Gear or Hydrostatic Transmissions for Compact Utility Tractors?

[N80]

Hydrostatic transmissions are not complex.

That has never been my impression, and is not the impression of my B-I-L who owns the shop that I would use and whose assistance I would need. But, he is a farmer with mostly older tractors. His one "new" tractor (big JD)does have some synchro capabilities but is not hydro. Like me, he might just be assuming hydros are harder to work on because he is not familiar with them. But in reality the relative simplicity of hydro is not at issue for me. He and I are familiar with geared tractors and not familiar with hydros. He will not become familiar with hydros because he doesn't own one and doesn't want one. I'll never have one because my first and current tractor will likely also be my last and only tractor. And it has gears.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

That has never been my impression, and is not the impression of my B-I-L who owns the shop that I would use and whose assistance I would need.

When there's a problem with a hydro, when's the last time you heard of someone taking the cover off, to see if they can see what's going on?

It's a reality that you CAN do that with a gear drive tractor...

I asked my Kubota dealer, what if my hydro takes a dump?? He said: "no problem bring it in, Kubota has rebuilds"...

I guess most of his customers have a money tree in their back yard! lol

Didn't I recently read here on TBN of a guy waiting "months" for a warranty replacement hydro, for his tractor??

SR

 

[k0ua]

When there's a problem with a hydro, when's the last time you heard of someone taking the cover off, to see if they can see what's going on?

It's a reality that you CAN do that with a gear drive tractor...

I asked my Kubota dealer, what if my hydro takes a dump?? He said: "no problem bring it in, Kubota has rebuilds"...

I guess most of his customers have a money tree in their back yard! lol

Didn't I recently read here on TBN of a guy waiting "months" for a warranty replacement hydro, for his tractor??

SR

The one or two hydro repairs that have been attempted by members here have been successful and involved replacing valves which were accessible from outside the case. The one I can remember was a Kubota L39 I believe. When fed clean oil, there is very little to go wrong with a hydro. Just like a gear train. Unlike clutches and throwout bearings.

If you would like to learn more about the workings of a hydro, this might be worth watching. The key words are "there are no parts prone to wear and tear such as clutches and brakes."

 

[k0ua]

Here is another simplified moving diagram:

 

[murphy1244]

That is soo cool James thanks!:thumbsup:

 

[Sawyer Rob]

"there are no parts prone to wear and tear such as clutches and brakes."

SO, they never wear out and last forever... Then why does Kubota keep rebuilds in stock?

Why was a guy on here waiting for months for one to come in for his tractor??

I personally have seen more than one dead hydro... (dead meaning, tractor no longer goes!)

It's starting to smell in here like some one is "cleaning the barn"! Guess I better go put my boots on!

SR

 

[k0ua]

Good luck working thru this guys accent, but the video is pretty good:

 

[k0ua]

SO, they never wear out and last forever... Then why does Kubota keep rebuilds in stock?

Why was a guy on here waiting for months for one to come in for his tractor??

I personally have seen more than one dead hydro... (dead meaning, tractor no longer goes!)

It's starting to smell in here like some one is "cleaning the barn"! Guess I better go put my boots on!

SR

Hey, I didn't say it, the Linde guy with the German accent said it.. Of course they wear out. And they wear out a lot faster if you don't keep the oil clean. But for the hours a home user puts on a Kubota tractor, you could consider them to be a lifetime item.

 

[k0ua]

That is soo cool James thanks!:thumbsup:

your welcome Murph. I actually learn things on you tube.. It is not ALL **** and "epic fails",, but mostly..

 

[k0ua]

SO, they never wear out and last forever... Then why does Kubota keep rebuilds in stock?

Why was a guy on here waiting for months for one to come in for his tractor??

I personally have seen more than one dead hydro... (dead meaning, tractor no longer goes!)

It's starting to smell in here like some one is "cleaning the barn"! Guess I better go put my boots on!

SR

The reason to wait months for a replacement is because that dealer probably has never replaced a hydro before and has never stocked one. The dead hydro's you have seen, were they on lawn mowers and garden tractors or something larger? The little hydro's in JD lawn mowers like mine won't last 300 hours. Mainly because you cannot change the oil.