rzt hydros

[billl]

My rzt has progressively lost the ability to go up any type of grade= no power from the drives. It will go up a slight incline if you give it about half of the arm travel (drive speed). I was going to change the fluid only to realize there is not a drain plug on the drive only a vent on top I tried to pump the fluid out
after seeing what I was dealing with, even stood it up on its end but no fluid came out and both drives are spotless. No leaks. Added some 20w50 to drive through vent but not sure how to be sure fluid is going from trans to hydo side, air entrapment etc. It seems like it is a fluid problem because it drives just a little better when cold.HELP please?

 

[JTKub]

You have to remove them from the machine and dump the oil out through the vent. What year is your machine & how many hours?

Joel

 

[LeftTurn]

Bill,

Been there, done that. Not a good story to tell, sorry. See my recent post. For me, the problem got worse rapidly.

My dealer tried (supposedly) changing the oil, with no effect. He removed the transmission to do that.

I had to replace 1 transmission at $900 & the other one is weak, so I'm looking at more $$ next season. Apparently, no one fixes the transmissions - it's a toss & replace.

Search this forum - lots of unhappy campers with ZT transmission problems. I think that it's either a design issue, or a run of bad transmissions. Cub did nothing to help me and denied that the problem was a common one.

 

[billl]

Joel, It's a 2004 with 300 hours. I had my mower turned almost completely upside down the vents were on the bottom.

 

[billl]

WOW scary. Leftturn

 

[JTKub]

This link was posted some time back> HydroGearEZT_service_manual.pdf It seems we are seeing a boat load of failures on ~6yr/old, ~250hr plus ZTRs. I'd like to think Hydrogear has improved these drives. Everyone but Deere (and maybe Dixon) uses the EZT series on their ZTRs. Why Tufftorq hasn't entered this market is beyond me. HG has the whole thing.

Joel

 

[bluechip]

If both drives are behaving the same, I would be sure to check the drive belt. a slipping belt will reduce the drive on both wheels...

 

[billl]

Had a new belt, but after reading the suggestions about belt tension I crawled underneath and noticed that the belt had some play in it and the tensioner was not really holding enough tension...went and got a 1" shorter belt and drives are working GOOD AS NEW. THANKS BLUECHIP.

 

[sjoseph139]

HI I HOPE I AM DOING THIS CORRECTLY I HAVE A 2009 RZT 50 CAN I JUST PUMP OUT HYDRO FLUID FROM EXPANSION TANK AND REPLACE AS A WAY OF PARTIALLY CHANGING THE FLUID I HAVE NO PROBLEMS JUST TRYING TO PREVENT THEM MACHINE HAS 100 HOURS THANKS STEVE

 

[5030]

I have a CC 60" tank with Hydrogear transmissions and both transmissions have filters and drain plugs as well as an expansion tank and I've drained mine and replaced the fliters before. Hydrogear recommends Shell Rimula but I used Rotella 15-40 with no issues. They hold a bunch of oil by the way....

 

[LeftTurn]

I ended up replacing both transmissions on my RZT-50, at significant expense, after a bit over 200 hours. One late last season & one early this season. No price breaks or sympathy from either Cub or the local Cub dealer. Over half the cost of a new mower.

Oddly, the replacements are sealed and do not use the expansion tank. Cub must have stopped using the original type. (Even though they denied that they had any problems with the transmissions...).

The dealer laughed when I asked about trade in value, saying that he has a "lot full of RZTs with dead transmissions that he used for other parts". I doubt that he'll ever sell me any more equipment.

I'm hoping for a longer life for the new transmissions. It was a toss-up between another brand ZT mower new or half the cost for new Cub transmissions. Seeing that they used different replacements, I'm optimistic.

 

[sjoseph139]

thanks left turn does anyone know what is the best way to maintain the ezt hydros i called hydogear I actually live near them and they said that the units never need a fluid change i asked if i could drain the expansion tank and refill it but they did not think that would help i just am trying to protect the units what causes the problem heat? no or contaminated fluid ? etc thank everyone steve