dfkrug
Super Member
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2004
- Messages
- 7,582
- Location
- Santa Cruz Mtns, CA
- Tractor
- 05 Kioti CK30HST w/ Prairie Dog backhoe, XN08 mini-X
Speed range is a problem with any hydrostatic drive, HSD. HSD loses a lot of efficiency at higher speed, due to increased mechanical friction at high flow on the variable HS pump. To increase speed range you will need a variable HS motor, but the same problem will still be there...... inefficiency....
You will "kill" your engine at 15mph, if you get into any kind of resistance...
Yes, HSTs that use variable displacement pumps are less efficient than
any gear or belt drive. Because of the narrow speed range, they
are supplemented with speed/torque multiplier gear boxes. That's what
we have in our HST tractors.
Many of these free or cheap riding mower final drives have speed
multiplier gearboxes, too. Using a hyd pump/motor to drive the input
shaft (instead of the mower's belt) of these mower drives is a doable project.