater standard and uses a temperature controller to heat and maintain the test oil to a preset temperature. The oil reservoir is an insulated tank and a secondary insulated spillway gathers the oil that comes off the valve body before it is returned to the reservoir. The heating and oil return system is designed with the goal of keeping the valve body and test oil at a consistent temperature during testing and minimizing temperature fluctuations.
Valve body testing technical subsection
Reports
PDF file (created in Test Scenario mode) allows valve body specialists a visually explicit comparison against the benchmark data.
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Technical datasheet
Video guide + auxiliary PDF files. We can provide instruction over a virtual platform to explain and train any details on the valve body tester and its use that might be complex to understand.
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Time to master
“The more you put in, the more you get out” - this is the advice. Learn the basic operation of the machine and HTC-K software operation and use all of the capability and features the first few months after purchase of the valve body tester.
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Valve Body tester vs. Solenoid tester
HT-VBT Deluxe allows users to test both complete Valve Bodies and individual Solenoids (using our standard Solenoid Test Blocks and VBT Deluxe Solenoid Adapter Plate). Solenoid tester HT-SOL is designed for high temperature testing of individual Solenoids. Good practice is to test and check to ensure proper transmission solenoid operation prior to testing the complete valve body.
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Solenoid Packs and Solenoid Sets
The VBT Deluxe is designed to test complete packs such as the 68REF and solenoid sets that require pressure calibration such as the 55-50SN. Our software is designed to make this quick and easy allowing you to make solenoid adjustments, test, and check as they are operated.
What factors determine VB testing pressure?
The line pressure of a transmission is typically 4-20 Bar (minimum to maximum), but VB testing pressure is determined by other factors too. It is important to remember that we, at Hydra-Test and Cottingham Engineering, are using a deadheaded Input, or System, pressure to set the regulated oil volume to the valve body – not by setting a pressure or a flow to the valve body. By doing this, we can simulate different throttle positions or engine RPM, and repeat these each time we test.
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Each transmission will produce different oil volumes depending upon the design of the pump used and the engine RPM.
When we first design a test plate, we research the maximum oil volume required to achieve the highest pressure the transmission pump can provide to the valve body. Typically, this is stall pressure in reverse gear. We then close the on/off valve to see the highest setting we need to use. For example, this may be 25 Bar and this would represent a maximum throttle position. We then write valve body test scenarios in equal amounts down to 10 Bar minimum (which represents a very light throttle position). This enables us to see the shift results at varying throttle positions. Our experience has shown us that there is no standard throttle position where a fault occurs. Sometimes, it may be at very light throttle and other times a transmission fault may only show at a much higher position. If we only tested at a high throttle setting, the fault might be missed and not captured on our graphical test display and logging.
What is the benefit of using Interpolation Parameters in the HTC Editor?
The interpolation feature available in our transmission solenoid test equipment is what makes HTC special. When the solenoid number is selected (ticked) it will pass between the 2 numbers in 1% increments smoothly over the time period selected in column 4. If it is not ticked, it will jump between the figures at the end of the time period. This give the operator the ability to ramp multiple transmission solenoids from one current to another and write complex shift patterns with the minimal amount of test script lines.
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Example: In the Editor section, you will see that the numbers at the top relate to the Channel number of the transmission Solenoid. Channel 5 is always used for EPC Solenoid. It is PWM so 0% = OFF & 60% is ON. To operate this smoothly we will go from 0 to 60 over the set time period (e.g. 5000Ms = 5 seconds) in 1% steps. This is now done in one line of in the test script rather than many as previously done with older generations of shift controllers.
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D.C., or On/Off, solenoids are either fully on or fully off so interpolation is not necessary. PWM solenoids are now used in clutch to clutch shifting, so timing is critical. This gives true clutch overlap rather than just energizing a PWM like a D.C. solenoid. The algorithm for this is a complicated process that is built into the firmware of the controller but appears in the software as a simple select or not select with a tick box – so operators can focus on testing properly and looking for faults rather than writing lengthy sets of test scripts.