2520 HST broke

skidoo · May 31, 2007

Hello,

I have been lurking for a while. Great Site. My 2520 arrived over a year ago and has gradually lost power to the wheels. Many times, I have been unable to transport up hill on my driveway in High Range. It got to the point where it would not turn the tires in mud even in Low Range and max rpms.

So, I finally took it to the dealer. The dealer said that it was loosing pressure when the pedals are depressed. So, they changed the HST. That would have been very expensive if not under warranty. They did an Excellent Job! Now, it feels like I have a real tractor.

My question is what are the most likely causes to damage the HST and therefore, under what operating or service conditions are most critical or should be avoided?

I hear that HST's are very reliable, but this makes me concerned about its reliability since it had only about 100 hours. Is it more likely that mine simply had an actual manufacturing defect or more likely that some particular operating condition caused the problem?

Thanks.

Chris2520 · May 31, 2007

I am glad you got everything stratened out. I cant comment on the problem.
as mine only has 24 hours on it. and it pulls like and OX.

and i hope it stays that way. did you change the hydro fluid and filter at 50 hours like it says too? . that could have something to do with it. if you did not. what types of work have you done with it?

Chris...

kennyd · May 31, 2007

I would suspect a manufacturing defect. VERY rarely do you here of an entire HST failure unless the unit was just plain abused.

Oh, and WELCOME to TBN

skidoo · May 31, 2007

Yes, I did change the fluids at 50 hours. Even so, I would sure hope that failure to do so would not result in a major failure of the HST.

It seemed to be weak from the very beginning. During the first 20 hours, I smelled something like hot fluids during what appeared to be a hard load, i.e. trying to transport uphill on the driveway in high range. It just struggled to go in high range unless it was downhill. I hoped the smell was just the newness breaking in. After a while the smell never returned. So, I ended up working it mostly in low range.

But, over time, the lack of power gradually got worse.

So, I am hoping someone can shed some light as to what would likely fail inside the HST.

I have only worked it for about a half hour since the repair and it seems to work great now! But, I am still afraid to press hard on the go pedals. There is increasing pressure against the pedals as the rpms are increased. I assume that is normal. Can one break it by pressing too hard against that pedal pressure?

skidoo · May 31, 2007

I have smoothed the driveway and plowed snow with the rear blade. Smoothed the drive with a rake. Dug some roots with the loader/toothbar. Moved dirt from lower drive to upper drive, and cut brush with the LX4. The LX4 is a breeze like it is not working at all...

What would be considered abuse?

Also, anyone know why when I press submit, that it asks me to log in again even though I am already loged in?

kennyd · May 31, 2007

I have smoothed the driveway and plowed snow with the rear blade. Smoothed the drive with a rake. Dug some roots with the loader/toothbar. Moved dirt from lower drive to upper drive, and cut brush with the LX4. The LX4 is a breeze like it is not working at all...

What would be considered abuse?

Not even a little bit!

Also, anyone know why when I press submit, that it asks me to log in again even though I am already logged in?

Are you checking the little box that Say's "remember me" under where you put you user name/password?
Or maybe your browser is set not to accept cookies?

Chris2520 · May 31, 2007

I really only use high range to transport from one place to another. i dont do any real work in this gear. i use low range for pretty much everything.
since i dont mow with mine....

NFA Fun · May 31, 2007

It sounds like a mfg defect. I have heard the hydros are very relliable in general. In fact, I have an old Case lawn/garder tractor that is hydro. Has been fitted with a front blade and this thing has been and is still used hard. To this day it will burry the back tires and pull anyting as long as it can get traction.