Opening a can of worms!

This topic will probably get hot but here goes. I have a Farmall 656 Hydro. Ive owned it about 5 years and after quite a few minor repairs and fixes to previous owners REPAIRS, its a fine running tractor and I love it. Hydro works fine. Starts easily and everything is currently working.
Id like to change the hydraulic fluid since I have only changed filters in the past and keep it topped off. Ive used Hytran in it in the past along with one pail of Amsoil synthetic. I think it takes around 25 gallons to change it all. Hytran is $90 a pail at the dealer. At work I can get Mystik JT-5 for $43.50 a pail at a discount.
Ive heard that the Mystik JT-5 is an excellent oil and even heard its superior to Case Hytran from some sources.
Is it worth over twice the price to use Hytran over the Mysitk?
I'm not rich and actually currently have a credit at work so the Mystik would require no actual cash outlay at this point.
Let the comments begin!

Didn't Mystik actually provide a warranty back in the day?

does it say it's compatible?

We've had hydro tractors for almost 40 years and only run hytran in them one had 12000 hrs on it before the hydro needed work yes it had
regular yearly filters and oil change every other year when it was getting used everyday but that is a testimonial to using the correct oil.
My opinion ih had the only hydro tractor and had their oil designed to meet the requirements of the hydro tractor so that is why hytran is
the oil to run.

You KNOW Hy-Tran works. A hydro rebuild is $5000 minimum to $15,000, I would sure try to get someone at
Mystic to put it in writing that their JT-5 will work. I bet NOBODY will sign their name to that.

I've had Cub Cadets with hydro's, similar in design to what your 656 hydro is, Deere used the exact same
Sundstrand hydro for many years, so the Cub Cadet hydro works with all types of ATF, power steering
fluid, Hy-Tran, Deere 303, whatever Deere calls their new fluid, Hy-Gard I think. Can't say I've ever
heard someone say they used Synthetic MyStik or Amsoil. Might be perfectly fine. But your hydro trans was
one of the applications Viscosity Oil tests when they create a new recipe for Hy-Tran like the new Ultra-
Action.

I used Mystik JT-6 grease for several years in my high speed mower deck spindles, tapered roller bearings
turned blue and failed. Car/truck wheel bearings did the same thing. Been using LubriPlate ever since
with NO problems. Dad used the JT-6 grease in the plain bushings and low speed bearings in his IH 2M-E
corn picker for several years with no problem. 200-300 rpm vs 2000-3000 rpm is WAY different in what
lubrication property it needs from grease.
Herr's Machine is the IH Hydro rebuild shop Washington, Ks, 785-325-2875 call them up, see what they say
about Mystik JT-5.

If it uses 25 gallon to the change is it cheaper by the barrel on a per gallon basis if so get a barrel of it. though I have not heard much good about the hydro's around here. Most of them I saw were going out. All bought used by the owner so don't know what the history was.
We never had one either. The concept should be good for light work like loaders or balers.

(quoted from post at 08:20:50 07/05/18 ) . . . Ive used Hytran in it in the past along with one pail of Amsoil synthetic. . . .

Click to expand...

Mystik lists JT-5 as a universal hydraulic fluid, so it should be OK. But I'd make sure the package specifically lists Hy-Tran (or applicable spec) compatibility.

What ever you pick, do the entire fill with a single product. Don't contaminate it by dumping in a pail of some other miracle cure. (Just topping off with different brands of compatibles isn't generally risky.)

I have 5 hydros and won't run anything but hytran in them. Oil is cheap compared to a trans rebuild. Yes it hurts up front (1026 takes 106 quarts) over $450 for hytran and filters. It's just not worth it.

Ah Cat guyhere is the time to do a little pricing research , There are times that one can buy the five gallon pale for less then the barrel price . as we went to get a 55 gallon drum of hy tran and the barrel was over a hundred bucks more then the five gallon buckets sooooooo instead of just coming home with 10 five gallon buckets we bought twenty . Then there are times the drum cost less . SOOOoooo always do some figuring on the pocket saving. Five verses the thirty or the 55 .

I just stopped at the dealer and priced HY-Tran. $87.95 for a 5 gallon bucket or he said he would sell me a 55 gallon drum for $900. that would come out to $16.36 per gal vs $17.59 in fives. Not a huge savings. He didnt carry 30 gallon drums but said it actually works out to be more per gallon than 5 gallon buckets. So figure it holds between 20 & 25 gallons. Five buckets would be $439.75.
The Mystik JT-5 would be half as much but from the research Ive done and the general consensus here, its not worth the risk to me in the 656 hydro.


By the way I contacted Mystik also and here was their response.

"Timothy,
Yes, the Mystik JT-5 will perform well in that application.
Regards,
Lubes Answer Line"

Also contacted Herrs Hydro Machine Shop and asked if they had and experience with this oil. Here was their response.

"I have never seen any tests done on that particular oil. Besides Hy tran I would also personally recommend mobil 424 as another option."