Avoid a $2000 Mistake Changing Hydro Fluid on Zero Turn Mower
Avoid a $2,000 Mistake when Changing Hydraulic Fluid on a Zero Turn Mower. Follow the proper steps and procedures in changing the hydro fluid and filters in a zero turn mower to avoid this costly mistake.
One of the costliest repairs on any zero turn mower is to the hydraulic drive system. The best way to avoid damage to this system is to regularly change the hydraulic fluid and filters. BUT... if this is not done properly you could damage the valve plate in the drive system costing you over $2,000 in repairs.
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Disclaimer:
Although I have been following these procedures for many years; I assume no liability for any damage that may occur to any person or property as a result of the information provided in this video. I take necessary precautions (that I am aware of) when working on these projects but that in no way implies or creates any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any kind of particular result. Any injury, damage or loss of any kind to anyone or their property or anything related to information in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not Helping U Online (this video).
Now that’s the way a tutorial oughta be! Good job! Excellent video on changing hydro oil in yer Zero Turn mower! Very Well Explained!
Thanks
Even though I have a Husqvarna Zero, I thoroughly enjoyed your video. Great shots with the camera. And your explaining step by step was spot on. Great job, sir!
Glad it was helpful!
I love my Husqvarna mz5225
Thanx from Hungary.
Great video, I'm getting ready to change my fluid now and helps a lot. Thanks Mike from Nebraska
Glad to help
Ok thanks. I own a Hustler Fas trak. My tanks will show higher after I been mowing. But the same procedure is used to change the hydro fluid.
Just did everything you said exactly. 🤞 seems excellent so far.
2 weeks later and she's perfect still.
Great info...thank you
This was a very helpful instructional video 👍thanks for sharing
Glad it was helpful!
I bought the Deere Z 425. It was the only Ztrac I found that had a grass catcher / power flow belt drive option. After a shop swapped out the factory 14 hp (sand, dust got in plus overheated at 100 hrs), installed a Vanguard 25 hp - the right steering has been off. I adjust the turnbuckle but cannot get it fine tuned. Either not in neutral all the way or jumping or not enough spped on right side. Are there other adjustments other than the turnbuckle?
How could the fluid check be accurate if the ass end is raised so high?. I have a Cub Cadet Z-Force 50 and older model 2006. Is it the same?
I have the TORO SS 5000 is it about the same as this one?
Awesome.
Good show! I have a Ferris IS700Z. I'm gonna change the engine and hydro oil and filters this weekend. It calls for 20W-50 non-synthetic motor oil for the hydro's.
BIG DOG MOWER - DIABLO - SAYS SAME THING 20/5/0 NON SYN
Thanks man 😊
Happy to help
How much does it cost if we don’t do this properly? Thanks
Why is my left side getting hot? And I can't find a rebuild kit mine just like yours
I may be Wrong but I believe the Wheels off Ground after changing Trans Fluid would apply to every Brand of Zero Turn Mower, I will use same Program when changing fluid in my JD.
Isn't there a valve to first open so that air can be purged? On Ferris zero-turn mowers, there is, and you tighten it after the purge. How does the air escape during this process if the hydrolic system is sealed?
Is that engine oil?
Well, it's 2000 a side if you have to change the entire drive motor. The salesman who was talking to this guy really uses the hard sales pitch. This guy was terrified when he left tht place!
Nice video
Thanks
another reason to buy a grasshopper. hydro fluid change is 1000 hours and is self bleeding system. sure the genuine fluid and filter is expensive but its the cost of proper maintenance
Has anyone had the 5/8 plastic nut on the old filter strip? Any thoughts on how to now get the old filter out?
Go from the inside. There is another nut on the other side of the filter. Use an extension an you can reach it.
I have been told that all zero turn mower trannies are similar to car power steering systems. Air bubbles in the oil kills pumps. On cars, I have learned to never start the engine after replacing a rack or broken line or pump. First turn the steering from full lock to full lock 10 times. Then add oil and start engine. On a mower, this would require removing the drive belt and turning each rear tire back and forward 10 turns. Sounds like a lot of work.
Pull the neutral switches
Hi. I see your video. The oil 15w50 is a motor oil or transmission fluid? .. please let me know thanks for the video, is a great.
