illinilefttackle 399 #1 Posted April 19, 2008 :thumbs: Geeeeeeze! I'm a chicken! I came home this afternoon and was determined to plow the rest of the garden today-before it rains tomorrow. I checked everything, fired up the Horse and drove to the back. I still had a lot of sod to plow-50 yrs worth!. So I started out, things were going famously then the tractor strarted slowing down(ground speed) the engine was pulling like crazy but it was bogging down with all that sod. I eased the motion lever foreward a little on the Hydro-and it stared moving again. So far so good I thought, until it started bogging again-then it stopped. HERE'S where the chicken part comes in! (You know-I'm telling myself I was so lucky to find such a nice tractor-that I wanted to use it-but not ABUSE it!) So I figured it just didn't have anymore power left. But my grandson,who was cheering me on from the side-motioned to me to "give it Heck Grandpa!" So feeling embarrassed-I jamed the motion lever foreward even further! BOY! The governor kicked in and the Hydro locked up and the front wheels came off the ground! Man it made short work of that sod. Needless to say the remaing 4 rows were NOT A PROBLEM for The Ole Girl. Man-has that thing got power for just 12 HP and a Hydro Tranny. I'll never doubt her again!_The City Farmer-AL :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Craig Arndt 6 #2 Posted April 19, 2008 That was awesome, just when I thought you were heading back to the house, you let-er rip and that ole horse stands up and bolts. Nice job and even better that nothing broke. :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rollerman 290 #3 Posted April 19, 2008 Al glad to hear the Horse & plow are working good for you. I'd still like to play turning some dirt....maybe I go pull up that cable & fiber optic again this weekend. :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
perry 82 #4 Posted April 19, 2008 i read somewhere or something. maybe in the manual i dont know, but i heard the hydros are not good for ground ingaging implements. might be its hard on the trans. i have pulled a disc before with a hydro but i leave all the heavy work for the manuals.......... just my opinon. glad to hear you got some dirt turned over, fun aint it . ill be startin my 2 gardens prombaly soon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
illinilefttackle 399 #5 Posted April 19, 2008 :thumbs: Aw shucks Perry-Just when I was feeling good about my Hydro- I had this discussion before on another site abouit Hydros- They said "What kind of tranny's do the Giant bulldozers and earth movers have? Hydros. They said Hydros multiply torque thru the vanes in the torque converter. I sincerely hope I'm not hurting it-I'm trusting Wheelhorse not to manufacture a tractor why a Hydro and make ground engaging attachments avaiable for it if it won't stand the punishment. AL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hoosier 1 #6 Posted April 19, 2008 I don't know for sure, but I understand you lose some power through the hydro as opposed to the gear drive. I'm sure someone will set me straight if I'm wrong. I do know this. I put my little 8 inch WH plow on my 1076 repowered to 14 horse thinking it would be childs play compared to my little 8 4 speed. The plow simply brought it to it's knees. The little tractor would keep digging, the bigger tractor said 'what??'Maybe I've got a weak motor. I don't know. But I sure was dissapointed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
illinilefttackle 399 #7 Posted April 19, 2008 Hoosier- Once I knew I could push the motion lever further foreward-I had NO trouble-I was just a chicken to do it! My plow is a 10 inch Brinley and it was pulling thru VERY heavy sod. Once I knew where to put the lever it didn't hesitate. The Motor kept pulling strong-the governor adding power when it needed it. Of course, I always run the engine at full power. I could be made a fool here some day when my Hydro gives out-but I hope not. You know years ago I did ALOT of Drag racing. US 30,Martinsville Mi.Osceola Dragway,Etc. I always thought the way to go was a straight tranny with no exceptions-UNTIL-The push button Mopars kicked my Butt by multiplying torque on the starting line & springing foreward-and NEVER missing a shift. A planetary gear setup is a thing of beauty. Again I welcome all the opinions and ideas-we all have our beliefs-Thanks-AL :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baerpath 517 #8 Posted April 19, 2008 Aw shucks Perry-Just when I was feeling good about my Hydro- I had this discussion before on another site abouit Hydros- They said "What kind of tranny's do the Giant bulldozers