Parts needed for converting ride on mower from transaxle to hydro drive?

[apples017]

Hi,

I have a beat up old mtd ride on mower. It has a 8 speed transaxle, makes the loudest whinning noise you ever did hear. The whining is louder that the engine, lol. Apparently this is what happens to them.

Any way, as a fix or upgrade a hydraulic transmission setup seems nice. But what does you need to do this?

And I think you can get a pump and a motor, or you can get a hydrostatic transmission which the belt goes onto a pulley that is directly mounted with the pump and motor in the one assembly. Is this correct?

So having said that it seems you can either get a separate pump and motor and use a hose to join them + an oil tank + filter. Or you can get one that is compact that is like what is on another ride on mower I have.

What is the better option.
What is the cheaper option.

Is there much power loss using a hydro setup compared to the existing vari-speed transaxle?

Peter

 

[J_J]

A hydraulic transformation is going to cost you more than you think, and for and old mower and engine, you have to ask your self, it is worth it in time and money.

I would say that a belt drive is more efficient then hydraulic.

Here is what you envision, but it ain't cheap.

http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=13-1473&catname=powerTrans

http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=13-1474&catname=powerTrans

 

[Craig Clayton]

On your transaxle axle have you tried adding 80/90 oil.
I have a Sears (18 yrs)old and 2 years ago I had the transaxle out for looking .I wanted to fill up it up with oil but I could not find any holes. I studied it and found a 1/4" hole for a shifter ball and spring.
I poured in varsol and washed out the remaining old oil, then I reflushed.
I added 100 pumps of grease in the opening.
I added more or less enough 80/90 oil to fill it to the 50% mark.
It leaks out the axle shaft ends but it is quiet.

Craig Clayton

 

[apples017]

Craig,

Hmm, interesting.

No I have not un bolted it out from under the mower as yet. What is varsol? I'm in Australia. I guess a bit of kero will do the same?

I think that they are just filled with grease, no oil at all. I have nothing to lose, the oil can't make it worse hey. I might give that a go for now.

J_J,

I like that single hydro transmission. A bit of cutting, grinding and welding and that sucker will fit straight in. The old transaxle is also getting hard to engage in gear.

 

[Craig Clayton]

I made a mixture of EP 1 lithium base grease and SAE 80/90 EP oil. The volume would fit in the bottom of a coffee cup. I guessed at the final viscosity because we have + 35 C to - 25 C temperature range. So I guessed at 100 strokes of grease pumped in and then I poured in 750 mL of oil. I have run this mixture for 2 full cutting seasons. The only problem is the oil leaks out of the axle seals because the bushing are worn.
If we had a milder temperature I would put in more grease and less oil.

My next question is how did a MTD get to down under? One MTD factory is 100 miles from my location.
This summer friends stopped by who had purchased a steel bench vise that was angled at 45 Degrees it was a tough and repaired old beast. ( Made in Australia ). It was residing in a junk yard here in the middle of farm country.

Put another shrimp on the barbie ?????????

Craig Clayton

 

[apples017]

MTD yardman it is. They just import it like most stuff in Australia now.

That Paul Hogan Crocodile Dundee TV ad is not right. We have prawns not shrimp. They called it shrimp because otherwise you lot would not know what a prawn is....:laughing: