Hydrostic transmission power?

[windcatcher]

Hey folks,

I have a new LS XR3032H. I have about 42+/- hours on the tractor. So far, I'm liking it a lot.

Mine has the FEL and backhoe options.

About a month and a half after purchasing the tractor, I was starting to so some digging with the backhoe. Mainly digging up old clothes line steel "T" posts that had been cemented into the ground.

It had been fairly dry, then rained some before the digging. When I started to dig, my tractor strained to even begin to break the ground. I was puzzled, but I've never had a hydrostatic tractor before and certainly a backhoe.

As it turned out, there was hydraulic fluid spraying my backside from under the driver's seat. The dealer came by, checked it and took my tractor in for repairs. He returned it in a few days, and I thought everything was ok.

Several weeks went by, and because I couldn't find time to use the tractor, it sat. Then, I cut some crepe myrtle trees down - the largest in diameter being less than four inches. I started to haul them off behind the old pond dam, and due to this past winter's damage from the ice storm, my pile of branches, etc grew.

At one point in time when I was off loading some of the branches, I started to back out from behind the pond dam. The tractor stopped dead in its tracks. I had it in four wheel drive, and in the "M" range. I pulled forward and noticed a branch about three maybe four inches in diameter getting stuck under the driver's right side tire. The branch was about four feet long, but not near long enough to get under more than one tire. It also wasn't getting hung up on anything under the tractor.

Try as I might, this tractor would start to back up and stop dead in its tracks. Finally, I pulled forward enough to get off the branch, left the tractor with the parking brake on, and pulled the branch out from under the tractor. Remounted the tractor, and the tractor backed right out of that spot. Strange?

About a week went by, and I tried to dig the crepe myrtle stumps out of the ground. This time it was fairly wet because of recent rains. It took me about 5 hours to dig 6 crepe myrtles and 1 forsythia bush out of the ground. Again, because I'm new to this, I had nothing else to compare it to.

Two weeks later, I had a tandem truck load of double ground leaf mulch delivered to cover up the holes from the crepe myrtles. As I was driving forward with the bucket (FEL) slightly tilted, I would get maybe 3/4's a bucket full, and the tractor would stall out and die. This happened over and over. It's like the tractor doesn't have enough ummmmmmh in the hydraulics to do the job.

As I said, I'm new to this, and this tractor is brand new. Is anyone else with a hydraulic drive tractor experiencing what I am?

I had the dealer pick up the tractor again and it has been returned. He hasn't called, sent me an e-mail or anything about what the diagnosis was. Plus, he's sold his business and is retiring, so I'm wondering if I'm not getting left out in the cold.

Opinions? Suggestions? I'm all open right now for suggestions. This is a very expensive piece of equipment and I don't want to get stuck.

Thanks in advance.

 

[oldnslo]

Any HST tranny sized correctly should spin the tires on a CUT. Not familiar with LS but possible in "M" mid-range you don't have enough power available to the drive wheels to spin them. Have you tried shifting into into low range to see how the tractor performs.

I know on my Kubota BX and my current Branson 2400H they would not spin the wheels in high range with decent traction.

 

[windcatcher]

Any HST tranny sized correctly should spin the tires on a CUT. Not familiar with LS but possible in "M" mid-range you don't have enough power available to the drive wheels to spin them. Have you tried shifting into into low range to see how the tractor performs.

I know on my Kubota BX and my current Branson 2400H they would not spin the wheels in high range with decent traction.

Good point. No, I haven't tried in the low position yet. I'll try it tomorrow and see what happens. Because of work, I'm only able to play on weekends. Sometimes the weekends have to span several weeks before I get to use the tractor. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good.

 

[MossRoad]

Do you have the engine PRMs up to PTO speed? Contrary to what some folks will tell you, you need higher engine RPMS on a hydrostatic tractor. Consult your owner's manual for the proper speed to run your engine. My old IH2500b from the late 70s specifically said to run the engine at PTO speed for maximum power, braking and cooling.

So, I'd say run the engine RPMs up to PTO speed, put it in low range and give it a test on the same things you were doing when you had a lack of power and see if that makes a difference. If not, there's probably something wrong with the tractor. Whatever you do, get the tests done while its still in warranty. Don't wait. Especially with a dealer that is quitting the business.

 

[ozley]

What RPM's are you running at?

 

[windcatcher]

What RPM's are you running at?

Just checked the tach. I was running between 1500 and maybe 1700 rpms. I wanted to break the tractor in gently.

MossRoad, I hear you. That's why I'm asking the questions like I am. This is too expensive a toy/tool for there to be something wrong with it.

 

[jaydee325]

First, check your hydro unit fluid level. You had a leak that the dealer fixed. Make sure he returned the unit to you with proper oil level.

 

[windcatcher]

First, check your hydro unit fluid level. You had a leak that the dealer fixed. Make sure he returned the unit to you with proper oil level.

Good point. I keep it checked. I even power washed the entire tractor to remove as much fluid and gunk as I could so I should be able to see if there is another leak or the prior one persisted.

I try to check all the fluids before starting the tractor or any of my equipment for that matter. I've seen too many people start OPE up without checking the oil, and then it was, "uh, oh!" Too late now.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I am surprised that dealer didn't cleanup tractor prior to returning to you? Time to find a new dealer?

Good luck!

Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

 

[whis]

Sounds like you are mashing the pedals to hard, ease them down and back off when engine starts to pull down.