Buying Advice Bottom plowing with hydro trans?

[mechatgsk]

I have a friend who is interested in buying my 2009 4520 e-hydro tractor. He would like to know if pulling a 2 plow bottom plow is ok with a hydro transmission? He does not farm. This is for a garden. He would also like to do loader work and mowing. Any opinions or suggestions?

Regards,
Mechatgsk

 

[AKfish]

There have been a number of posts regarding eHydro owner's using their machines for heavy ground engagement work - heavy disc harrows, plows, land planes, scarifiers, hydraulic box blades, etc.

I do not recall anyone raising concerns about transmission failures or problems. In that vein, I don't recall ever reading about eHydro transmissions "cratering or blowing up"!

They're a very solid, durable unit! 2-bottom plow - a few acres every year - what's to worry about... IMO. :thumbsup:

AKfish

 

[RickB]

Hydrostatic transmissions have longer life when run at higher ERPM's, lower range gear selection, and greater swash plate angle (further from neutral) to achieve the desired ground speed. These conditions offer the greatest oil flow through the transmission which keeps the oil coolest. You should expect to pull a plow indefinitely with a hydro given proper operation and service practices.

 

[JD3520Turbo]

2 bottom plow used to get pulled by an 8N Ford. I am pretty sure your tractor can handle it. Use the lowest Range, or A range and you will be good to go. Take Some video and post it on U tube.

 

[oldnslo]

Does the ehydro have a decent oil cooling system? This would be my only concern when using a HST for heavy loads. Loads won't hurt them as quick as super hot & super thin oil will.

Roy

 

[jenkinsph]

Does the ehydro have a decent oil cooling system? This would be my only concern when using a HST for heavy loads. Loads won't hurt them as quick as super hot & super thin oil will.

Roy

I have never had any issue with the hydro overheating on my 2009 4520. There shouldn't be any issue using the tractor for any of its intents and purposes.

Let's not loose sight of the fact that tractors are made for pulling.

 

[nybirdman]

Don't have a JD,but I have been pulling a two bottom plow with a HST tractor for eight years.I do about ten acres total of food plots and gardens.Shouldn't be any problem.My experience is with a non-trip plow...HST is better.if you feel it hanging up just let up on the pedal.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

Lets not forget lots of construction equipment is a hydro trans.

Matt

 

[scrappy isb67]

Lets not forget lots of construction equipment is a hydro trans.

Matt

but construction equipment is not pulling a plow in the ground(high load) for long periods of time. I don't think I have ever seen construction equipment running in a high load condition for extended periods of time, it is always short bursts @ high load then much lower loads

That being said, hydro farm tractors (I.E. International 86) have been around for a long time, I don't think you will have a problem with it.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

but construction equipment is not pulling a plow in the ground(high load) for long periods of time. I don't think I have ever seen construction equipment running in a high load condition for extended periods of time, it is always short bursts @ high load then much lower loads

That being said, hydro farm tractors (I.E. International 86) have been around for a long time, I don't think you will have a problem with it.

Really tell that to a dozer or grader operator.

Matt:laughing:

 

[99johndeere99]

I used one on my 4105 it pulled it real good.

 

[Verticaltrx]

That being said, hydro farm tractors (I.E. International 86) have been around for a long time, I don't think you will have a problem with it.

Referring to the IH hydro's is not helping the case, lol.

They had major reliability problems under heavy use. Many that are still running nowadays are relegated to PTO work or light chores because the transmissions are shot. It was a good concept, but bad implementation.

That said, the technology today is much different than what they used back then. The current hydro transmissions are capable of being worked just like their gear driven counterparts. The only downfall is slightly less efficiency.

For strictly field work I still like a gear driven tractor. It is nice to be able to have set speeds for different applications and just put it in gear and go. However, If I just had one tractor and it had a loader on it I would go for hydro (or power reverser on a larger unit.)

 

[charleyfarmall]

It's true that traditionally gear drive is THE field tractor application. However, the eHydro design in theory negates that because you can also set the speed you want and regardless of load, the eHydro will keep the speed by varying flow to the transmission. The computer takes care of it for you unlike a standard hydro system. As long as the reliability is there over 20+ years the eHydro gives you the best of both worlds.

To me, the disadvantage of eHydro is that I might not be able to get parts 20 years later and it is a more complicated system. Gear is easy to work on, as is standard hydro. I don't know if it will matter in practice but there are lots of really great 20+ year old tractors going strong and hard parts are still available. I don't know if fried circuit boards will still be there...

 

[mechatgsk]

Thanks to all replies! What a great tractor site!

Regards,
Mechatgsk

 

[bigbull338]

i agree with those that say the hydro will do good pulling the plow.all you have todo is put it in low an set your rpms an go.i find i use low for just about everything i do on my tractor.

 

[Smallplot]

And unless his garden is several hundred acres, it is not like the tractor will be pulling the load for hours on end. And you only have to plow once a year. I agree it should be fine.

 

[jd3020u]

He also stated that it would be used for mowing and loader work. The hydro works great for that and he'll probably spend a lot more time doing those chores than plowing.