Hydrostatic Transmission

Belcriss · Nov 27, 2011

I had a BX2200 with about 980 hours on it. When I got it serviced, and they changed the tranny filter, and fluid, they said that they found all kinds of shavings in the filter, and somewhat larger fragments at the bottom of the pan. Now, I have since bought a B3000 because I wanted the more hp, and it had a larger snowblower and lawncutting deck. My question is: what is a likely cause for this to happen? Is it normal, or is something else going on.

Myself, when I drove the BX2200, I never used the brakes, I let forward, or backwards momentum stop, and then I went in the other direction. Is this a bad practice, or is that how everyone else drives it? I just want clarification as I don't want to wreck my new B3000. However, I have seen in other forums that other guys have found metal fragments in the first 50 hrs, and many have said that it disappears after that. Mine was almost a thousand, and I am curious if my way of driving it contributed to it.

timswi · Nov 27, 2011

Unless you were slamming it from F-R, I doubt your driving had anything to do with it...They are designed for rapid directional changes..That being said, I let the engine braking bring me to a stop before I change direction...It happens so fast, I don't have to use the opposing direction as a brake...My guess is your operating found the same thing.

The foot brake on my BX23 is pretty much useless.

TripleR · Nov 28, 2011

We are on our second BX and also have a John Deere 2305. About the only time the brakes are used is for parking. It sounds like you are operating no different than most of us.

oldballs · Nov 28, 2011

You could follow the recommended maintenace intervals for the new machine. If I read your post correctly, 980 hours was a long time for a transmission service on the BX2200.

oldnslo · Nov 28, 2011

Was this the first time it was serviced?

What type of shavings? Fuzzy dust or actual chips/ slivers?

Over time the gears in the transaxle will wear and create some fuzz so this is some what normal. Large chips and slivers would indicate to me a more substantial wear on some component.

Remember, ALL of the hydraulic functions run off the same oil so any debris in any external attachment will also find its way into the tranny sump.

Roy

Mac in PA · Nov 28, 2011

I had a BX2230 and now have a L3800, both hydrostatic trans. I changed the trans filter at 50 hours as recommended on both units. Both had metal shavings in the filter. The L3800 filter had some pretty big pieces in it. I haven't had the L3800 long enough for the second filter change.
The second filter change on the BX2230 was very clean (no metal).

I had it happen on both of these tractors where I thought I released the park brake but it really wasn't. I drove the tractor a short time before I realized the reason for no power was the brakes were on. This could probably create metal shavings in the trans.

Belcriss · Nov 28, 2011

First of all, thank you everyone for your responses. I would like to address a couple of things.

I did not buy that BX2200 until it already had 500 and some hours on it. It was serviced completely, including tranny fluid and filter just before I bought it. I just had it done again and well, you know the rest. I really just used the tractor for snowblowing and lawn cutting, so it was not like I was torquing it hard with pulling, or bucket use. I do not want to encounter the same thing on the B3000 so I just asked if anyone else used the brake all the time. I never did slam it from forward to reverse, I always let it stop, and then went in the other direction. I will get the tranny fluid and filter changed at 50hrs as recommended, and every other interval after. I really just wanted to hear others opinions, and how they drove theirs. Thanks again.

TripleR · Nov 28, 2011

Belcriss said:
First of all, thank you everyone for your responses. I would like to address a couple of things.

I did not buy that BX2200 until it already had 500 and some hours on it. It was serviced completely, including tranny fluid and filter just before I bought it. I just had it done again and well, you know the rest. I really just used the tractor for snowblowing and lawn cutting, so it was not like I was torquing it hard with pulling, or bucket use. I do not want to encounter the same thing on the B3000 so I just asked if anyone else used the brake all the time. I never did slam it from forward to reverse, I always let it stop, and then went in the other direction. I will get the tranny fluid and filter changed at 50hrs as recommended, and every other interval after. I really just wanted to hear others opinions, and how they drove theirs. Thanks again.

Good luck, you should have no problems, our GL5030 HSTC has 1200 hours on it and on the 1200 fluid and filter change, we had no particles and I use this tractor hard.

texasjohn · Nov 28, 2011

my 5030 grand L has about 1100 hrs on it. I do service myself. Haven't seen any metal in filter so far. Sounds like you drive like I do.

oldballs · Nov 28, 2011

Well then, one more comment from me. Thanks for your "Thank You". Now, since you paid to have the BX2200 serviced when you bought it second hand, and since you drove it like all the rest of us do, it makes me wonder about the service that was done (or not really done). We all attest that such metal in the transmission pan etc. is not normal under ordinary use. Your new tractor should work just fine as others have noted. But you might wonder about where to have it serviced. Just a thought. Mike