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Mn520H

520H Hydrostatic transmission

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Mn520H

Greetings, 

 

Just a general question on the transmission for the 520H.

 

My tractor when traveling slowly on level ground speeds up when I start going down a small hill.  Should the hydro drive hold it's speed when going down hill?  I have to pull back on the drive lever to keep my mowing speed low.  Is that normal or does the hydro drive need some adjustment?

 

Thanks

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pfrederi

Slight speed increase going downhill with a hydro is normal.  A large speed pick up down or weakness going uphill is a worn out hydro

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Mn520H

It seems to speed up a lot and the hill isn't very big.  Any other signs to look out for on a worn out hydro?  Are parts available to rebuild the hydrostatic drive?

 

 

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pfrederi

Try putting it up against a solid object and see if she will spin the rear wheels (on a firm surface)  

 

I am going to step back i know how to conduct pressure tests on the Older Sunstrand units. Don't know much about your Eaton other than that most people find them reliable and strong. Have you changed the fluid/filter lately  see any contaminants on the fluid when you drained it??

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cleat

I find having a foot control where you let up going downhill really helps. 

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Handy Don

As @pfrederi notes, any significant variation in ground speed that doesn’t correspond to a change in engine speed might be a sign of internal wear.

That said, I’d start with checking with fluid stuff: correct stuff at the correct level? Changed within the last 50-100 hours of use? Correct filter changed no more than 100 hours ago?

After that, drive belt in good shape? Drive belt tensioner working properly?

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Mn520H

Fluids look clean and are at the proper level.  I plan to do a change soon.  I purchased Wix 5410 and 51762.  Just need to get the correct oil. 

 

I used my air compressor and cleaned the motor fins and hydro drive, so they should be good to go.

 

Hopefully with 568 hours I don't have a worn out Hydrostatic drive.  The previous original owner was very good at doing preventative maintenance and documented his work, but he had a couple acres to mow and it was a steep hill that he mowed for nearly 30 years.

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Handy Don
7 minutes ago, Mn520H said:

Hopefully with 568 hours I don't have a worn out Hydrostatic drive.  The previous original owner was very good at doing preventative maintenance and documented his work, but he had a couple acres to mow and it was a steep hill that he mowed for nearly 30 years.

 

That is not an excessive number of hours or inappropriate use for a maintained Eaton 1100. 

A worn drive belt can slip on downhills when the tractor is trying to drive the engine. Also, there are acceleration valves within the transaxle that will let the tractor “roll” without being driven by the engine.

As I mentioned, be concerned only if the speed difference is really significant. 

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Mn520H

I appreciate all the information and will check the drive belt too.  My yard is fairly flat, but I did notice enough of a speed increase that I needed to pull the drive lever backwards to mow slower.  Overall I'm very happy to have a well cared for 520H.

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Mn520H
1 hour ago, cleat said:

I find having a foot control where you let up going downhill really helps. 

I'm getting use to the lever drive, but I'll have to check out your foot control kit, Cleat.  

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Handy Don

There are a couple of versions of foot control with different styles of pedal. Cleat (and others) use a pedal with one arm for forward and a separate arm for reverse--you move you foot to the corresponding pedal arm as needed. The other version (copied from the original WH add-on kit) uses a single flat pedal that rocks back and forth--toe forward, heel reverse. Both work fine so it’s a user preference thing!

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lynnmor
1 hour ago, Mn520H said:

I'm getting use to the lever drive, but I'll have to check out your foot control kit, Cleat.  

The hydro doesn't care how it is controlled, you move the cam on it to a position and it either holds that speed or it doesn't.  Some speed gain starting downhill is to be expected, a new user feels that rather sudden change and quickly overcompensates, with experience you will learn to pretty much ignore it.

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Mn520H

I think it's just new user error, ha!

 

I do need to adjust it faster going up hill to keep the same speed and slower going downhill to try to maintain my speed.  Sounds like that is pretty normal, but figured I'd ask the group.  Thanks for your help!

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