Hydrostatic transaxle service

[NH73]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
I have a JD L111 with a hydr drive. Mower has 125 easy hours and I would like to change the fluid. At 78 years old, I can't do the trans removal and find it a very poor design that the fluid change can't be preformed without removing the unit. Ed


Isn't it supposed to be maintenance-free? Then why design it to be serviced? Yeah, we all know better.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
I have a JD L111 with a hydr drive. Mower has 125 easy hours and I would like to change the fluid. At 78 years old, I can't do the trans removal and find it a very poor design that the fluid change can't be preformed without removing the unit. Ed

Just cleaning off the grass from the trans after every mow will probably keep it happy for quite awhile. Or trade it in and get a mower with a serviceable trans. If your lawn is flat your trans may go for many 100's of hours.
I bought an old cheap used mower with an hst and its been worked hard, but still hauls me up my hills without a problem.

 

[Eddie]

I understand that the manual has no service interval for the transmission. However; I am a person who would have liked to change the fluid at ~ 125 to 150 hours but, I probably won't pay JD dealer prices to have it done. I therefor will take JDs word that it never needs to be changed. Ed

 

[Ausfahrt]

I found a couple more pics of the internals, it looked really good once I got the sludge out. This garden tractor has 290 hours.

 

[RRich]

How did you get the sludge out?

 

[Ausfahrt]

Originally Posted By: RRich
How did you get the sludge out?


In the last pic with the gears exposed, you can see the top (actually the bottom since the unit has been inverted) in the upper left where most of the sludge had accumulated. You can also see the old clogged round filter.

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: lexus114
thinking about changing out my k46 oil with German Castrol 0W30. only because i have a stash of it left that i bought when i had my 2001 RX 300. im sure it will work well in there...


Changed out my K46 when it had about 50 hours or so on it. Used M1 15w-50.

Made it MUCH quieter, seems perfect at 125 hours now...


Steve, I changed the oil in the k46 trans in Our X300 on Sunday. it has 36 hours on it. the oil was a little dirty and had some gray silt on the magnet. I put back in the German Castrol 0W30. I measured what came out and it was a little over two quarts. So I put a little over two quarts back in it. It was more full now than it was, but I put in the same amount so I figure it will settle after some use. (I hope so Anyway) So far it is definitely more quiet. and a little more responsive. It feels like a different trans now!? A little faster too.... Cant wait to see if it gets just as hot as it did before when I cut the grass.

 

[JTK]

Lexus114, didn't you have a Cub Cadet 1000 series that you changed the hydro oil on some time ago too?

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: JTK
Lexus114, didn't you have a Cub Cadet 1000 series that you changed the hydro oil on some time ago too?


yes, i still have the cub. it is used at our insurance agency to cut the grass now. i never did get around to changing the oil in that trans. thats a good hydro too. a hydro gear trans.

 

[JasonC]

I changed out the factory oil in my K46 at 10hrs and refilled with Castrol Syntec 5w50. Runs very smooth and quiet.

 

[asb151]

I ran my k46 240 hours before I started to notice transmision issues. Mostly just reduced speed. Especially in reverse. I drained and refilled it with Napa synthetic 15w-50. That was 50 hours ago and it running like new ever since. Unless your running your tractor in the winter (snow blower or plow attachment) 15w or 20w-50 is probably your best bet.

 

[gman2304]

I replaced the factory fill on my 1998 K46 after 10 years, with Mobil1 15w50. After reading this thread, I'll probably change it again this summer using the Mobil1 15w50.

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: asb151
I ran my k46 240 hours before I started to notice transmision issues. Mostly just reduced speed. Especially in reverse. I drained and refilled it with Napa synthetic 15w-50. That was 50 hours ago and it running like new ever since. Unless your running your tractor in the winter (snow blower or plow attachment) 15w or 20w-50 is probably your best bet.



i do use ours with a plow for snow so i figured i'm good. to be perfectly honest, i think any grade synthetic in these is a positive thing to do. including a synthetic 10W30.

 

[asb151]

Agreed.

 

[Tundragod]

I have my Sears tractor with Transmission: Hydro Gear 336-0510
for 12 years now. The reverse seems slower than prior years. I wish there is an easier way to change fluid other than taking the whole mower apart..........

 

[Sayjac]

Originally Posted By: Tundragod
.... I wish there is an easier way to change fluid other than taking the whole mower apart..........

Me too, same for my Hydro Gear T2 on an Ariens.

 

[Eddie]

If we had an accurate picture and could determine where the fill hole is, maybe we could drill a hole that would allow us to remove the fill plug. Then we could suck out old fluid and replace with new. Ed

 

[Eddie]

Is a picture or drawing available that shows where the drain and fill plugs are? Ed

 

[Ausfahrt]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
Is a picture or drawing available that shows where the drain and fill plugs are? Ed


Here's the problem, Eddie. The drain plug is above the plastic fan so to drain the hydro you must remove the belt and the fan with a really unfriendly c-clip. If you accomplish that, there is no fill hole.

I thought along the same lines and considered drilling and tapping a fill hole but there was no way to access it. So we are left with the reality that IMO the best way to service these hydros is to remove them from the tractor and work on them on your bench.

Extracting and reinstalling the hydrostatic drive was really the most irritating and time consuming part of the service. Once on the bench, they don't seem too bad.

Having said and experienced all that, my next new lawn tractor will have the old style 6 speed transmission!

 

[JTK]

Yep, nothing better than a top mounted, inaccessible drain plug!

There actually was a model year or two of cheaper Cub Cadet 1000 series riders that had bottom mounted drain plugs on their lighter duty Hydrogear hydrostats, but there was no fill plug. LOL.

Dropping the arse-end of these machines to flip the trans over to drain it isn't as bad as it seems, but might not be something you'd want to do if it's your only mower during the height of mowing season (if you could avoid it of course!). Nice off-season project.