2243 hydrostatic transaxle, can I remove the hydraulic line and hoses????

watersteps · Oct 22, 2013

Hello All,
I have recently picked up two JD 2243 golf course greensmowers and I would like to use one of the hydrostatic drives for another vehicle. I would like to eliminate the large hydraulic reservoir if I can remove the two top hoses and the bottom steel line. The top hoses are used to supply oil to the steering unit and I don't need that in my new project. The hydrostatic system in supposed to be a stand alone system but this top pump is making things more difficult. I just want to use the hydrostatic transaxle and mount it in another frame and use a 10 to 18 hp vertical shaft motor to drive it.

Anyone into the hydrostatic units that could help me?

There is a huge, free Technical Manual download on line for this JD 2243 tractor that shows the hydrostatic system but I can't determine if removing the hoses will hurt the hydrostatic unit.
Thanks for any help anyone can offer.
watersteps

Coyote machine · Oct 22, 2013

It might help you get the answer you're looking for if you detail what you plan to use the pieces on. Removal wouldn't be a problem, most likely, anything that goes together can come apart. The problem could be in your retrofit plan.

watersteps · Oct 22, 2013

The vehicle I intend to place the transaxle in is a golf cart. I just want the forward and reverse functions for short trips from 5 to 20 minutes long on a flat camp ground surface.
Since I removed 8 batteries and a 70 lb electric motor the 110 lb transaxle will not be too heavy. The spring mounts are very close to the old rear end in the golf cart and there in space for the hydrostatic housing.
The hydrostatic unit will make some noise but I don't think it will be too loud. This will last a lot longer then the batteries and cost a lot less.

oldnslo · Oct 23, 2013

Do you have the model numbers on the hydrostatic trans axles? Depending on the style you may still need a smaller reservoir to supply oil to hydrostatic tranny.

Leejohn · Oct 23, 2013

Try looping the steering hoses together.

watersteps · Oct 23, 2013

oldnslo said:
Do you have the model numbers on the hydrostatic trans axles? Depending on the style you may still need a smaller reservoir to supply oil to hydrostatic tranny.

I cannot find any numbers anywhere on this trans, I will have to remove it first.

watersteps · Oct 23, 2013

I will try that.

watersteps · Oct 23, 2013

oldnslo said:
Do you have the model numbers on the hydrostatic trans axles? Depending on the style you may still need a smaller reservoir to supply oil to hydrostatic tranny.

I am still hunting a model number.

I see that there are 2 hoses coming off of the top of the trans (charge pump). One goes to the reservoir the other goes to the steering. There is also 1 hose coming off of the trans below the spin on oil filter and 1 steel line coming off of the bottom of the trans that goes to the reservoir.

My first thought would be to make a continuous loop with the top 2 hoses. Problem! will the oil in this top end get hot and burn up?????

Next, if I attach the hose under the oil filter and the steel line on the bottom of the trans to a small reservoir this
should give me enough oil in the system to run the hydrostatic system.

Thanks to all you guys for the info, now, anyone see any problems with this???

watersteps · Oct 23, 2013

If anyone wants to and has the time you can see the complete tractor and the trans and hyd prints by going on line and type in "2243 Gas Professional Greens Mower Technical Manual" this is a huge PDF file of over 600 pages so be careful, don't push the print button. Pages 6-7, 6-8 and 6-11 show the trans.