To Hydro or not to Hydro??..What is the answer?

PsRumors · Nov 7, 2004

I spent 9 hours yesterday aerating mine and my next door neighbor's property. The aerator and weights weighed in at about 1100lbs. I had the 430 loader on and 4wd engaged (if I didn't the R4 tires had a tendency to spin). I pulled this around all day. When I wasn't running it my neighbor was. The tractor was turned off once for about 15 minutes for a sandwich. The engine was set at about 2000 rpms and the drive select was in "B".

After reading this threat for a couple days I figured I would do a test. At the end of the day, I moved several buckets of dirt to a flower bed I have been working on for spring. I cycled the loader quite a few times. I then pulled into the garage and disconnected the loader and collected the fluid that runs out when done.

I know this isn't sceintific but it was the best I could think of without draing fluid. The fluid I collected was quite warm but I would classify it far from being hot.

Other than, older stuck on gear machinery, it is hard for me to comprihend a dealer steering a customer away from hydro due to it might get over worked.

Ask your dealer to see his service log and see what is getting worked on. I did this prior to my purchase and there were more late model geared tractors in for trans service / repair than there were hydros. Maybe this was because more geared tractors were sold than hydro? I don't know. My dealer keeps more hydros than geared and states he sells more hydros.

If you are going to work it hard you have 2 years and 2k hours of warranty. That should be plenty to find any faults. If you have problems you can always sell it and get 80 to 90% of your money out of it.

I say BUY WHAT YOU WANT geared or hydro DEERE is a great choice.

adlertom · Nov 7, 2004

( I would agree that a set of temp gauges for engine oil, engine coolant, and hydraulic oil would be most helpful in determining if any part of the machine is overheating.

)

If one did install a hydraulic oil temperature gauge, what would be considered a normal temperature range for the fluid?

keeney · Nov 7, 2004

"... what would be considered a normal temperature range for the fluid?"

Not really an expert, but I have seen some pumps marked with a warning sticker not to exceed 180 deg-F.

However, that seems a bit too low to be degrading the oil itself.

So I now amend my wish to have temp gauges _with_ red-lines at the appropriate upper temp limit as determined by somebody who knows.

At times, I have definitely caught a wiff of what smells like over-heated oil at times when working the loader (and the hydro trans) doing some hard digging.

- Rick

dmp437 · Nov 8, 2004

Other than, older stuck on gear machinery, it is hard for me to comprihend a dealer steering a customer away from hydro due to it might get over worked.

The dealer has "geared" machiney to sell/move. I don't know if JD has ever released sales statistics either to the public or to the dealers, but Hydros appear to far outsell everything else and once you have one you'll never go back, further decreasing the sales pool for the gear models.
Dealers depend on a certain number of gullible customers to sell the stuff nobody wants. My dealer orders an occasional Power Reverser otherwise nothing but Hydros.
The gauge on hydro temp would be nice to have though.

JDgreen227 · Nov 8, 2004

My 3/4 ton Yukon XL has a factory installed transmission temp gauge and when doing heavy towing (6500 lbs) the indicator usually reads about 190-200 degrees, so I think your 180 degree figure is a safe guess. I'd like to see JD install gauges for oil pressure and hydro fluid temp...to me a light that indicates low oil pressure is practically useless.

Bird · Nov 8, 2004

( what would be considered a normal temperature range )

I would expect about 100 degrees F above the ambient temperature.

timb · Nov 8, 2004

( The dealer has "geared" machiney to sell/move...
...Dealers depend on a certain number of gullible customers to sell the stuff nobody wants.
)

Hydros are a great transmission choice - they are simply not the perfect solution for all cases. Nothing is - everything on these tractors is a compromise of some sort or another. Starting with overall size/weight right on down to the details. You try to pick the best overall fit for the job.
In point of fact - my dealer had plenty of hydros to sell me on the lot. As did all the neighboring dealers. But it was the dealer that recommended the gear tranny for my specific mix of needs. Then they had to do handstands to find me a power-reverser at the end of the Ten-series model run.

Same dealer stated that in their experience - both systems are very reliable - but that the 'only units coming in for repair' (albeit infrequently) were the hydros. The gear versions 'disappear out into the customers hands and don't come back' (for repair). I'd be willing to bet though that impression is colored by a higher overall percentage of hydro units sold.

Frankly - in thinking through the thousands of posts I've read here on TBN - I think tranny reliability for hydro OR gear is so high as to be a non-factor. People with CUTs of all colors have broken axles, had electronic gremlins, snagged and broken hoses, hydraulic leak down problems, battery woes, PTO clutches/brakes troubles - but I really can't remember too many real, fundamental, tranny failures.

Tractors4u · Nov 8, 2004

( Dealers depend on a certain number of gullible customers to sell the stuff nobody wants )

That is an insulting way to state that opinion don't you think?

I opted for a 4310 with power reverser. I do a lot of loader and boxblade work along with bush hogging, plowing, discing, and planting. I have had many many staright gear tractors, a couple of shuttle shift tractors, and one HST tractor before I bought this one. So far it has served me well and I have no regrets. To each his own.

eee · Nov 8, 2004

( but that the 'only units coming in for repair' (albeit infrequently) were the hydros. )

What specifacally is failing on the hydro transmission itself ? There has to be a part failing in it. What is the weak link in the hydro tranny itself ?