Auto vs Hydro

[snowhound 105]

Could someone tell me the difference between an auto and a hydro and which one is consided better. I am looking for a tractor for my wife and she dosen't want a standard. The tractor would be used mostly for mowing our yard, that has some hills, and pulling a small trailer.

thanks,

Ed (snowhound)

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,411]

I dont think there is any differance, they are just different words that mean the same thing in garden tractors.

Mike............

[JackC 617]

No difference. The Hydro is an Automatic. Wheel Horse used the letter A for automatics from 1965 to 1987. Starting in 1988 the used the letter H for automatics.

[snowhound 105]

Sparky and JackC thanks for the replies. I thought that was the case but wanted to be sure..

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,411]

That being said there are two "hydros" out there in the newer machines(1980-to present). Theres the Eaton 1100 and the Eaton 700. The 1100 is the better unit, the 700 is a weaker unit. They made 300 series machines with both and there were even 500 series machines with the Eaton 700, (the 516-H and the 518-H).

Try to get one with an Eaton 1100 if you can.

Mike............

[Hydro 131]

That being said there are two "hydros" out there in the newer machines(1980-to present). Theres the Eaton 1100 and the Eaton 700. The 1100 is the better unit, the 700 is a weaker unit. They made 300 series machines with both and there were even 500 series machines with the Eaton 700, (the 516-H and the 518-H).

Try to get one with an Eaton 1100 if you can.

Mike............

....and then get Matt 860's foot operated motion control. Sweet! :thumbs:

[leeave96 487]

That being said there are two "hydros" out there in the newer machines(1980-to present). Theres the Eaton 1100 and the Eaton 700. The 1100 is the better unit, the 700 is a weaker unit. They made 300 series machines with both and there were even 500 series machines with the Eaton 700, (the 516-H and the 518-H).

Try to get one with an Eaton 1100 if you can.

Mike............

Is the visual tip-off that you have a tractor with an Eaton 700 that it has a manual vs hydro lift?

Thanks,

Bill

[TT-(Moderator) 1,145]

Is the visual tip-off that you have a tractor with an Eaton 700 that it has a manual vs hydro lift?

A manual lift lever is a good indicator, but the lack of one could also mean the tractor has electric lift with an Eaton 700 series hydro.

The 1100 series hydros will have a rear-facing spin-on oil filter mounted horizontally behind the top of the left tire.