Rebuild or replace HSD for B2710

[Pete F]

My HSD is apparently shot and now I'm trying to decide whether I can rebuild it myself or not. For anyone who has done this or is familiar with it, what part within the HSD usually is the failure and to rebuild myself, would I need any specialized tools that are not readily available?

Thanks in advance
Pete

 

[Butch]

As tough as it is to get to... do you really want to risk trying to rebuild yourself and coming up short and still not have it operational. If you can do all the work, if it was me, I'd spend the extra bucks for a new hydro unit.
There is one other option that comes to mind.... Remove the old hydro unit and have it professionally rebuilt. There is at least one reliable shop around me that can do this. It's certainly going to be more than if you rebuild and do the work yourself however, it could be significantly cheaper than a new unit.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Option 'c'.... buy/install a new unit, then rebuild yours , as time permits (aka 'Winter project' )
Nothing 'magical' about rebuilding them.
Heck I remember a 17 year old kid, drop the C6 out of his 70 Mach1, TOTALLY tore it down, added 'stuff', then reinstalled it. All in a small 'single' car garage with gravel floor. I remember looking at the zillion parts spread over a new white bed sheet, that he'd bought, for the job.

 

[Pete F]

As tough as it is to get to... do you really want to risk trying to rebuild yourself and coming up short and still not have it operational. If you can do all the work, if it was me, I'd spend the extra bucks for a new hydro unit.
There is one other option that comes to mind.... Remove the old hydro unit and have it professionally rebuilt. There is at least one reliable shop around me that can do this. It's certainly going to be more than if you rebuild and do the work yourself however, it could be significantly cheaper than a new unit.

Thanks Butch Unfortunately, a new unit isnt an option for me. Wish it was. I like your second idea but even in a city as big as Atlanta, I cant seem to find anyone who understands these HSD's other than the guys at the dealerships, and even some of those I question. In any event, the want 120 an hour for 18- 20 hours. I want people to make money and I think they should be rewarded for their expertise, but you've heard the saying, pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered. Im not up for taking a dicking even if I could afford it. Thanks for your input. It does make sense. Looking for a guy who can do this in Atlanta.

 

[Pete F]

Option 'c'.... buy/install a new unit, then rebuild yours , as time permits (aka 'Winter project' )
Nothing 'magical' about rebuilding them.
Heck I remember a 17 year old kid, drop the C6 out of his 70 Mach1, TOTALLY tore it down, added 'stuff', then reinstalled it. All in a small 'single' car garage with gravel floor. I remember looking at the zillion parts spread over a new white bed sheet, that he'd bought, for the job.

I watched a video on utube of a HSD rebuild and it looked pretty straight forward. Kind of like putting a puzzle together.

 

[SDT]

Option 'c'.... buy/install a new unit, then rebuild yours , as time permits (aka 'Winter project' )
Nothing 'magical' about rebuilding them.
Heck I remember a 17 year old kid, drop the C6 out of his 70 Mach1, TOTALLY tore it down, added 'stuff', then reinstalled it. All in a small 'single' car garage with gravel floor. I remember looking at the zillion parts spread over a new white bed sheet, that he'd bought, for the job.

I was around 18 when I rebuilt my first automotive automatic transmission.

FWIW, HSTs are not automotive automatic transmissions and are much less tolerant of contamination.

Not sure, but I expect that the HST pump/motor assembly is serviced as an exchange unit.

 

[Butch]

Thanks Butch Unfortunately, a new unit isnt an option for me. Wish it was. I like your second idea but even in a city as big as Atlanta, I cant seem to find anyone who understands these HSD's other than the guys at the dealerships, and even some of those I question. In any event, the want 120 an hour for 18- 20 hours. I want people to make money and I think they should be rewarded for their expertise, but you've heard the saying, pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered. Im not up for taking a dicking even if I could afford it. Thanks for your input. It does make sense. Looking for a guy who can do this in Atlanta.

The Mennonite shop around here does mainly high end zero turn mower hydro replace, rebuild and/or repair of hydrostatic pumps. About 5 years ago a buddy of mine took his hydro unit to them (not the tractor.... just the unit) and they bench rebuilt it for a fraction of the cost of a new one. His was out of a B2100 and for the life of me I cannot recall the cost of the rebuild. I'd ask him however he has since passed.

 

[Firefight100]

Ive rebuilt some hydraulic systems in my day. The job is not that hard to do. The issues are, trying to tell what needs replaced inside. You're dealing in measurements in the ten thousand's of an inch, or tighter. Very close.
And when you decide to replace a part, where are you going to get it? Kubota wont have the internal parts.
I got by, by having a friend who worked in a Sundstrand distributor and could get me just about anything I needed.
Good luck.

 

[TheOldHokie]

My HSD is apparently shot and now I'm trying to decide whether I can rebuild it myself or not. For anyone who has done this or is familiar with it, what part within the HSD usually is the failure and to rebuild myself, would I need any specialized tools that are not readily available?

Thanks in advance
Pete

Thats a very nebulous question. What specifically is wrong with the current transmission and what sort of diagnostics have you done?

Ðan

 

[Pete F]

The Mennonite shop around here does mainly high end zero turn mower hydro replace, rebuild and/or repair of hydrostatic pumps. About 5 years ago a buddy of mine took his hydro unit to them (not the tractor.... just the unit) and they bench rebuilt it for a fraction of the cost of a new one. His was out of a B2100 and for the life of me I cannot recall the cost of the rebuild. I'd ask him however he has since passed.

That just may be the ticket my friend.

 

[Pete F]

Ive rebuilt some hydraulic systems in my day. The job is not that hard to do. The issues are, trying to tell what needs replaced inside. You're dealing in measurements in the ten thousand's of an inch, or tighter. Very close.
And when you decide to replace a part, where are you going to get it? Kubota wont have the internal parts.
I got by, by having a friend who worked in a Sundstrand distributor and could get me just about anything I needed.
Good luck.

Thats concerning for sure.. I have a distributor in Kansas who sells a block assembly rebuild kit for 900+ and a pump assembly rebuild for 2100+ They say these are genuine Kubota parts. Could that be BS? Are there bogus aftermarket parts out there and how would I know the difference?

 

[John D 2]

Have you tried to locate one in a salvage yard? If you find one, you could just swap out the unit instead of rebuilding it.
Then you could have the old unit rebuilt and sell it to recover your cost.

 

[Pete F]

Have you tried to locate one in a salvage yard? If you find one, you could just swap out the unit instead of rebuilding it.
Then you could have the old unit rebuilt and sell it to recover your cost.

Yet another great idea. Ill definitely shake that tree