Changing the hydro oil on your John Deere Commercial Ztrak. Warning signs to look for.

[@Mechanical_Mind]

To find tools, shop equipment, mower parts and more, you can find them at my store. Click this link: www.amazon.com/shop/mechanicalmind I'll get a commission on the sale at no extra cost to you. It's a great way to help the channel and get the items you need.

[@BigDog-xj8ol]

Really good at explaining in terms most people can understand!!

[@sheltermutts4185]

Bravo! I have to tackle this now. Just ordered to fluid and filters. A long way from anywhere in rural Montana and can’t be without my mower in the spring. My left side transmission is always covered in dirt so I suspect there is a leak somewhere maybe I can find at the same time. Grateful for your video which gives me the confidence to approach this.

[@radrock6249]

Very good video. I have a Z 737 with 350 hours and the left side is making the cavitation sound after using it for about 30-45 minutes. Got my 15w-40 oil and filter to change it today.

[@RTTN1-JTMN]

Great video. You saved me alot of time and research.

[@comeonscott]

Great video!! Don’t forget blow debris off fluid reservoir with air before fill up fluid

[@PTCeton]

Great straight forward video, Thanks

[@darwindropmazda]

Really good tutorial 👌🏾

[@josetapaia3945]

Another good video! Thank you for sharing it! I am learning a ton from your explanations.

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Thanks Mazeta! I'll have more coming soon. Im still getting used to making these videos. Thank you for watching, commenting and subscribing! 🍻

[@timkiserwoodworking]

Thanks just what I needed to see!

[@waynechurchill3768]

thanks big time for a great in structural video

[@3sons66]

***SUBSCRIBED*** Another great video!!

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Thanks for subscribing!🍻

[@shanepipkin4041]

keep content coming tuff torq had plastic plugs prior to 2016 they was problematic and cracked leaked I pulled oth hydros out on my 930 put the updated metal plug in. I chewed john deere out over a commercial grade mower with 400 hours on it

[@Marco1973est]

Where did you get metal plugs ? Are they needed or recommended on a 920M?

[@shanepipkin4041]

@@Marco1973est john deere or who makes the hydro

[@M70ACARRY]

​@@shanepipkin4041TUFF TORQ

[@greghoffman5948]

Great Video !

[@stevegossett3773]

Excellent, thank you

[@p51mustang31]

Great video! I have a JD Z930R zero turn mower and in addition to these transmission filters, it also has a black filter mounted sideways near the mower deck. It appears to be some other kind of hydraulic fluid filter. Do you know what this is and should I also change it when I am changing the fluid and filters for the transmission?

[@Lalo-Vazquez777]

Hola, una pregunta, el tractorcito john Deere x355R recidencial también se le cambia el aceite de transmisión y el filtro? Muchas gracias. Ya me inscribí también

[@jerry4012]

Love the content man. One question, how does the tuff torq compare to the hydro gear? Specifically the tzt7 and tz450 compared to the zt2800 and zt3100?

[@Marco1973est]

Everyone already stated , but awesome tutorial. Thank you !

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Thanks for watching

[@dansingleton440]

excellent video

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Thanks for watching!

[@shanepipkin4041]

I put schaeffers 20 50 in mine it's been great but I keep a eye on my oils

[@FishFind3000]

I just put in schaeffers 315 simplex THF

[@jerrymullins4962]

Thanks great video

[@marshlandoutdoors2592]

Have you noticed a problem with the right side transmission losing power? My z950m is not problematic as long as i keep the oil and filters changed but i wonder if it just that the user favores using the right side more while mowing and turning around for the next pass

[@Mechanical_Mind]

I've never seen one side give more problems than the other side. I would expect the one side used more will wear out faster.

