Right hydro on zero turn weaker Maybe?

[MountainManDan]

I Just would like to Ask as I have never Owned Used or New Zero Turn - just Picked a nice Zero Turn with 2.6 Hrs -
I Believe it to be more 18 hours , but I'm still Checking into all that !

Anyhow slightly weaker on right side Hydro - Shop Adjusted it as it went back after 1 Hr of Testing . .

Weird thing they Never gave Me any Paper work .. Odd has a Warranty so I was Told ..
Well We'll have to Demand that ..


MY Question is Why do I see & Read about all these Mower Guys changing Hydro Gear Oil in First 5-10 hrs
On Zero Turn Mowers as Hydro-Gear Transmission on Tractors - i do not see anything about Early Hydro Gear Oil being Changed Out ?

It is Just a Break In Thing that some Oil Corps. Started ?
Oil Filter Organizations Pushing this or Has there Been Real Proof that this is a Big Plus & Extends Life
or Either Oil or Trans-Axles ?

As I have Not seen any Proof - I've searched & Read 40 Places . .

New Zero Turn Owner with ZT-3200 Commercial Rated Units .. Runs Good 9 + Mph
I did Mow 10 min. - In Tall Grass after doing My Yard - as near by wasn't done for 3+ weeks

Thank You for all Replies . .

PS:
Next Time I'm IR Temperature Testing everything . . ADDING PICTURE OF OIL
AS I HAVE NO IDEA - COLOR of Hydro-Gear Oil - Factory Oil

 

[doitmyself]

Mostly I see manuals recommending an early break in change at 75 to 100 hours, then going to a 400 +/- hour interval and/or sometimes annually. I'm not aware of 5 to 10 hour changes.

 

[martinq]

Mostly I see manuals recommending an early break in change at 75 to 100 hours, then going to a 400 +/- hour interval and/or sometimes annually. I'm not aware of 5 to 10 hour changes.

I've seen several hydro / hydraulic service manuals that call for a break in fluid change at 50 hrs. In most cases I would recommend a change at 5-10 hrs and then again at 50-100 hrs.

The sooner you get the contamination out of the system (metal wear, mfg debris, etc) the less damage is created by it. Add magnets where you can as they will clean 24hrs a day, not just when running.

TLDR : A clean system will shed less wear particles, live longer and fail less. Magnets are helpful.

 

[JavierH19]

Check to make sure it's not those silly little things that limit handlebar range that are on a long threaded shaft. Even the littlest bit of limit can have a big effect on the speed at least when close to the max not close to resting position. I removed them entirely since the stupid nuts would keep loosening themselves from the vibration no matter how much I tightened them so they'd limit themselves with time.

 

[JTK]

I can't tell much from the pic, but it looks OK to me. Could you try operating another identical machine to see if it behaves the same way?

As much as I like to maintain my transmissions, hydraulic systems and gear boxes, doing a drain/fill at 5-10hrs seems too early.

ZT-3200's must be the deluxe models if they'll run ~10mph. I owned a machine with ZT-2800's the first year they came out. Nice drives.

 

[User_19876]

Be sure to lubricate all of the joints in the control linkage. It’s easy for one joint to be stiff and simulate poor propulsion, dragging, or misadjustment of the proportioning. I’ve also had fasteners overtightened and nylon washers omitted.

Depending on your hydro system, it may or may not need a very early fluid change. On my Schiller/Bobcat WB, the first change is at five hours. Every one hundred hours after that. My machine has independent wheel motors, but they are Hydro-Gear, not Parker.