What Hydro Fluid?
 

I'm working on maintaining my two hydrostatic Cub Cadets, 1450 and 149. It's time to change the hydrostatic fluid, and I was wondering what type of fluid you guys used. Do you use the IH Hy-Tran or some equivalent. Also, when you change the filter and fluid, do you have to pop off the rear differential cover or not? When I got my first 1450 it didn't need anything but a topping up, and I didn't use it a lot because I was working on it and didn't know it's usefulness. Now it's time, so I need to figure it out.

Hytran Ultra, its the only stuff that absorbs water and keeps it from damaging the tranny. Yes, pull the cover , get a new gasket...It will enable you to clean all the gunk that might be in there .

Ditto what truckntran said :ThumbsUp:

Thanks guys, that was everything I needed to know. Hopefully, I can get the parts I need this next week.
Thanks

Why is it when you have a Sunstrand in a Cub you must use International Trans and when you have the same trans unit in a JD you must use JD oil? I think if you look closely all the dealers get there oil from the same place. Check the MSDS for the product and it will give you the supplier.

Hytran has moisture absorption properties that the other fluids do not. I have had several rearends that I drained WATER out of because they sat outside, yet because there was Hytran clinging to all of the parts inside, there was no rust at all. I have not seen any other fluid do that.

Are these two fluids the same thing in the picture above?

They are the same. The gallon jug on the left is from an IH and is about $16 a gallon and the quart on the right is from a Cub dealer. I think it takes 1 and 3/4 gallons to fill a hydro.

Also, if you have multiple tractors, the cheapest thing to do is go to a Case-IH (or Case heavy equipment) dealer and get a 5-gallon pail. The more you buy, the cheaper it gets.

CHolmes, I've actually had a couple JD dealers tell me the same thing about their version of Hytran for our older hydros. I haven't used the JD brand but a few times and although I haven't noticed a difference after fluid changes I haven't used it enough to say if it's as good. As long as it's convenient I'd still stick with Hytran though.

Ditto Matt's comments. This past weekend I got a 5 gallon pail of Hy-Tran Ultra from a Case IH dealer for $69 (part no. 372705R7). But if you have only one Cub Cadet then gallon jugs or quarts can be had from your local CC dealer, though the price per gallon is nearly double the 5 gallon pail price. Same stuff, just different label and price.

Neither Case IH or MTD make their own Hy-Tran fluid, but it has always been made by Viscosity Oil Company.

http://hytranman.com/since1963.php

Dextron, mercon
 

Since I can remember every trans my dad or I opened up hydro or stick good old automotive trans fluid is the onlything that went back in. I never seen it be any problem. As far as "moisture absorbant" anything that stits outside and sweets or has a leak in through the breather or shifter is going to build up water, and eventualy be a problem.

I've drained ATF out of a couple of mine because they were noisy and doing weird stuff. Hytran will absorb that water and it'll glob up and stick to the case or stay in the filter instead of going through the trans. ATF will not do that...

Here is a few good examples:
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...0Dick/UD51.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...0Dick/UD48.jpg