185 hydro tranny fix.

2984 Views 14 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Jgj5150, Sep 17, 2010

Jgj5150

Discussion Starter · Sep 16, 2010

Hey guys. Been babying my 185 with sluggish tranny this mowing season and had enough. Drained new 30 wt oil and put in 2/3 90 wt and 1/3 30 wt. Valvoline both. Let me just say after a good purging and long day of hot day mowing. She is as good as ever! Good climbing. No sluggish movements at all! She is as good as new now. I recommend this oil swap to anyone having old hydro problems. Let me know your results mine was amazing!
Jason.

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Herd of Deeres

· #2 · Sep 16, 2010

Where did you come up with the fluid mixture ratio?

Jgj5150

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 16, 2010

Came up with it after years of frustration. No more! Im using it right now, im trying to FIND grass to mow its so much better!

Herd of Deeres

· #4 · Sep 16, 2010

Jgj5150 said:
im trying to FIND grass to mow its so much better!

Texas grass hunting? Been so dry here my 185 has been out once in the last six weeks. Got more seat time plowing my leaf/clippings pile with my 214 getting ready for leaf season.

Jim_WV

· #5 · Sep 17, 2010

Good to hear that worked for you, sorry it took so long to find out though, happy mowing :fing32:.

xjma

· #6 · Sep 17, 2010

how did you purge the tranny??

lakebluewater

· #7 · Sep 17, 2010

what is youre thought on mixing the oils that way.

xjma

· #8 · Sep 17, 2010

lakebluewater said:
what is youre thought on mixing the oils that way.

90W x 2/3 + 30W x 1/3 = 70W

He essentially created a 70w oil I guess? IIRC, that should be more viscous than the 30w oil (or do I have it backwards?).

I don't know exactly how these hydromatic trannies work but I would assume it's similar to a torque converter which uses the viscosity of the fluid for friction.

Not sure what this different weight oil will do for the cooling properties??

Herd of Deeres

· #9 · Sep 17, 2010

xjma said:
how did you purge the tranny??

There is a purge procedure. Its posted here somewhere but I don't remember where. Might try searching on "hydro purge."

xjma

· #10 · Sep 17, 2010

Herd of Deeres said:
There is a purge procedure. Its posted here somewhere but I don't remember where. Might try searching on "hydro purge."

I think I found it!! Many variations and the answer wasn't specifically for Deere, but I'm sure they're all similar.

Some say to put the rear tires off the ground first, then push down the hydro release button, start tractor, brake off, still with the button down hydro lever forward, then reverse, repeat a few times. Then the ones that say to have it up on jacks first say to put it on the ground and repeat.

toscani

· #11 · Sep 17, 2010

about purging...thats frustrating,don't anybody listen...if u take the fender pan off there is a plug right next to fill tube ...take it out...add fluid slowly till it overflows...put plug back in...you are done ...no fighting anything..plain and simple...this is for eaton hydro's...put fender back on and go...i have never had one issue doing it this way

xjma

· #12 · Sep 17, 2010

toscani said:
about purging...thats frustrating,don't anybody listen...if u take the fender pan off there is a plug right next to fill tube ...take it out...add fluid slowly till it overflows...put plug back in...you are done ...no fighting anything..plain and simple...this is for eaton hydro's...put fender back on and go...i have never had one issue doing it this way

Ohh, that's cool!! How do you know if you have an Eaton hydro though?? Sorry about the can of worms

. Also, would you recommend changing the fluid if the hydro is working just fine?

Herd of Deeres

· #13 · Sep 17, 2010

xjma said:
Ohh, that's cool!! How do you know if you have an Eaton hydro though?? Sorry about the can of worms . Also, would you recommend changing the fluid if the hydro is working just fine?

Most dealers will tell you not to touch it if its running fine. Eaton vs. Sunstrand hydro is determined by the location of the drive pulley (top vs. side). As usual I can't keep them straight to tell you which is which :duh:

toscani

· #14 · Sep 17, 2010

Eaton has the fan on side instead of top,if the fan is on top,you have the better hydro

Jgj5150

Discussion Starter · #15 · Sep 17, 2010

Yes, the side pulley is the eaton. Thats mine also. I purged mine on the vise, using a cordless drill adapted to fit the pulley shaft, and as stated earlier, bled system by pushing the bypass pin, and excersizing the fwd and reverse.

Its obviously cooling well, because its hotternhell here still. Just got dumped on last week by the hurricane rains.

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