and earth movers have? Hydros. They said Hydros multiply torque thru the vanes in the torque converter. I sincerely hope I'm not hurting it-I'm trusting Wheelhorse not to manufacture a tractor why a Hydro and make ground engaging attachments avaiable for it if it won't stand the punishment. AL Actually those aren't hydro's. Hydro farm tractors were avaliable but they couldn't work for long without over heating the oil. What you had was oil heat buildup, you increased the flow to compensate for the loss of viscosity. If you did acres you could burn the pump out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rideawaysenior 25 #9 Posted April 19, 2008 I had the same problem with my D160. I till gardens on the side to pay for my horse collecting hobby/addiction. I would notice when using a ripper to clear stones before I till that the hydro would heat up quite a bit and I would loose forward momentum. I have a trans temp gauge on there that was standard on the D series but I made a few changes. I mounted a high velocity cooling fan to direct cool air onto the pump housing as it uses the fins on the housing to disperse heat. That made a huge difference. The next thing I did was change from normal 10w-30 to a synthetic oil. Synthetic oil will maintain its viscosity under high heat conditions better then regular oil. After I did that, my problems went away. The machine is unstoppable now and all mu concerns of pump failure doe to heat related stress are gone. This thing runs so cool, and strong. Just for kicks and giggles, I would check your cooling fan on your unit. Although grwound engaging tools can really put a whoopin on a tractor, those hydro gear units were built pretty tough. It may even be time to change the oil in the tranny too. Jack Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KyBlue 655 #10 Posted April 19, 2008 The idea of adding a cooling fan, and changing to synthetic is probably a really cool idea, even if your just using it for grass mowing. Al, glad the horse did good for ya, its amazing sometimes what we're able to accomplish with em aint it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hoosier 1 #11 Posted April 20, 2008 AL, I hope you took pictures of your plowing. Want to see 'em. I also hope you realize I meant no disrespect toward you and your tractors success. I just wanted to say my experience was not so positive, as I said I must have a weak engine, hydro, or something. Maybe a governor problem. I just don't know . Jim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rideawaysenior 25 #12 Posted April 20, 2008 Jim, More often then not, the condition of the oil will dictate the operation of the hydro gear unit. If it's been in there a while and used hard, you should change it a little more often. Also make sure that you replace the oil filter with a hydraulic filter. You may already know that though. I've seen a 418-A pull a stone boat loaded with almost 5,000 lbs down a clay track. It was really working hard but did it. I think in alot of ways the hydros are under rated and not trusted as much as the gear driven units. I will say that the hydro will require more HP off the engine to operate it but they are so easy and convenient for all types of applications. Jack Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
illinilefttackle 399 #13 Posted April 20, 2008 Rideaway-do you mean you replaced the fan that was already there? Do they make a high velocity replacement? My HST takes 10-30w-you mean just replace it with Mobil 1 ? Do they make a 10-30w synthetic? Thanks -AL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WheelHorse_of_course 99 #14 Posted April 20, 2008 Consult your owner's manual or a sales brochure for the approved accessories for use with your hydro tractor. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KyBlue 655 #15 Posted April 20, 2008 Al, I cant say how well it'll work, but when I changed my vehicles over to synthetic, I went to Royal Purple brand stuff. Its made in the US, and they ahve REALLY high standards. For the qt or two youd need, it wouldnt be that expensive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 14,652 #16 Posted April 20, 2008 I don't know for sure, but I understand you lose some power through the hydro as opposed to the gear drive. I have been told as a rule of thumb, you lose 4 hp in a "standard" garden tractor equipped with a hydro trans. Not sure how to eqate what a "standard" garden tractor is, but I can confirm the Eaton transmission manuals that cover the 700 and 1100 series transmissions (that were used in WH tractors) call for a minimum input of 4 HP. Not the Wheel Horse manuals mind you, but the