John Deere 300 or 400 series Hydrostatic Transmission Teardown and Inspection what Common Problems

In this video I go thru the hydrostatic transmission for my 430 Deere Garden Tractor. Since I have had it it has been plagued with erratic ground speed issues that have continued to get worse. In this video I tear down a newer style hydrostat that has an improved linkage control over my old one and make sure it is in useable condition. Follow along for the commentary on what to look for and how I do it. Thanks for watching!

[@WatchWesWork]

Yep, I cut the grass when I can't see the dog anymore... My dad claims John Deere had a lapping procedure to rebuild those Sunstrand units at the dealership.

[@kenkee2011]

Love the manual impact wrench. Gets the job done faster some days. 😁

[@mg30ebay]

We've got a 1978 Kohler 316 at our family cabin. This summer was the first time any repair was required - a starter rebuild. Five generations have had rides in the cart. The dashboard hydrostatic control is great for kids to learn how to drive.

[@dale436]

On both my 318's I drilled and tapped a second hole in the shaft arm perpendicular to the original and put a set screw in it to put pressure on the roll pin. It's worked for years and solved the ground speed problem. That hex shaft looks like a better setup. I didn't know Deere had an updated shaft design, so I learned something today. Cheers

[@bcbloc02]

All of the fits are bad on mine so that probably would have only been stop gap. Even where the arm goes on the shaft has clearance in the diameters. The clamped square shaft is a lot better deal.

[@Panhead49EL]

John Deere got the gold mine, you got the shaft.

[@AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

Well that got me all pumped up. Soon back to the mowing. Thanks for the video Brian.

[@patrickshaw7983]

Good to see the precision hammer in use, those bolts were mighty tight. Plenty loctite.

[@steveschumacher5470]

maybe have Abom spray weld it for you if he ever gets done with vacation. : )

[@richardlincoln8438]

i appreciate Jeff Anderson bringing Your content to my attention, thanks for the time You spend sharing it with us.

[@bcbloc02]

Jeff is a great guy.

[@TrPrecisionMachining]

good video brian

[@craigtate5930]

Glad to see another garden tractor guy. I have a JD 400. But I love my 200 series machines the most

[@rolliekelly6783]

Sorry Brian, Mowing doesn't stop when you turn 70. I'm 75 and waiting on parts to rebuild the gearbox on my Kubota Pro deck.

[@bcbloc02]

Well drat!

[@Fatamus]

@@bcbloc02 😂

[@nferraro222]

Next project: upgrade the Deere with salvaged drone controllers, cameras and a couple of motors and relays. You can mow from your barcalounger:)

[@Fatamus]

@@nferraro222 AND you can ... if you like .... leave out the "calounger" if you add Bluetooth and just do it from your local Bar.

[@douglasbollinger8678]

I'm mowing with an early '90s JD 445 so all this is really interesting!

[@KG-yn9qi]

No job inspection for mowing the yard! Bailey knows what is really important! Good shop boss !

[@marshelsmith9311]

As a CP John Deere in late 70’s and 80’s I’ve repaired several of those Sunstrand hydro’s. They were used by Deere and several other OEMs. Overall a reliable unit. That shaft was the weak point. If the input drive shaft couplings were worn causing out of balance or if you had a optional auxiliary rear PTO running a tiller you could have failures. Back in the day I bought my parts from Berenden Fluid Power for half the price that Deere charged. One repair was on a 317 that as we drove it off the metal shipping crate it quit pulling. Factory dropped an extra pump drive pin in case and it tore it all to hell.

[@CathyInBlue]

That wear spot on the shaft looks like a prime candidate for an ABOM79 spray-welding special.

[@nashguy207]

Nice job brian. thats one thing I do not work on on my commercial mowers is the hydros I don't trust myself. lol

[@Fatamus]

Great info even if I don't have any more John Deeres... Sold my old JD disker to a guy in Fairbanks that needed one real bad. He was happy to give me $2K his next option, he said, was $14K.

[@bearsrodshop7067]

Have several JD mowers, but the 98 "Zero Steer" is the best mower I have ever owned, but gas 🤐. About to winterize, glad they are going to get a rest 😜

[@lewiemcneely9143]

Don't force it, get a wooden handled impact wrench which I'm fond of. If it's serious I too can get serious. Those are fine little tractors. They had one to clean up around the concrete plant with an angle blade and a rear mower. SWEET! Thanks and rub the Pal for me! GBWYall! And I usually use a film of Permatex #2!

[@TheAyrCaveShop]

Bummer that input shaft is damaged...Enjoyed

[@the_hate_inside1085]

Video is looking unusually crisp, I´m thinking you have upgraded the hardware.

[@jimsvideos7201]

Nothing wrong with German torque, just as long as they didn't go all the way to Russian torque.

[@donmadere4237]

Hope you find a shaft and it works out for you!

[@bcbloc02]

As long as it doesn't leak too much I will probably just keep running it. Maybe it will last another 20-30 years.

[@kooldoozer]

Nut'in like a little surface plate work :) --Doozer

[@adypeace6180]

Have to start the gym Brian 👍💪

[@mog5858]

keep up the good work.

[@kimber1958]

Nice work Brian I can’t get the image of you cutting grass at 30 miles an hour out of my mind. I know 30 miles an hour doesn’t sound very fast but it is if you’re cutting grass

[@gibbsey9579]

If you're cuttin' the neighbours "grass", 30 mph may be a bit slow.

[@alasdairhamilton1574]

Spray weld the shaft and turn it down to size, nothing you haven’t done before 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@WilliamTMusil]

Hiya Brian

[@Leon-Servant-of-Christ]

I can't believe you didn't check the pump & motor pistons, especially since you had it all apart!

