How long do EZTs last?

wbw

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I currently have a 42" Fastrak that I got new in '07. I have approximately 280 hours on the machine and have not had any trouble so far with the EZT Hydros. The manual says that they are sealed for life. I mow 1.25 acres a week and it takes about 75 to 80 minutes a cut. What life expectancy can I expect from the EZT transmissions?

I have another thread going currently about an '09 Fastrak with ZT2800 Hydros that I'm considering buying. The machine only has 35 hours on it. The ZT-2800 are serviceable as I understand it. With 280 hours on my EZTs and a machine with 35 hours on ZT-2800s that I can hopefully pick up for less than $2500, should I make the switch?

Thanks for any help.
 

BlazNT

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My hydros are also called sealed for life. That is a lie. I got the numbers off my hydros and found the manufactures manual. They are serviceable. So check yours and see if yours are serviceable. Hydros last as long as they will if you treat them correctly. Life of a hydro is not a thing you can really measure. I have seen hydros die in under 200 hours and last over 2000 on the same machine different owner. The way they are treated is very important.
 

wbw

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My hydros are also called sealed for life. That is a lie. I got the numbers off my hydros and found the manufactures manual. They are serviceable. So check yours and see if yours are serviceable. Hydros last as long as they will if you treat them correctly. Life of a hydro is not a thing you can really measure. I have seen hydros die in under 200 hours and last over 2000 on the same machine different owner. The way they are treated is very important.

Thanks for your input.

I'm not hard on my equipment or my cars. I never run the Hustler at full speed. Most of my property is flat. I would probably have a decent shot at my EZTs lasting a good while.
 

Ric

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I currently have a 42" Fastrak that I got new in '07. I have approximately 280 hours on the machine and have not had any trouble so far with the EZT Hydros. The manual says that they are sealed for life. I mow 1.25 acres a week and it takes about 75 to 80 minutes a cut. What life expectancy can I expect from the EZT transmissions?

I have another thread going currently about an '09 Fastrak with ZT2800 Hydros that I'm considering buying. The machine only has 35 hours on it. The ZT-2800 are serviceable as I understand it. With 280 hours on my EZTs and a machine with 35 hours on ZT-2800s that I can hopefully pick up for less than $2500, should I make the switch?

Thanks for any help.

The EZT hydros are a sealed unit and shouldn't be tampered with according to the manufacturer. The problem is there's no way to really service the unit without pulling the unit out of the mower that I know of. If you think there is something wrong and they need to be serviced take the machine back to the dealer and let them have a look and get there opinion on what should be done. I do know that the 2800 hydro's depending on the mower manufacturer need to be service at any where from 300 to 500 hrs, Cub Cadet says every 300hrs. If I had a chance to pick up the Hustler Fastrak with 35 hrs that your talking about I think I grab the thing cause it sounds like a good buy.
 

wbw

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The EZT hydros are a sealed unit and shouldn't be tampered with according to the manufacturer. The problem is there's no way to really service the unit without pulling the unit out of the mower that I know of. If you think there is something wrong and they need to be serviced take the machine back to the dealer and let them have a look and get there opinion on what should be done. I do know that the 2800 hydro's depending on the mower manufacturer need to be service at any where from 300 to 500 hrs, Cub Cadet says every 300hrs. If I had a chance to pick up the Hustler Fastrak with 35 hrs that your talking about I think I grab the thing cause it sounds like a good buy.

Thanks Ric.

I am having no Hyrdo issues currently with my Hustler. Electrical issues yes.

I would be all over this 48 Fastrak if it didn't look like 35 rough hours. The deck has never been cleaned underneath (from what I could tell at a quick glance). The discharge chute looks like it has 10,000 hours of use. I've never seen a chute this bad looking. Maybe dealer exchanged the chute from another machine they were trying to sell. Who knows. I'm just concerned from the appearance of the machine. 35 hours is great, unless the hour meter was disconnected at some point. The story is that it's an '09 bought new in '11 and the owner hardly used it and is now unstable mentally. I would be dealing with owner's sister if I decide to make an offer.
 

Ric

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Thanks Ric.

I am having no Hyrdo issues currently with my Hustler. Electrical issues yes.

I would be all over this 48 Fastrak if it didn't look like 35 rough hours. The deck has never been cleaned underneath (from what I could tell at a quick glance). The discharge chute looks like it has 10,000 hours of use. I've never seen a chute this bad looking. Maybe dealer exchanged the chute from another machine they were trying to sell. Who knows. I'm just concerned from the appearance of the machine. 35 hours is great, unless the hour meter was disconnected at some point. The story is that it's an '09 bought new in '11 and the owner hardly used it and is now unstable mentally. I would be dealing with owner's sister if I decide to make an offer.

If your not having any issues with the hydro's I sure wouldn't mess around with them but if you should ever need to this site may come in handy, you can down load the PDF it only takes a minute. It does say in the service manual that the EZT should not need servicing for the life of the mower of which it was installed.

EZT (ZT-2100-2200)


I'd also be very careful of the other mower if it's as bad as you say, it sounds like they disconnected the hour meter.
 

wbw

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I'd also be very careful of the other mower if it's as bad as you say, it sounds like they disconnected the hour meter.

The dealer did confirm that the '09 was bought new in September of '11. That would account for some low hours. I just wish the appearance matched the 35 hours.

Actually the top side isn't too bad looking. But the underneath has most likely never been cleaned and the chute looks horrible.
 

Ric

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The dealer did confirm that the '09 was bought new in September of '11. That would account for some low hours. I just wish the appearance matched the 35 hours.

Actually the top side isn't too bad looking. But the underneath has most likely never been cleaned and the chute looks horrible.

As far as the chute goes I wouldn't worry to much about that, I don't think I've ever had a mower I didn't have to replace those on. I would how ever get the thing on a lift and scrape the deck and check out along with the spindles and see if there sealed bearing or the grease-able type, cause if the deck has never been cleaned chances are the spindles have never been done if they are grease-able. 35 hours isn't bad if there there the grease-able type you should be able to do them and they should be in good shape, hopefully there the sealed type.
 

wbw

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As far as the chute goes I wouldn't worry to much about that, I don't think I've ever had a mower I didn't have to replace those on. I would how ever get the thing on a lift and scrape the deck and check out along with the spindles and see if there sealed bearing or the grease-able type, cause if the deck has never been cleaned chances are the spindles have never been done if they are grease-able. 35 hours isn't bad if there there the grease-able type you should be able to do them and they should be in good shape, hopefully there the sealed type.

Thanks for the tip.
 

gabowman

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Cut the sisters grass with it. Heck, cut her neighbor's grass with it while youre at it. That's called "trying it out". Listen to it, make a decision. The price sounds right.
 
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