manufactuer manuals. My first Eaton equipped WH had stripped the splines right off of the input shaft, and the shards of metal destroyed the pump. My local dealer told me the older Sundstrands were much more heavily built, and the fact that so many 35+ year old models still worked is a testament to it. On the other hand, I've seen Eatons do some pretty incredible things. Just keep the oil in them clean, and it should last for years. Kevin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rollerman 290 #17 Posted April 20, 2008 Al I would think you would not have a problem. Keep in mind your Eaton 1100 hydro is the same one used in a lot of the following Wheel Horses built in later years. Your model was the first to use the Eaton "Cxx5" The C195 "Super C" used an Eaton 1100 & had larger tires plus a 3 point....I'm sure they were able to handle a plow! Also I don't think your turning over even a half an acre? The dirt around michiana "local term" isn't really going to work the plow that hard either. Unless you live in one of those spots with the hard clay & rocks.... By no means am I a plowing expert...but I have heard plenty of other stories of smaller "hydro" tractors used for years pulling a garden plow...ie the 875 with an 8 HP. Differant make hydro & probaby a smaller plow...but my point is a hydro Wheel Horse can & will pull a garden plow! Don't be spooked...have fun! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,610 #18 Posted April 20, 2008 Good advice, Stephen. I seriously doubt you will damage the hydro in your C-125. I would be more worried about what the hydro went through in the past 25 years than what you're doing to it. You can control that and do the proper maintenance on it. Who knows what kind of abuse and maintenance it had in the prior 25 years of operation, unless of course, you were the owner in those preceding years. :thumbs: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kj4kicks 154 #19 Posted April 20, 2008 I don't want to re-open the oil controversy, but you DO NOT want to use synthetic in the hydro trans ! Good quality 10w30 or 10w40 is what is recommended, and works best. Just verified it with a 520H with 50 hours on it. The PO changed the hydro fluid to synthetic. Suddenly, it had a strange noise. Changed it back to dino oil with a new filter, and the noise is gone. My $.02 for the day.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rideawaysenior 25 #20 Posted April 20, 2008 Eldon, I got the sythetic suggestion from a local dealer in my area that is a Wheel Horse Dealer. The hydro units I am running synthetic in are Sundstrand. Do you happen to know why synthetic is not good for these units? I went on good faith from the dealer. I will be honest, I don't have al ton of knowledge on them just what I have been told. Jack Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wh79d160 52 #21 Posted April 21, 2008 OK, Guys, My 79 D160 has a fan under the seat. I have a plow that I'm getting ready to work sod with. But before that I'm changing the hydro filter(Sundstrand) & oil. The system , as we know, calls for regular motor oil & the filter is a standard design oil filter, not a hydraulic filter. Does someone know of a replacement hydraulic filter. Also when I drain the hydro, will I get all the oil out, cylinders ect., I was always told never to mix standard oil & synthetic oil. I'm all about doing whats best for my old horse, I don't want to mess anything up. Thanks Tom Z. in Kansas. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
charger10us 1 #22 Posted April 22, 2008 Myself,I've had no prolems with the hydro's.. I plowed & disc the garden this year with the 1982 C-195 & a 12" plow.. This is the first year that I didn't use the 1968 Charger 10 with a 10" plow, & the Charger 10 has been doing it sence 1972 when we bought the tractor from a J.D. dealer. It has plowed snow all this time along with spinning wheels & pulling wheel stands & alot of other abuse. When you come to the show in June look under the fender & you will see thw JD filter that was installed in 1972 !! It's like the Energizer bunny It just go'es & go'es & go'es !!! Billy in Va. I like my old hydro's !!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hoosier 1 #23 Posted April 22, 2008 I was'nt meaning to cast doubt on the hydros. I'm just not experienced with them. In my case,however, the tractor shows some reluctance to reverse on inclines. When trying the plow , I got no wheelspin and the engine seemed to just give up. In my mind it's most likely not the hydros fault. The engine 'seems' to run good though. Like i said, I just don't know. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites