best hydro tranny nowadays?

Thinking about buying a "newer" riding mower with a hydro. Something 5-8 years old. Can anybody tell me which mower out there has the best reliable hydrostatic transmission? Or what name tranny manufacturer is best? When I ask this question of dealers, they can't say. I keep my mowers for about 15-18 years. So, just would like to have a "heads up" before buying. Thanks, Sam

I have a Craftsman garden tractor 25 hp,50" deck and had for eight years.It has a Hydro-Gear tranaxle 222-3010L and had no problems. I have several freinds with different make of tractor with this tranaxle and they have had no problems.

As I see it, your question is faulty.

Essentially, "riding type lawn cutting machines" are divided into two categories by the people who manufacture them. The low cost machines are called "lawn tractors" because they are not designed to leave the lawn or other smooth surfaces. You can cut grass, blow snow, plow snow, pull a cart or a lawn roller just fine but they are not meant for serious "off road" work that entails "ground-engaging equipment" such as turning plows, discs, harrows and rototillers.

Once you get off the smooth surfaces, you need a "Garden Tractor" that has a frame strong enough to withstand the twisting that rough ground will exert on it. The steering gear needs to be stronger. The wheels need to be larger and most of all, the trans-axle must be beefier.

You don't specify what you are going to use this new-to-you machine for nor do you mention your budget. Entry level lawn tractors cost less than three grand at the big box stores but true garden tractors cost three to four times that amount. If you want a tough hydro, then you are looking at buying a used garden tractor, not a lawn tractor. So if you have champagne taste but a beer budget, there's little point in anyone naming hydro models that can only be found in tractors selling for more than you are willing to pay.

More information is needed.

You're right Tom, I didn't give you enough details of what I'm looking for. I'm wanting to know what "lawn mower", about 18-20 HP, 42-46" cut, to be used for some tough mowing only. Is there something in this class (about 5 yrs. old) that has a better hydro transmission. I realize that some of the well known companies put some less than substantial "throw away" trannys in some of their models that didn't last more than about 5 years. Thanks, Sam

Sam,
John Deere makes "entry level" lawn tractors that are sold at Home Depot, Lowe's and some of their franchised dealers. These were the L, LA and now D Series tractors. MTD, who owns Cub Cadet has the 1000 Series models that compete in the same price point. Toro, Sears Craftsman, Murray, Husqvarna and others can be found in that bracket as well. Because they are all in tight competition with one another, they all choose the same price-point of parts used to assemble what they sell.

In other words, the hydros are essentially the same when it comes to durability. I don't recommend any of the above.

If you intend to get off the nice smooth lawn surface these tractors are fine for, then you need to look at used garden tractor models from Deere, Cub Cadet, Simplicity, Wheelhorse, Gravely, Case/Ingersoll and others. There is a good selection of these durable GT's out there that can be had for less than 2 grand.

Once again, you did not reveal your budget but the old adage that you only get what you pay for certainly applies. It takes time to do your homework on garden tractors so that you choose something that still has good life in it. What do you see for sale in your local Craigslist ads?

As far as a hydrostatic lawn tractor transaxle goes, of the models I work on, it seems that Hydrogear makes the best.

I have seen several Tuff-torq (sp.?) transaxles shed a snap ring and burst the transaxle case. (None in the last year or so. They may have the problem fixed.)

The remarkable thing about these lawn tractor transaxles is that as far as I know, none of them have a recommended service interval. All are meant to be run until they quit working and then replaced.

The sad part about that is many tractors end up being scrapped because the cost of replacing the trans-axle exceeds the current value of the used tractor by a fair margin. Quite often, one ran resurrect one of these "dead" trans-axles by removing them from the tractor, hanging them upside down and allowing all the oil inside to exit the fill point. If you then refill the trans-axle to the correct level with the correct oil before re-installing it back in the tractor, quite often the problem gets cured.

If the axle has been abused and parts failed, then that's a different story and the oil change will not cure that problem.

Thanks guys. You've given me a lot of good info that I needed answered. Now I'll keep all of these comments in mind when I go on my search for a good mower. Sam

One detail of maintenance I discovered by accident on the hyro of my 1998 JD 275 happened when I removed the rear wheels to do a thorough cleaning. That was when I discovered there's a plastic cooling fan hidden from view. There was a bunch of grass around the fan no doubt keeping it from doing its job as well as intended. Never had a bit of trouble with the JD so far, still starts and runs like new.

I can't speak for many other brands as i have only driven other brands for a couple hours each. We used to own a GT 235 john deere. we ran it commercially for about 3 years. One of the best mowers we have had. Its still going today just not commercial cutting. Also the 325 through 345 models are good as well. If you take care of them adn get at least a mid to upper class mower they will most likely last you several years and give you very little trouble.