hydro max

[larryf]

Has anyone made there max into hydro drive and i looked into it but dont understand some of the things to deal with pressure and what size hydro motors i would need my current engine will work for the pump but what size pump wouldI need to the size of hydro motor they give rpms for each motor but i dont know what rpms the t 20 spins at on the output sides could anyone with hydraulic exp help me please just want to build it different then haveing the same as everyone else

[kunzmm137]

I have looked into converting a 6x6 to hydro drive. To get everything to convert it over would take roughly 1500 dollars or more, well beyond my budget. You have to take into account everything that is needed, one high volume pump, two reversing spool levers, two high torque motors, an oil reserve tank, a hydraulic filter setup, high pressure hoses and fittings, and other small stuff like pulleys, belts, sprockets, and chain. Then you have to find room to put all of this into the small space that a 6x6 has in it. I couldn't tell you for sure about what size pump or motors you would need, but it would be an expensive mistake if you figure it wrong. All I can say is, make sure you know the costs and the fabricating that would be involved before you make any irreversible changes to your machine. I decided to stick with my t-20.

[larryf]

Well thats better than paying ten thousand or more for one thats built that way but i also was looking at. Hydrostatic drive to but trying to find what i need is a pain so like u i will more than likely be staying to with the t-20

[6X6]

Don't forget that Hydro eats HP. Look at the MuddOx. Mat's running 40 or 44HP motors. There's a reason for that. Argos use smaller engines because the gears don't eat the HP the way Hydro does. Of course the control the Hydro gives is extremely sweet.

[mudbug3]

Of course the control the Hydro gives is extremely sweet.

The Mudd-Ox is the first hdrostatic amphib that I,ve ever owned , and the control a hydrostatic machine gives you in thick mud over t-20 machine is like a night and day difference. My Mudd-Ox has the 40 hp gas motor in it. I still own a Max IV and two Hustler 980,s., so I,m speaking from experience.

[6X6]

I'd love to get my hands on one of those, but it's just not in the cards (Read: Budget) right now. My experience comes from Turf and 0-turn mowers, and Bobcats, but whether it's joystick or laterals they just can't be beat for precision.

[GUMBEAU]

This a thought I have had for a while. After huricane Katrina I got my hands on a zero turn Toro w/22hp Kohler and went through the engine and got it running (it was under 8 feet of flood water for a couple of weeks). I still use it today. While I was educating my self on the hydraulics I had the idea of taking one of these with a blown motor and just taking the hydraulic system and installing it in the max IV. a few custom brackets and longer hoses is all it would take.

[jerseybigfoot]

Two things to consider with the conversion. If you gear it the same it will have the same speed and performance. Basically 10 mph at their rated axle load. Z mowers are designed for 15 deg grade and maybe do 30 deg while max or argo is closer to 45 deg grade. With z mowers about 30 pct of the hp goes into the deck and the rest into the drive and throwing more HP into the drive does not net you more speed or pulling power.