Jump to content

  • GUESTS

    If you want access to members only forums on HSO, you will gain access only when you Sign-in or Sign-Up .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member. ?

Lawn tractor hydrostatic drive probs?

Bigbartguy

By Bigbartguy
in Lawn & Garden

 Share

Recommended Posts

Bigbartguy Experienced

Bigbartguy

Posted
Posted

hi folks

I've got a 2000 Murray lawn tractor with hydrostatic drive. It used to breeze up my hills but now it's just crawling up them. Still mows flat areas just great.

The drive unit? appear to be pretty foolproof - i.e. sealed transaxle, no oil to add/etc. Anyone have any insight into any other possible solutions? or do these hydrostatic drives go bad that quickly ?

thanks for any help!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
PerchJerker Grand Master

PerchJerker

Posted
Posted

The hydro drive is going out in mine too. Gets worse the warmer it gets (longer the motor has been running). It's pretty expensive to replace so I'm just running mine as long as it's still crawling up the hills.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Bigbartguy Experienced

Bigbartguy

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Perch - thanks, it has to be the same prob. Mine definitely gets worse as it warms up.

I called a repair place and they said that I'm better off buying a new one rather than paying to replace a tranny. I'll go with manual trans next time.

are these tough to replace DIY? any ideas on cost?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
theoilman Proficient

theoilman

Posted
Posted

Most of the commercial grade units use 15W-50 or 20W-50 synthetic ONLY motor oil in the hydro unit, and recommend annual oil replacement. Some of the cheaper home-owner units may have taken the cheap way out and use petroleum oils. Time and heat cycles are definitely going to get them. 5 to 7 years is probably all the manufacturer expects them to live in the first place.

I have worked with commercial applications in Florida where they can get a work-out year round in continuous heat. In golf-course and parks-and-rec where they run all day, some have had to go to 10W-30 in the hydro to avoid high heat cavitation problems.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Tom7227 Grand Master

Tom7227

Posted
Posted

It sure sounds like a lack of fluid could be the problem. Doesn't there have to be a way to put it in?? I mean the thing wasn't born full, was it.

Maybe that's why you want to avoid a Murray the next time??? I've heard that they can become lawn ornaments over some of the most minor things due to poor parts support.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
BobT Grand Master

BobT

Posted
Posted

I assume you've already checked to make sure your drive belt isn't slipping.

Mine went out this spring. I did some searching and the best price I could find was in Isanti at a small engine repair. Pat sent it to my home next day for about $60 less than the local small engine repair in Alexandria.

Installation wasn't too bad. The replacement kit for mine had some minor changes in dimension that caused me a little trouble but nothing I couldn't work around.

You'll need to look for the transmission part number to order the replacement. You'll find it on a sticker on the transmission. Easy to pull out. I had mine on the ground in less than 15 minutes. Pull the rear wheels, remove six bolts, disconnect a couple linkage rods, and take the belt off the pulley and it's out.

Bob

Link to comment
Share on other sites
BobT Grand Master

BobT

Posted
Posted

Total cost including shipping was $565.00. I hope it's allowed for me to post the name of the business where I ordered mine (Pat's Small Engine in Isanti)

Bob

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Gus Veteran

Gus

Posted
Posted

Before you ditch it, tear it apart just to check it out. It may be a $.50 gasket from a hardware store fixes you up. I know so many things today are built "sealed" or made basically disposable. But they all went together somehow, and they can be taken apart. If it really is broken already it won't hurt to give it a shot. I wouldn't do it until it's just about given up though or you are ready to buy a new one in case it can't be fixed. But always give it one last try. If nothing else, you'll be able to tell the rest of us to never attempt or you'll get to tell us about your success story.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
BobT Grand Master

BobT

Posted
Posted

In my situation it was either $500 for the transmission or $1,200 for a new lawn tractor. No brainer when you consider that the engine, steering, deck, and everything else is in great condition.

Bob

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Wanderer
      Just Food and Drink

      By Wanderer · Posted

      It’s done automatically.  You might need an actual person to clear that log in stuff up.   Trash your laptop history if you haven’t tried that already.
    • smurfy
      Just Food and Drink

      By smurfy · Posted

      😂 yea pretty amazing how b o o b i e s gets flagged, but they can't respond or tell me why I  can't get logged in here on my laptop but I can on my cellular  😪
    • Mike89
      Just Food and Drink

      By Mike89 · Posted

      I grilled some brats yesterday, maybe next weekend will the next round...  
    • Wanderer
      Just Food and Drink

      By Wanderer · Posted

      You got word censored cuz you said        B o o b ies….. haha.   Yeah, no… grilling is on hiatus for a bit.
    • smurfy
      Just Food and Drink

      By smurfy · Posted

      Chicken mine,  melded in Mccormick poultry seasoning for 24 hours.  Grill will get a break till the frigid temps go away!
    • Mike89
      Problems with Yetti

      By Mike89 · Posted

      good luck!!!   
    • rundrave
      Problems with Yetti

      By rundrave · Posted

      we had some nice weather yesterday and this conundrum was driving me crazy  so I drove up to the house to take another look. I got a bunch of goodies via ups yesterday (cables,  winch ratchet parts, handles, leaf springs etc).   I wanted to make sure the new leaf springs I got fit. I got everything laid out and ready to go. Will be busy this weekend with kids stuff and too cold to fish anyway, but I will try to get back up there again next weekend and get it done. I don't think it will be bad once I get it lifted up.    For anyone in the google verse, the leaf springs are 4 leafs and measure 25 1/4" eye  to eye per Yetti. I didnt want to pay their markup so just got something else comparable rated for the same weight.   I am a first time wheel house owner, this is all new to me. My house didn't come with any handles for the rear cables? I was told this week by someone in the industry that cordless drills do not have enough brake to lower it slow enough and it can damage the cables and the ratchets in the winches.  I put on a handle last night and it is 100% better than using a drill, unfortatenly I found out the hard way lol and will only use the ICNutz to raise the house now.
    • Wanderer
      Problems with Yetti

      By Wanderer · Posted

      I haven’t done any leaf springs for a long time and I can’t completely see the connections in your pics BUT I I’d be rounding up: PB Blaster, torch, 3 lb hammer, chisel, cut off tool, breaker bar, Jack stands or blocks.   This kind of stuff usually isn’t the easiest.   I would think you would be able to get at what you need by keeping the house up with Jack stands and getting the pressure off that suspension, then attack the hardware.  But again, I don’t feel like I can see everything going on there.
    • rundrave
      Problems with Yetti

      By rundrave · Posted

      reviving an old thread due to running into the same issue with the same year of house. not expecting anything from yetti and I already have replacement parts ordered and on the way.   I am looking for some input or feedback on how to replace the leaf springs themselves.    If I jack the house up and remove the tire, is it possible to pivot the axel assembly low enough to get to the other end of the leaf spring and remove that one bolt?   Or do I have to remove the entire pivot arm to get to it? Then I also have to factor in brake wire as well then. What a mess   My house is currently an hour away from my home at a relatives, going to go back up and look it over again and try to figure out a game plan.           Above pic is with house lowered on ice, the other end of that leaf is what I need to get to.   above pic is side that middle bolt broke and bottom 2 leafs fell out here is other side that didnt break but you can see bottom half of leaf already did but atleast bolt is still in there here is hub assembly in my garage with house lowered and tires off when I put new tires on it a couple months ago. hopefully I can raise house high enough that it can drop down far enough and not snap brake cable there so I can get to that other end of the leaf spring.
    • smurfy
      Just Food and Drink

      By smurfy · Posted

      Chef boyardee pizza from the box!

  • Topics

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

  I accept