a pearless or a spicer hydro?? reason being is i just burnt the pearless up today and swaped it out with the spicer..

thanks guys..

You are asking which is better, a long rope or a short rope, it depends on the application and the trans you are working with, both have great products for their designated applications, post some model numbers and applications and someone will have an answer. Have a good one. Geo

Why are some hydrostats so slow in reverse ? Seems like the older ones have faster speed in reverse

It's in the linkages, most manufacturers limit the reverse speed by limiting the travel of the linkage that reverses the flow of fluid from the pump through the motor. Without the travel limitation a hydro tranny will go as fast in reverse as it does forward.

I thought the same thing until I tried some experiments.

I have simply removed the entire shift guide plate on several hydrostatic tractors. No doubt you can get them to go a little faster by removing the restrictions but they still go faster forward than reverse.

Now on the other hand I have a Snapper that goes backwards as fast as it goes forward and the neutral gate isn't a hassle like on all the newer tractors.

I like reengineering stuff and would like to know if there are any other sites like this that are more into engineering than stock repairs

You did not remove all the restriction. The pump simply reverses the flow of oil to the motor, the displacement capacity of the motor is constant in either direction. The trick is to get the pump to displace the same amount of fluid in the opposite direction to increase the top speed in reverse. To do this, you must cause the the pistons to fully compress when you reverse the flow.

On most tractor hydro transaxles travel is limited within the assembly beyond the external stops. This is not the case on dual motor / pump drives.

Why would anyone want to have such a high speed in reverse?

I would dearly like to learn how to adjust those internal restrictions.

Why?

Because to make any money mowing grass you have to move quickly and be able to change directions quickly. This is the sole reason the Zero Turn concept was invented.

Another fantasy I am working on is hyrdo drive deck that could discharge from the left or right side of the deck. Blades would be sharp on both sides with a rise in the middle for lift.

Man always has to have a dream

The grass is going to discharge where ever the hole is, left, right, front, back, top, bottom, no need to sharpen both sides of the blade. Have a good one. Geo

Your point is accurate but with a loss of cutting efficiency.

Have you ever cut with a craftsman walk behind with a rear discharge shoot?

Takes tons more power and plugs the moment you get in anything even close to wet or tall grass.

Cleanest cut is always obtained by discharging as soon as possible after cutting.

Thats why the early lawnboys cut so well.