Anyone have a Husky zero turn mower?

[Stanley Steamer]

I have a Z4217 that I bought in 2005......it's always been dependable, but the last time I mowed the grass, the right wheel lost most of it's power....it looks like the wheel motor/pumps are a closed unit compared to the Dixie Chopper commercial mowers we use at work.....the newer Husky's have a little clear reservoir on them now......there is a black, mushroom shaped cap that goes over the left vent hose.....but the right one either didn't come with it, or it vibrated off somewhere?......

I was hoping that maybe it just needed some fluid added to it....a local mower shop called and found out that it takes 20W/50 motor oil and that it takes around 70 oz's to fill it up.....the owners manual doesn't have ANYTHING about adding fluid to or servicing the wheel motors.....only that if you lose motion, that the belt has broken....it's fine....the left wheel still operates like it should.....

I hope that it's just a part worn out inside the wheel pump/motor....the whole assembly shows it costing around $500.....OUCH!!!!!!!!.......OUCHHHHH......

I guess I'm going to call a few mower shops tomorrow and see if they can repair rather than replace.....I was just hoping someone here may have some advice if it's happened to them before..... cooldude

[X Ring]

How much grass do you have to cut?

Marty

[Stanley Steamer]

How much grass do you have to cut?

Marty

I only have about a half acre....and I mow the Inlaws grass....they have around an acre.....too much to push mow anymore!!

[Robert]

I kinda like mechanical things and these type of drives have always interested me so I took some time and looked up a few things. first they have been having problems with these drives and they have been superseded. Now I dont know if you have a old unit or new but from what I can tell its a 330 0510 made by Hydro gear I have below the parts manual and site that has the parts for it and has a parts break down. There is a model number on the unit so take a look and go to the site. They do take 20w/50 oil and have had problems with leaks in off season so I would check the level. Its kinda like a automatic transmission no oil no go. There is a fill/level plug somewhere on the side if you look at the parts diagram it may tell you. I know these are run by one common belt but I would check to see that the unit turns freely and that the belt is somehow not slipping. The levers do need to be adjusted because they do either get bent or I dont know what but you need to make sure that there is full travel in the arm that is attached to the transmission that goes to the the steering arm. These units are repairable by a good shop so if you dont feel comfortable in digging around then maybe you can find one. I also found out that there are quite a few on craigs list because of drive problems maybe one with a good drive is available for parts at a good price. Well without actually having the thing here that's about the best I can do so good luck.

http://www.m-and-d.com/pdfs/hydrogear/311-2200L_105-3491.pdf
http://www.m-and-d.com/Hydro-Gear_parts.html
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/lawn-garden/56724-cub-z-force-experience-2.html
http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=136776

[Stanley Steamer]

I kinda like mechanical things and these type of drives have always interested me so I took some time and looked up a few things. first they have been having problems with these drives and they have been superseded. Now I dont know if you have a old unit or new but from what I can tell its a 330 0510 made by Hydro gear I have below the parts manual and site that has the parts for it and has a parts break down. There is a model number on the unit so take a look and go to the site. They do take 20w/50 oil and have had problems with leaks in off season so I would check the level. Its kinda like a automatic transmission no oil no go. There is a fill/level plug somewhere on the side if you look at the parts diagram it may tell you. I know these are run by one common belt but I would check to see that the unit turns freely and that the belt is somehow not slipping. The levers do need to be adjusted because they do either get bent or I dont know what but you need to make sure that there is full travel in the arm that is attached to the transmission that goes to the the steering arm. These units are repairable by a good shop so if you dont feel comfortable in digging around then maybe you can find one. I also found out that there are quite a few on craigs list because of drive problems maybe one with a good drive is available for parts at a good price. Well without actually having the thing here that's about the best I can do so good luck.

http://www.m-and-d.com/pdfs/hydrogear/311-2200L_105-3491.pdf
http://www.m-and-d.com/Hydro-Gear_parts.html
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/lawn-garden/56724-cub-z-force-experience-2.html
http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=136776

Thanks Robert......I also found out some of this info after I posted this....I tried to add some fluid through the vent tube, but I guess I didn't have enough pressure to force it into the unit reservoir...I think I'm going to have to take it off the mower and look for that fill plug to do it right......unless I can find a local mower place to trust to fix it right.......I suspect that over the last 5 yrs, it's just been purging a little fluid at a time as it got hot until the level is too low to run properly now.....Thanks for the help....I'll check those links out....