[@tribeverage7268]

Great Video....Thanks a ton! Cheers

[@rrud59]

Hey man thanks I appreciate it

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Glad I could help

[@Hyngyynj]

How do you reckon the grass got in there? Pretty weird

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Im guessing they either left the fill cap off or maybe the some got in through the axle shaft seal. Stuff will get wrapped around those seal and ruin them. I see so many weird thing with customers mowers. Commerical guys often slide off into ponds and complelty flood their mowers. Then they bring them in and dont tell us that info. They just say "its not starting" 🙄

[@franwebb7756]

Good info 👍👍

[@christianvasquez8228]

Cada cuantas horas le debo cambiar el ldraulico a mi zero turn 960m mower

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Every 600 hours

[@inspiron21001]

Make that buzzing sound for me again. 😂😂😂

[@dhos83]

Thanks!

[@squeaky61]

Have you ever seen a leak from filter cap/oring? I am still trying to pinpoint my leak. Any tips if it was seeping from the filter cap?

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Hey Squeaky, yes that is a common area. Often times people don’t remove the old o-ring and they end up double stacking the o-rings. Or they over tighten the filter cap. I just now saw your question asking were I’m located. I’m in central Florida. Olrando area

[@squeaky61]

@@Mechanical_Mind OK. Thank You. Maybe I over tightened it. Sorry to keep bugging you! Thank You so much for your help! I'm in MN. Once I get this back together and if it still leaks, I'm reaching out and sending it to you!

[@floridaprosoftwashllc.3416]

Hi , Thank you for that awesome video. Question when changing the Hydro on the Jonh Deere you don’t have to take the air out of the hydros?

[@Mechanical_Mind]

No, they prime up in a few seconds after cranking up the engine

[@johnpolishak]

Question, My 2017 Z930m and I can’t get it to steer straight. It veers to left . That screw at bottom left of seat does nothing. Any recommendations? When cutting full speed on low lawns, I’m always depending one lever some ti keep going straight . The adjustment screw does not do the fix of correcting the steer.

[@Mechanical_Mind]

The bolt on the left is just to help get the hydros in synchronization. There is another adjust ment screw on each hydro lever. You will need to remove the tire/ wheel to access it. It takes a allen wench to adjust it. If one of the hydros ia getting weaker as it gets hot Id recommend changing the oil and filters asap.

[@johnpolishak]

@@Mechanical_Mind Thank you , machine only has 225 hours on it. The veer left happens cold or hot. I bought it used with 167 this April . Guy only used 35 hrs / yr. I will change the oil and filter before 1st 2023 use, but I know that that is not it. I think it just needs a slight adjustment to make mower go straight and not veer left when both levers are push all the way. Your video on changing the transmission oil is excellent. Very detailed. You make great videos.

[@johnpolishak]

Question is why do Z900R’s go 12mph and Z900M ‘s only do 10mph?Both have the same hydro gears so why do Z900R’s do 12mph and Z900M’s do only 10mph?

[@Mechanical_Mind]

@@johnpolishakI made this video a few weeks ago kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIubYoBvacSFi5o but there is that additional adjustment on each hydro you can try to adjust also. I often see machines come in that have water mixed in the oil and that can cause one side to slip more than the other side.

[@Mechanical_Mind]

@@johnpolishakI have no idea ... I know the 997 diesels will walk away from the gas Z900s. Maybe the Rs have a more powerful engine... I think the R models have a better warrnty also. 1500 hrs for the Rs vs 1200 hrs for the other models

[@sgrasmick82]

Great video! Are the outside seals serviceable to replace?

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Hi Scott, yes sir, all the seals can be replaced. The axle shaft seals are now much harder to replace. The hub and axle shafts used to be two pieces. About a year or so they made the hub and axle shaft one piece. So now on later models to replace that axle shaft seal you will have to completely remove the hydro and split it apart (upside down so parts to fall out everywhere) and the axle shaft removed to install a new seal. The most common reason they start leaking is from string/ rope/ twine/ wire get wrapped up around the axle and start getting into the seal.

