Troy bilt Zero turn hydrostat fluid?

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Hi guys,

Just picked up a nice little used TroyBilt Mustang Z50 mower for cheap. Never owned a Zero turn yet but am a long time small engine guru, I know the wheel pump motors on these things are pricey and want to include servicing of them in my refurb of this little mower. What fluid have you guys used in these? Are they serviceable? Mine has large (3/4"?) hoses that are capped coming out of the top of each, I'm assuming this is a fill/vent?

Do these use regular hydraulic fluid? oil? I'm not finding anything in the manual.
 
Originally Posted by tundraotto
Manual says "use a quality 20W50 motor oil" on page 19


Apparently my manual is missing that page! lol or I'm just blind.... I'll go back and look. Thanks!!!
 
Just found on page 23 of my manual- " Hydrostatic pumps, motors and gears are sealed and do not require maintenance"

No mention of fluids or servicing.
 
I think you will have to do a lot of internet searching to find a work around for the confirmed "non-serviceable" units. Your mower is probably built by MTD and has Hydrogear units, so use that info also during your search.

The Troybilt FAQ page covers the sealed unit info and refers to the hydro gear links. HydroGear FAQ suggests looking at the individual pump/gear manuals: https://www.hydro-gear.com/faq/

I found this old thread addressing the question, maybe?: https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/2881668/hydrogear-oil-change ...member JTK knows a lot about MTD zeroturns.

This YouTube video covers what I suspect, removal of the units in order to service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9ZFpGIj6yw

A link with "maybe" a parts diagram: https://www.reddit.com/r/fixit/comments/25e2xb/50in_troybilt_mustang_zeroturn_transmission/
 
Originally Posted by doitmyself
I think you will have to do a lot of internet searching to find a work around for the confirmed "non-serviceable" units. Your mower is probably built by MTD and has Hydrogear units, so use that info also during your search.

The Troybilt FAQ page covers the sealed unit info and refers to the hydro gear links. HydroGear FAQ suggests looking at the individual pump/gear manuals: https://www.hydro-gear.com/faq/

I found this old thread addressing the question, maybe?: https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/2881668/hydrogear-oil-change ...member JTK knows a lot about MTD zeroturns.

This YouTube video covers what I suspect, removal of the units in order to service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9ZFpGIj6yw

A link with "maybe" a parts diagram: https://www.reddit.com/r/fixit/comments/25e2xb/50in_troybilt_mustang_zeroturn_transmission/




Yes sir, it is an MTD unit and does use the Hydrogear wheel motors. Thanks for the links!!!
 
There are many people who have wrote about successfully servicing a non serviceable unit. More steps involved. I would advice to go full synthetic if you go that route. 15w50 is an acceptable use by Hydro Gear. A lot have used Mobil 1 15w50 or whatever 15w50 they could find.
 
Hydrogear transmissions factory fill is Castrol GTX 20W-50

All the ones I know of having changed the fluid have had great success with Mobil 1 15W-50 also as NH73 mentioned
 
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