hydrostatic drive questions

[phil]

Hi guy's ,did lots of blowing tonight ,,rig worked great ,but near the end hydro drive got little noisier and didn't have near the power to the rear wheels ,I know very little bout hydro's ,would running it hard for long time do this ,,or think it's low ,on fluid ,,making sounds like a power steering pump does with wheel turned hard,,anyone know where I can go to get more info on a bolens ST125 and info on hydro drives..

[ambler]

Phil I would pop your manual open and find out what that hydro takes and how to fill it.

[phil]

problem 2>>>>> maunal is AWOL ,,,also seeing small amount of oil on garage floor ,

[Al]

Hi, Is there a nameplate on the tranny? If we can find out whose hydro it is, we can get you some info. Al Eden

[HubbardRA]

First thing you should do is check the fluid level. The sound you are describing will also come from a power steering pump when the fluid is low. This is due to foaming. The sound is created when foam goes through the pump instead of liquid. Also foam contains air which is compressible, oil is not. You will not get the same power from the foam because the air is compressing and not applying as much force on the motor. I'm not saying that you couldn't have another problem. Just saying that fluid level would be the first thing I would check. I would also replace the filter and see if that helps before I tore into the tranny.

[Al]

Rod, Right on. Just need to figure out what it should have for oil. Maybe he should call MTD about what oil to use, as they now own Bolens and Troy Built. Al Eden

[HubbardRA]

Al, If he can't find an exact factory spec, then I would recommend the use of Type F automatic transmission fluid. Ford recommended this in many of their power steering units, and I have used it to quiet several power steering systems. It seems to have exceptional anti-foaming characteristics. As far as the hydraulics, ATF or motor oil or hydraulic oil will all drive the hydrostatic tranny. If you look at the Simplicity specs, they used them all in trannys and hydrolifts.

[phil]

MORE TO THE STORY..... Well,taking out the garbage this morning saw streaks of oil where I'd been plowing ,,but also found my hydro fan laying in the snow...I just replaced the drive belt and you have to take off the fan ..guess I didn't tighten it enough..so figure she got hot ,,,,???and melted some seal ,or oil got so thin it leaked out...on a hunt to figure out what to put in it now ,,,,I think it was an eaton hydro if memory serves me ,but I can't even remember where I put the books ,,,so the search is on ...

[comet66]

OOPS!!

[phil]

http://sonnys_bolens.tripod.com/manuals/hydfluid.gif FOUND THE INFO AT SONNY'S Rod H, you da man TYPE F it is ,,hope it doesn't leak right out or I'm screwed ,forcasting 10 to 20 inches tomorrow ,,bunch of you guy'd are getting it too!!

[phil]

update ,,after draining hydro and having a heck of a time getting fluid to go back ind,I'm back in business thanks Guy's ,,,ready for the 20 inches forcast for tomorrow

[comet66]

Cool, send us some pictures of it at work.

[HubbardRA]

Glad I could help!