lawn tractor hydrostatic issue

[maxwell]

i have a Cub Cadet with 20hp engine and snow blower. has 600 hours now and the transmission seems like it is getting weak. Reverse doesnt work at all after about 10 minutes of operation ( seems once the fluid is up to temp it starts to fail) and forward gears wont even spin the tires under load in snow. seems fine when cold but the longer i use it the worse it gets. Owners manual says the transmission is a "sealed" unit and the fkuid can not be flushed or changed. looking online seems like some guys have removed them and drained the fluid and replaced with good results.

Thanks

 

[Trashy]

For what it's worth..... I'd bust it open and do what the others have been doo'in

 

[sirkdev]

sixtyfiveford has a video series on youtube. Looks like about a 40 beer job...

 

[Cdnfireman]

Can’t hurt to try....eventually it’s gonna quit working all together so not much to lose...let’s us know how it goes

 

[sweld]

I have a John Deere mower with the hydrostatic transmission like yours. Non serviceable. It’s famous for failing like that. Mine starting acting up like that 4 yrs ago. Figured I ride it till it piled up. It plateaued and is still going. Lol

 

[maxwell]

I have a John Deere mower with the hydrostatic transmission like yours. Non serviceable. It’s famous for failing like that. Mine starting acting up like that 4 yrs ago. Figured I ride it till it piled up. It plateaued and is still going. Lol

got to love when they do that. and then make the part worth more than the entire unit.

 

[Luke The Drifter]

Chances are something is wearing enough to cause enough internal leakage that when the oil gets hot it can’t seal properly and drive the motors like it used to. Couple that with some used oil and it’ll compound the effect. I’d flush out what oil you can with some new hydraulic oil and see where that gets you. Like others have said, it’s frustrating that they back you into a corner with little servicing ability on these units.

 

[dpolacik]

Adjust the Clickers!

 

[MP Kid]

Chances are something is wearing enough to cause enough internal leakage that when the oil gets hot it can’t seal properly and drive the motors like it used to. Couple that with some used oil and it’ll compound the effect. I’d flush out what oil you can with some new hydraulic oil and see where that gets you. Like others have said, it’s frustrating that they back you into a corner with little servicing ability on these units.

I'm not familiar with this unit, but have been into a number of hydo/hyd units... sounds very much like either a worn pump, or weak pressure relief system\spring.

Agreed... It sad the manufactures don't make these units a little bit serviceable. A filter and new fluid usually helps a lot.....

 

[AreWeThereYet]

Most units run off a charge pump that supplies filtered oil to the hydrostatic motor and filter the return oil. You could have a couple issues, plugged filter, worn charge pump or faulty charge pump relief valve

 

[52weekbreak]

I would give taking it apart a go. As has been pointed out - what the hell, its going to crap anyway.

Found this reference to hydrostatic transmission manufacturers - https://www.powerequipmentdirect.com/stories/1676-Best-Mower-Transmissions-for-Traction.html

Tuff Torq sells repair kits for their units - https://www.tufftorq.com/using-tuff-torq-repair-kits/

Good luck.

 

[brian h]

I would check filter first, I may have the service manual that dealers received for that unit , if you want me to check for you message me.

 

[Fatdaddy]

We also have a cub cadet but only use it for mowing grass at cabin. We have a Kabota at home and quality is night and day with kabota but twice the price. Nothing is built strong anymore but comes with big price tag.

 

[Teth-Air]

I hear that when the oil needs changing this can happen. I've been looking at mine all season thinking I should pull that axle and invert it to drain the oil. Looks like a bit of a crappy job, around 500 hours now. I understand there are 2 major brands. Identify yours and then you-tube the appropriate video.

 

[polarice]

well ive got a few old case garden tractors i have had a similar issue which needed a drive motor ... now some other issues that other people had were what is called a banana plate on the bottom of the travel lever....you can still get parts for those units and are serviceable