I used Mobil 1... 15w-50 motor oil
You can also call ExMark and the Technicians are very happy to help with questions
Jordan Peterson even gives solid advice for lawn equipment too .🤝😳😂
On my Exmark Radius E-series, you have to crack open the vent-bolts on each transaxle so they will fill. Pretty nifty that your Lazer didn't need that step! edit: my Radius manual also had me hopping on and off, unlocking and locking the hydraulic bypasses for the bleeding/purging process. I had to do that about 7-10 times before she was done.
When they say the bypass valves, are they talking about the valves you slide front to rear and vice versa for the free wheel mode? I read that in the manual too. So I assume the valve is open when it is in free wheel?
And did you just fill into the reservoir till the fluid came out of the indivdual check holes?
I’m wondering how the fluid level check can be accurate, if the back end is raised so high?
Indeed... good observation. 1. You should lower the tractor, if it was lifted up. Then add oil. Check for oil levels and leaks as the tractor is ground level. 2. Then jack it up. And follow the instructions set here. Some manufacturers also suggest to bleed air bubbles out by opening [hex tool] valves above pumps as you move levers forward and backwards.
@@ronclaros I just bought a used Big dog Alpha 23hp zero turn mower. I never had one before. Is it safe to assume all zero turn mower need hydro fluid?
I bough a used Big dog Alpha 23hp 52" zero turn mower. Is 450 hrs alot or not? Its a 2016 in really good condition only payed $1k not sure if it takes hydro fluid
if it's a zero turn it takes hydraulic fluid. Hope whoever you bought it from they changed it out once already. All zero turns are different but I have an Exmark Radius E and it says to do it every 250 hours to my knowledge but every mower is different so I would just look it up or look in your book if it was given to you when you bought the mower. Also, if it's a regular residential mower 450 hrs is kind of a lot but if it was maintained properly by changing oil yearly and spark plugs and hydraulic fluid on time it might last you quite a long time. I bought my Exmark in the spring of 2021 new and I paid $7,000 but it's semi/commercial grade and I mow almost all of my 4 acres so it was worth it if I get it to last 15 years.
Ill save you all 25 minutes - the trick explained is to jack the rear up and bleed the hydraulics with the wheels spinning so that you have an easier time topping up the fluid reservoir as the system purges air. If you dont purge the valve the pump will likely run dry as it will empty quickly if there is a large amount of air to displace. Generally these sorts of things are explained in the full maunal for your mower, or the technical mower provided by the manufacturer of your transaxle(s)
You are suggesting to drain the hydro trans oil, while actually running the hydro pumps ? Isnt that dangerous because it could cause the pumps to overheat ?
@@davehimlin2374 you should just stick to what the manual tells you
Is this the same for a 2018 toro z master 3000 series?
Yes
I have a Toro Z Master and this video helped me a lot.. Thanks so much!
Husvsrna raider 4x4 r16 94cm necesito cambiar hidráulico tiene 2bombas una adelante y otra atrás en español lo siento no entiendo ingles
When I get to 75 hours. I'll let the dealer do this for me. I can handle the motor oil but this looks like work and I dont want to make a mistake.
You have to start doing this kind of maintenance yourself, it is so easy to do and more convenient and saves a lot of money. It is EASY!
Are the wheel pumps Hydro-Gear or Parker on your zero turn?
Never use synthetic oil in your hydro system.
@@jonnu7772000 can I ask you why, not synthetic oil, thanks
@@jonnu7772000 You say that but that is what was recommended by Toro, which also makes Exmark and a lot of other brands.
@@jonnu7772000 thats what is recommended by just about everyone manufacturers technicians dealerships and here you say no synthetics trust me they need synthetics conventional oils have poor basestocks and have lower zinc and phosphorus levels these pumps need minimum 1300ppm of each ZDDP
My Exmark Radius has Hydro-Gear transaxles so I bet his Lazer has the same.
The Exmark oil is alot better Mobil will do the job but not really saving anything, why did you weld on that thing for the hitch the 3 bolt holes under it are for Exmark trailer hitch way stronger its through the heavy frame metal not the light engine guard
That's unbelievable, it looks like he's in my garage.
