Hydrostatic trans.

**Snoopdogie187** · 06-03-2009, 08:07 PM

Ok, so I know nothing about hydrostic transmissions in lawn mowers and we just got a 1976 Cub Cadet 1250. (12 hp, hydro trans lawn/graden tractor).

This lawn mower was really well taken care of, the engine was rebuilt 3 years ago, kept really clean and indoors. everything really nice (He sold it becase the seat safety, and I think a could other safty switches arent working and he wanted to make sure his daughter didn't run into any problems mowing the lawn). He was the original owner also.

Anyway, He just changed the hydro trans fuild and filter before we got it. We actually had to top it off before we used it again. It doesn't seem to leak any fuild at all and all seems good.

What I want to know is, how do you make sure you have the trans 100% full and not miss any spots. The oil is up to the very bottem of the plug on the side.

Also, it has a fran oil filter on it, I'm guessing as long as its the right size, its 100% safe, as far as i understand it is basicaly a pressured oil system and just a preticualr weight engine oil almost.

I just want to make sure all is well, it is a nice built and nice kept tractor and I don't want to change that.

Also, it has one other problem, the amp meter on the dash doesn't have any numbers, but when I first start the tractor, it is almost all the way to the right and slowly goes down almost back to the center. The battery seems fairly old, and I do plan to change that out with the brand new one we have, but I just want to check this. I don't even know where the charging system is. nor have i really looked at the engine (it is completely boxed in like on a car).

It mows perfectly fine, even on higher grass, it can move along, and not have a problem, etc. So really just those two concerns.
thank you

**pat mcgroin** · 06-04-2009, 08:54 AM

The amp meter is doing exactly what it should.
You are probably correct in thinking the battery is getting older by the higher charging rate at the begining but it isnt anything that you should worry about.
Without any numbers on the gauge its impossible to say how high it really is.
You could try to clean the battery terminals but I think it normal and could be fine for years to come.

As for the trans.
Its pretty normal to have to top it off after a flush and fill.
There will always be some air bubbles in there that will float to the top and thus make the level go down slightly.
If the oil fill is just a plug in the side of the trans. it is standard to fill it until it just starts to trickle out of the hole and then put the plug back in.

Good Luck, it sounds like you got a pretty good machine.
You might want to see about a new seat safety switch if possible. They dont cost much and you dont want the mower driving away with no one on it.

**Basementgeek** · 06-04-2009, 12:11 PM

Seems to run in my mind that they used a starter/generator. Belt driven to the front of engine.

Suggest that you try to find an owners manual for it.

BG

**Snoopdogie187** · 06-04-2009, 01:49 PM

The starter is gear driven, I checked, I think the slightly older ones was belt, but it still may be the same design with the starter/generator just with gears.

I actually have all the original owners and service manuals for it.

Thank you pat, I think it will need new battery wires, they are pretty hard to bend and the wires are a dull color (the ends are exposed). It still doesn't affect anything, but I do have a new end and a battery that is just a few months old (got them for another lawn mower I was trying to get to work, but that one keeps running into more problems).

I wasn't sure if there was a way to get those air bubbles out of the trans or if they would do any harm. The service manual really doesn't go over how to change the fuild, neither does the owners manual, but they still have a lot of information in them.

**pat mcgroin** · 06-05-2009, 08:42 AM

Its normal to have some bubbles.
They just come out by themselves over time.
Actually most oil has a antifoam agent in it so the bubbles disapate quickly.

06-03-2009, 08:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
Snoopdogie187 Oh! What shall I be? Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,537 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1, mom: XP Pro SP2 My System	Hydrostatic trans. Ok, so I know nothing about hydrostic transmissions in lawn mowers and we just got a 1976 Cub Cadet 1250. (12 hp, hydro trans lawn/graden tractor). This lawn mower was really well taken care of, the engine was rebuilt 3 years ago, kept really clean and indoors. everything really nice (He sold it becase the seat safety, and I think a could other safty switches arent working and he wanted to make sure his daughter didn't run into any problems mowing the lawn). He was the original owner also. Anyway, He just changed the hydro trans fuild and filter before we got it. We actually had to top it off before we used it again. It doesn't seem to leak any fuild at all and all seems good. What I want to know is, how do you make sure you have the trans 100% full and not miss any spots. The oil is up to the very bottem of the plug on the side. Also, it has a fran oil filter on it, I'm guessing as long as its the right size, its 100% safe, as far as i understand it is basicaly a pressured oil system and just a preticualr weight engine oil almost. I just want to make sure all is well, it is a nice built and nice kept tractor and I don't want to change that. Also, it has one other problem, the amp meter on the dash doesn't have any numbers, but when I first start the tractor, it is almost all the way to the right and slowly goes down almost back to the center. The battery seems fairly old, and I do plan to change that out with the brand new one we have, but I just want to check this. I don't even know where the charging system is. nor have i really looked at the engine (it is completely boxed in like on a car). It mows perfectly fine, even on higher grass, it can move along, and not have a problem, etc. So really just those two concerns. thank you __________________ Infected computer? click here Has TSF Helped You? Posting System Specifications Please Donate to TSF

06-04-2009, 08:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
pat mcgroin TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2009 Location: Toledo Oh. Posts: 555 OS: XP Professional SP2 Vista Ultimate SP2	Re: Hydrostatic trans. The amp meter is doing exactly what it should. You are probably correct in thinking the battery is getting older by the higher charging rate at the begining but it isnt anything that you should worry about. Without any numbers on the gauge its impossible to say how high it really is. You could try to clean the battery terminals but I think it normal and could be fine for years to come. As for the trans. Its pretty normal to have to top it off after a flush and fill. There will always be some air bubbles in there that will float to the top and thus make the level go down slightly. If the oil fill is just a plug in the side of the trans. it is standard to fill it until it just starts to trickle out of the hole and then put the plug back in. Good Luck, it sounds like you got a pretty good machine. You might want to see about a new seat safety switch if possible. They dont cost much and you dont want the mower driving away with no one on it.

06-04-2009, 12:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
Basementgeek Moderator, Home Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Central Ohio, USA Posts: 1,470 OS: XP Pro SP2/Vista Ultimate SP2 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Hydrostatic trans. Seems to run in my mind that they used a starter/generator. Belt driven to the front of engine. Suggest that you try to find an owners manual for it. BG __________________ Donating to the forum keeps TSF free for all. Proud member of ASAP

06-04-2009, 01:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
Snoopdogie187 Oh! What shall I be? Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,537 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1, mom: XP Pro SP2 My System	Re: Hydrostatic trans. The starter is gear driven, I checked, I think the slightly older ones was belt, but it still may be the same design with the starter/generator just with gears. I actually have all the original owners and service manuals for it. Thank you pat, I think it will need new battery wires, they are pretty hard to bend and the wires are a dull color (the ends are exposed). It still doesn't affect anything, but I do have a new end and a battery that is just a few months old (got them for another lawn mower I was trying to get to work, but that one keeps running into more problems). I wasn't sure if there was a way to get those air bubbles out of the trans or if they would do any harm. The service manual really doesn't go over how to change the fuild, neither does the owners manual, but they still have a lot of information in them. __________________ Infected computer? click here Has TSF Helped You? Posting System Specifications Please Donate to TSF

06-05-2009, 08:42 AM	#5 (permalink)
pat mcgroin TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2009 Location: Toledo Oh. Posts: 555 OS: XP Professional SP2 Vista Ultimate SP2	Re: Hydrostatic trans. Its normal to have some bubbles. They just come out by themselves over time. Actually most oil has a antifoam agent in it so the bubbles disapate quickly.