question on drive noise

[SteveSRT8]

I've got a new Craftsman 54 inch with a tufftorq hydrostatic drive.

It can be a bit noisy even if I do the 'purge' procedure exactly as outlined in the manual.

Normal? Any lawn pros use these boxes?

 

[SteveSRT8]

90 views and no comments?

 

[rainman49]

Don't know about the tufftorq, but the hydros on my Scag zero-turn whine most of the time. Supposed to be normal for the Hydro-Gear ZTs.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Thank you.

The tufftorq is used in a bunch of bigger ZTR mowers.

That's why I wanted some professional opinions. As long as the whine is normal I won't worry about it.

 

[JTK]

Tufftorq's are great units. John Deere has been using them for 20+ years.

Are you operating the unit with the engine at max governed speed? The are designed to be used as such.

Can you hear the noise over the engine (at max governed speed) or cutting deck? That would be excessive noise and could be an issue internal to the drive.

You shouldn't ever need to pull the bypass to do a purge unless you dumped and refilled the oil in the trans.

Joel

 

[TurboLuver]

I have a tufftorq K70 in my JD 345 with over 1300 hrs, it makes some noise if I engage it rather quickly, but other than that it is pretty quiet. My Snapper has a TT K46 which is fairly noisy especially in reverse.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: JTK
Tufftorq's are great units. John Deere has been using them for 20+ years.

Are you operating the unit with the engine at max governed speed? The are designed to be used as such.

Can you hear the noise over the engine (at max governed speed) or cutting deck? That would be excessive noise and could be an issue internal to the drive.

You shouldn't ever need to pull the bypass to do a purge unless you dumped and refilled the oil in the trans.

Joel


Thanks for the details. yes, we run it on the peg as instructed. And you can't really hear it with the blades on, maybe when backing up. It seems loudest in reverse.

The 'purge' procedure is from my owners manual, and consists of unlocking the drive unit from the wheels and cycling it forward and reverse three times, then engaging it and repeating the same thing. Does absolutely nothing to the noise, which at ten hours I am beginning to think is normal.