Wheelhorse veterans

[markseven 68]

For all the guys that have these tractors 

Im curious how do the hydro transmissions hold up i mean there like 50 to 60 years old now. 🤔  just wondering 

 

 

[JoeM 9,166]

If they have had reasonable care, real well. Reasonable care is cleaning the cooling fins, making sure the fan is working good, and oil changes. 

 

Especially the Eaton 11 that has filtration in front of the oil feeding the charge pressure to the pump and hold up well. 

[Ed Kennell 43,613]

I have had a couple Sundstrands get weak.      Never  had a problem with the Eaton 1100s.

[953 nut 62,836]

All depends on how they were used or abused. If well maintained the Sundstrand and Eaton 1100 will continue to operate for several more decades.

[kpinnc 16,114]

1 hour ago, 953 nut said:

All depends on how they were used or abused. If well maintained the Sundstrand and Eaton 1100 will continue to operate for several more decades.

 

My 1971 Bronco had a OEM filter when I got it around 2004, so it may have never been changed. 

 

That Sundstrand hydrogear still has ATF in it and it is the fastest and strongest hydro like it that I've seen so far. 

 

My FILs Charger is a 1972 and is nearly as fast. Also always had ATF in it as far as I know. 

 

I've been inside the Bronco transmission, and it was not only spotless but it had zero visible wear. I've always attributed this to ATF- but I'll never know. 

 

So the answer to your question has already been said: with proper use and maintainence, these old transmissions last decades. 

[squonk 44,835]

I have had problems with both Sunstrand and the Eaton. I bought my C-160 with 700 hrs. on it. Shortly after it started to get erratic and bucking like a wild horse. I had to replace the hydro motor. I use this tractor for mowing and on hot days it gets a little weak. Running Mobil 1 10W-40 helps quite a bit. When I bought a C-145 with the Eaton it would barely move when warmed up. I found a complete unit at the show that fixed that.

 

I've had 2 hydrogears. both are/were excellent. Sold one. My current 875 is very responsive and strong. Tractor had a broken frame at the mounting area as it towed a firewood trailer most of it's life

[pfrederi 19,158]

I only have two Eatons but several Sunstrands.  I think the piston to piston Sunstrands are more sensitive to abuse/poor maintenance. The Eatons require some warm up to operate the lift even with Mobil one synthetic.  The sunstrands are ready to go immediately I run ATF in them.   Keep them from overheating, don't abuse the parking brake in the Sunstrands, and change the fluid and they will run another 30 years...

[rjg854 12,595]

I have a '76 C160, that came out of a hedgerow, I use for snow plowing and mowing.  The transmission still seems fine even going up the hill of the driveway that's somewhat steep. I also have a '73 16 Auto that is a dedicated snow blower, that one moves just as well.  I do let them warm up a little, but could if I wanted to, take right off with either one in the cold and hydraulics work just fine.

[Ed Kennell 43,613]

4 hours ago, pfrederi said:

 The Eatons require some warm up to operate the lift even with Mobil one synthetic. 

This is a strange quirk of some of the Eaton 1100s.     I have some that will lift immediately and others require a lengthy  warm up.  All lift and pull strong after warm up.

Wheel Horse does recommend a warm up of all Eatons.

[JoeM 9,166]

1 hour ago, Ed Kennell said:

This is a strange quirk of some of the Eaton 1100s

Even more strange, the toro xi's use the 1100 and they pick right up. Out of all 6 that I have run they all pick right up. 

I changed an xi hydro that had the internal damping piston o rings compromised. I used a 1100 that came out of a 520. Sure enough it had a delay when cold. 

I looked at both charge pumps and could not see any difference. Pretty much stumped. Almost threaten to use install the xi's charge pump on the 520 hydro.