Hydrostatic or hydrodynamic? Cars are hydrodynamic, and you lose a ton of power through the torque converter. Hydro lawn equipment don't have this. There may be loss from the hoses ect. but I definately know that it won't slip like a wet belt, or the slip-o-matic in my Ariens snowblower. Theres a ton of power loss coming on both ends of that beast. Not easy to work on, that much is true. But its real power, that's why heavy equipment (which is already running a pump so I guess it makes more sense) uses it, and its VERY reliable.
I say we put in a pump for the auger as well, that way in the spring I can get double use from it as a wood chipper!
Short hoses hose would mean low loss, and a cold enviroment would mean less loss through fluid expansion. Weight is not really an issue, its not like we're displacing freight in leiu of hydraulic fluid. I think the loss in power would me more than made up in the direct transfer of power to wheels instead of a friction disc. Smooth like butta.
This message was modified Jan 11, 2009 by nhmatt