[@bcbloc02]

If the pistons start getting worn or coming apart it will score up the plates. When the plates look like new the pistons will be good.

[@nferraro222]

Can't remember, but didn't Wes mention something about the dump-valve spools being stuck in the "down" position? I think those two large nuts at the top?

[@bcbloc02]

Yes on his it had a relief stuck. A small screw driver can pry them back up.

[@elroyelblander6277]

👍👍👍 right on

[@melshea2276]

👍

[@SpiritWarriorOne]

Do you have a Teradine spray welding kit Brian ? thats a good part for a shaft buildup and turning video or send it to Adam or Keith.

[@bcbloc02]

I do not have any spray weld stuff but having Adam or Steve weld it up could be on option. I will probably not mess with it unless it starts leaking though.

[@dans_Learning_Curve]

Next video: *Fitting a Cummins Diesel to lawnmower!*

[@prototype3a]

I sort of want an older JD lawn tractor but I don't know what model I should look for. My mom has a 277 with the Kawasaki engine that has been pretty good but I'd like to have something bigger and more powerful.

[@bcbloc02]

The 445 was the big gas lawnmower in that era and the 455 was the diesel. Now that they are older they are starting to show more electrical issues but are pretty reliable units otherwise,

[@audimaster5000]

Are those made by Sunstrand? It looks similar to what’s on my 70’s John Deere 140.

[@Gareth96v1]

My JD 2305 HST has an issue that maybe you have some insight on.. JD and the local shop are no help whatsoever.. I feel my HST is getting way too hot, up over 220F at times using the belly mower. It has about 700hrs on it and I've been pretty strict to the maintenance schedule. I've hit something twice in tall grass that stopped the tractor (belly mower doesn't have much slip I guess) with some resulting fair amount of grit on the fluid filter when I did the change. I've since started only mowing till the temp around the fluid level window reaches 180 (about 30-45 mins), then I stop till it cools. This is with outside temp in the upper 70's. Speed of the tractor seems a little slower than new, but not significantly. Any ideas? Maybe a restriction, worn parts, something warped?

[@bcbloc02]

Trans temps of 250f would not be uncommon. Was it clutch material, aluminum, fiber, dirt? The pto clutch will make some material. Turn it on at slightly above idle then rev engine to use. Also avoid cycling it on and off as much as possible will make it last the longest

[@Gareth96v1]

@@bcbloc02 it was held on the filter by the magnet so not aluminum, maybe clutch material? From what I read on the innernets was that over 200F the oil breaks down a lot quicker and accelerates issues. With mine getting up to 225F it seemed way too hot for the size HST on the 2305. Maybe I just need to let my fears go ;)

[@loutoolguy2644]

I didn’t catch what the name of the sealant you applied with your finger, thanks in advance.

[@bcbloc02]

Loctite 515 gasket maker

[@pontoonrob7948]

No wag of approval? Hope Bailey is well

[@kurthellenberg]

I have one that blew the low pressure retun line coming from the power steering. After replacing the line and toping off the fluid, the power steering and the transmission are motionless. Can it get airlock?

[@bcbloc02]

@@kurthellenberg I have not ever experienced an air lock but maybe? The pump is right where the driveshaft comes in from the engine. You might try taking one of the fittings out there and pouring some oil straight into the pump. If your unit sat a long time and the pump is fairly worn maybe it lost prime. You will need the fender deck off to attempt it.

[@kurthellenberg]

@bcbloc02 Thanks man, I have two of these, one original of 198T Dig-it and the current one off the 420 JD. I'm no technician, so off yo the shop they go. Thanks again for the reply!

[@highpwr]

It's never the part you _hope_ has the wear in it. And usually it's *both* parts that end up worn. Isn't that a law or something? 😏

[@bcbloc02]

Yep never fails!!

[@rockandthistle7754]

you could just use the 6030 to trim the yard.

[@stoneyswolf]

I would of welded the arm to the shaft and called it a day.

[@SuperBowser87]

Did she pull when you got it back on the mower? How does a person go about getting one of those hats? Do they sell them at your work? I need a new Sunday go to meeting hat.

[@bcbloc02]

Stay tuned to find out. :-) Yes we have hats.

[@ozz5350]

👍👏👏👏

[@michaelmiles9680]

Perfect choice, when all else fails - get a bigger hammer. LOL

[@bcbloc02]

I usually just skip the little hammer. :-)

[@Fatamus]

@@bcbloc02 😂

[@rickbrandt9559]

Abom spray weld shaft

[@jimbehning118]

I thought your neighbor Steve Summers also got a spray weld kit. For me a neighbor can be 5 miles away or 40 miles away. I was thinking like Rick that Adam or Steve can help you out.

[@dougbain3036]

When the meat hammer don't work get the big hammer

[@jackgreen412]

Do you still have that "hi-tech" Audi hangjng around? Just curious, cause I sure Don't need something else to work on.

[@bcbloc02]

Yes would you like to purchase? You can drive it home, just has a small miss. :-)

[@jackgreen412]

@@bcbloc02 would you follow me home with your fork lift? Not that far from you; Upper East Tennessee. Guess I'll pass on that cause I don't have a boat anymore. (;-)

[@1995jug]

Brian when you get to 70 all that beating on thing with your hands will show up ask me how i know.

[@markc5593]

Bought my first car with lawn mowing money.

[@427med]

AND WHATS WRONG WITH BEING IN YOUR 70,S IT MOVES YOU UP IN LINE CLOSER TO THE PEARLY GATES I HOPE

[@guypatts494]

Have a job how do I get a hold of u

[@bcbloc02]

email me, it is under the about section if you use a computer or its bcbloc02 at yahoo