Do you know what causes the hydrolic fluid to become white an waxy in the reservoir?
Sounds like you got some water mixed in with the fluid possibly from condensation?.
My older snapper says it’s sealed do not open but it’s out of fluid and barely moves.
See if you can locate the transaxle's tag and serial number or the exact model number and then look up maintenance recommendations based on that part rather than what snapper says. Snapper may say to leave it alone while the technical manual of the transaxle itself will tell you what to do.
Lifting the seat gives better access to reservoirs
I agree...but this seat bolts down and it's too much work to remove to just change the fluid
what happens if it runs dry? will this prevent the mower from starting?
The hydro pumps will run dry and the mower won't move. The hydro pumps will probably burn out. Don't let the hydro system run dry, just like your motor oil.
I'm not a fan of any mower branded oil or any vehicle branded oil for that matter. They either sell the name for the highest bid or contract it out to the lowest. And the drain intervals are too long, they want the components to fail, shorten the intervals by at least half.
Most non commercial Zero turn on the market are meant to be maintenance free. Meaning you should not need to do this unless you have reached over 1200 hours. So unless your operators manual recommends changing the oil sooner then just do not fix what is not broke. 1200 hours is a lot. check the fluid and as needed but unless you get water in it or something stupid leave it be on most zero turns. Per their own instructions.
Most, if not all Exmark's suggest a break-in hydro change at 75 hours. Then again every 500 hours like was stated in the video.
So what exactly was the amount of fluid took every side,1 and 3 quarters of a quart or 2 quarts even???
Do they need to be bled
no bleeding just do as I showed in the video to move fluid through the pumps and lines
@@helpinguonline OK thank-you so much
My big dog zero turn Manuel says after first 100 hrs., then again after 200 more hrs.
MY BIG DOG DIABLO BOOKS ARE "F-d" one says after first 750 "not kidding another book says 50 AND MY 2021 ? MY FRAME SAYS 2018 _ AGAIN NOT KIDDING ---- DOES NOT HAVE AN OIL TANK RESERVIOR EXCEPT SMALL ONES ONES ON TOP OF EACH WHEEL ---- anyone know anything about these ?? there is a drain hole on each motor & of course how long to run befor changing with this set up ----o yea NO FILTER . GRRRRRRR
The owner of the small store where I bought my zero turn said he wouldn't recommend changing hydraulic oil for at least 1,000 hrs.
the manual on my toro z master says first 75 hours
Yes that's correct and never use synthetic oil in your hydro system.
I would go by what the manual says. Mine says 75 hours for break in.
How are you bleedind the air out with the caps closed? Thats why you run it back and forth and re check level.. But it has to be open for air to escape...
Air pressure builds up in the reservoir. When you check it, air pressure escapes
might let your viewers know not to drain the oil all over the belt - looked awfully close from the camera angle. Those are not fun to degrease
Thanks for the info. Boomer Sooner!
Aren't you totally forgetting to purge the system taking the drives out of drive by pulling the neutral or purge levers so that your first start be off the ground no resistance and no wheel turn whatsoever 5-6 times fwd and reversed. Then engage them and repeat the 5-6 times while they are moving but elevated and repeat till your final turning wheels round sounds and feels smooth and not whiney I mean that's what the purge is for! Almost seems if you're going straight to engaged wheel spin after a change that would or could scorch this plate you keep talking about but the whole point is to burp the air with the purge levers open allowing the air to escape and if your not doing that you're pushing air down stream to further risk of issues
And you should always run your hydros at near if not full throttle bc that's what will screw your "hydro" gears bc they run on pressure
Get rid of that crap fuel filter ..it shpuld be a comercial filter on the fuel ⛽ filter..thats a box store mtd filter
Mobile one doesn't have zinc in it !! So you hydro life is now cut in half 🤔
Yeah it does it has around 1300ppm all engine oils have zinc and phosphorus these day's they are lower around 700 to 800ppm on the average small engine oils have around 1200 to 1300ppm Mobil 1 15w50 is higher than 5w30 or 10w30 because its a performance oil
No 2000 or 2400 dollar repair, just buy a new one.
Amsoil
So helpful. Thanks!😊