[@sgrasmick82]

@@Mechanical_Mind awesome thank you. This is a 935m that I’m going to look at tomorrow. Friend of mine clued me in that one of the pumps has a slow leak. So at the cost of $2500 for that whole assembly, it’s nice to know that they can be re sealed

[@Mechanical_Mind]

@@sgrasmick82 the most common leak is from the top shaft seal under the drive belt sheave/pulley. There is also a rubber plug that cracks from dry rotting. Its also on the top of the hydro and under that drive belt sheave. Change them both while you have the hydro out. That top seal also leaks from string and stuff getting wrapped up underneath that drive belt sheave. In this video I show how to remove the hydro. Its easy. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIC9mJWmlLRsmtE

[@sgrasmick82]

@@Mechanical_Mind thank you so much! Do you have a place or source for parts breakdown on those pumps so I can order the seal kit or individual seals if not sold in a kit?

[@Mechanical_Mind]

@@sgrasmick82 you can use deere.com. Top right corner select 'Parts & Service' then click 'Parts' then select 'Commercial Mowing'. No matter what John Deere unit your want to see parts for, select 'commercial mowing'. Then enter your model # or mower's PIN# (product Identification number) just like a car's VIN#. Then you will be able to see every part in detail with prices etc. Here is a video I made showing how kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3vKipaOf82ErK8. I actually use deere.com on my phone at work over our computers. It will have the latest and updated parts info before the dealers system will.

[@jmm2002]

Recently got everything I needed to change the hydro oil in my Z925a EFI. Got him and started the change to realize the dealer didn’t give me enough. Is there anything comparable to hy-gard? I live about 45 minutes from the nearest dealer.

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Hi Jeffery. You can use Rotella T 5w-30 or 10w-30 full synthetic motor oil.

[@jmm2002]

@@Mechanical_Mind thanks!

[@OFF-GridAdventures1988]

Just picked 2004 757. Changing all fluid. Dealer gave me 15w40 for hydros. Sounded a little off to me. But don’t know much about these yet. Any help would be appreciated

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Some models do use 15w-40 engine oil for the hydros. There should be a label on the mower that gives the oil type and capacities.

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Also you look up parts, oil types, capacities, maintenance intervals on deere.com. Here is a video I did showing how to use deere.com to find all that info. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3vKipaOf82ErK8

[@OFF-GridAdventures1988]

I’ve looked for any tags with the info but did not see any. Some are worn down and not legible

[@M70ACARRY]

Can those filters be reused? I only have experience with Hydr-Gear.

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Yes they can be reused. I would only do that if they are clean and have low hours on them

[@my95buick]

So what happens to the oil in the reservoir?

[@Mechanical_Mind]

As the oil is drained out of the transmission the oil in the reservoir drains down into and out through the transmission being drained. If you only drain one transmission the reservoir tank will also drain out fully but the other transmisson and it's hose/tube to the reservoir tank will be full of oil.

[@shanepipkin4041]

was he off-roading that in creeks

[@Mechanical_Mind]

It wouldn't surprise me 🤣

[@mikeschlup5279]

So they use hygard 30 weight?

[@Mechanical_Mind]

I'm not sure what weight oil the JD HY- Gard oil is. I know other commercial JD mowers like the standers use 15w-40 motor oil for thier hydro systems. As far as the Ztracks I'd only recommend using the HY-Gard oil recommend.

[@Bass.Player]

The cap must have been left off at one time..

[@derrickmoses1507]

What if you cant remove the friggin plastic cap?

[@Mechanical_Mind]

Break the cap and replace it. Obviously get a new cap before breaking the old one and draining the oil

[@derrickmoses1507]

@@Mechanical_Mind I mean without breaking it.

[@VCURAMS]

Would love to see all these videos for a z997r. Content for this mower is practically non existent

[@Mechanical_Mind]

We get about 1 or 2 997s in per 100 commercial Ztrak mowers. I will try to get one next time one comes in

[@randybeard6040]

It is Obvious that this Mower has been Left under a Roof Runoff or Run Underwater, only place for water to get in is from Vented Fill Cap or Leaking Axle Seals...

[@scottelder3141]

Those stupid hydro filters are like $40 a piece

[@jamesbrannon9594]

Please clean off the filler neck.

[@jackbrown7895]

Great video!!! Thank you….