Hydro-Gear Blog

Hydraulic pumps and motors are the core components that generate motion, power, and torque in modern machinery. Whether you are working on industrial equipment, agricultural machinery, construction systems, or power-driven applications, understanding how hydraulic pumps and motors work is essential for performance and safety. This guide also explains how to size a hydraulic pump and motor correctly in 2025. Our clearance sales are available; check our complete catalog of genuine hydro parts at …

Hear a ticking or tapping noise when you start your zero-turn or lawn tractor? On many mower engines, that sound comes from the hydraulic lifters, small parts in the valve train that need oil pressure to work quietly. In most cases, the noise goes away on its own once the lifters fill with oil. In others, it points to an oil problem or a worn part. This guide explains what hydraulic lifters do in a mower engine, how to pump them up, how long it takes, what causes lifter noise and how to prevent …

You must check your hydraulic pump for safety, efficiency, and dependability. Regardless of whether you are working on equipment such as mowers, tractors, or other serious equipment, knowing how to inspect a hydraulic pump will ensure you detect issues immediately before the pump fails and results in costly repairs. We will subsequently cover the process for tank testing a hydraulic pump, the tools you will need, and then the signs to look for to determine if the pump is still functioning proper …

Among zero-turn mowers, the Hydro-Gear ZT-2200 transmission, or more popularly the EZT, is one of the most recognized drive systems in residential lawn care equipment. But the question in the minds of many users is: Is the Hydro-Gear ZT-2200 serviceable? And how long will it last? In this blog, we'll take the mystery out of how the ZT-2200 works, whether you can service or fix it, and what kind of life expectancy you can expect from this system — in plain language, whether you're a tech or …

The Hydro-Gear ZT-3400 is one of the most powerful and reliable transaxles used in mid- to high-end zero-turn mowers. It's a tough, commercial-grade unit, but even the best transmission needs regular maintenance, and some develop problems over time. This guide covers everything you need to know about the ZT-3400 in simple terms: common problems and their causes, oil filter and fluid maintenance, the purge procedure, rebuild kits, step-by-step rebuild basics, and what a repair or replacement cost …