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Basically the hydro has the ability to change directions on a dime without having to stop and manually reverse the tranny. This accounts for better maneuverability and braking power. They provide continual torquing power as well... This excerpt below was taken from hydraulicspneumatics.com and explains the advantages quite well. Here it is......

........The primary function of any hydrostatic transmission (HST) is to accept rotary power from a prime mover (usually an internal combustion engine) having specific operating characteristics and transmit that energy to a load having its own operating characteristics. In the process, the HST generally must regulate speed, torque, power, or, in some cases, direction of rotation. Depending on its configuration, the HST can drive a load from full speed in one direction to full speed in the opposite direction, with infinite variation of speed between the two maximums - all with the prime mover operating at constant speed.

The operating principle of HSTs is simple: a pump, connected to the prime mover, generates flow to drive a hydraulic motor, which is connected to the load. If the displacement of the pump and motor are fixed, the HST simply acts as a gearbox to transmit power from the prime mover to the load. The overwhelming majority of HSTs, however, use a variable-displacement pump, motor, or both - so that speed, torque, or power can be regulated.

HSTs offer many important advantages over other forms of power transmission. Depending on its configuration, an HST:

transmits high power in a compact size
exhibits low inertia
operates efficiently over a wide range of torque-to-speed ratios
maintains controlled speed (even in reverse) regardless of load, within design limits
maintains a preset speed accurately against driving or braking loads
can transmit power from a single prime mover to multiple locations, even if position and orientation of the locations changes
can remain stalled and undamaged under full load at low power loss
does not creep at zero speed
provides faster response than mechanical or electromechanical transmissions of comparable rating, and
can provide dynamic braking.

...$Billy Ray$

2008-01-27 12:26:11 by barry_howard8

Got this Lawn mower for $20 my brother and I decided to switch the pulley#39;s on the transmission and engine. ended up going 40 km/hr

Is the manual like a car where you always have to clutch and switch gears? which better and why?

well.. .similar, you do have to clutch yourself on manual; automatic, you just pull and it goes on its own

2009-05-10 07:57:05 by jkills2

Price: $399.00 $319.00

Front rake guard lifts grass upright for a clean, even cut.
Deck wash port connects to standard garden hose to clean out grass clippings from underside of deck.
CARB Compliant

I want to get rid of my transmission and put a axle and somthing so I can just have the belt hooked up to it so that instead of the transmission to make it go faster. Or any other ideals how to make it go faster.

go to a motorcycle repair shop and change the engine to a four stroke motorcycle engine. it is okay because lawn mower need not have to follow vehicle licensing guideline or any traffic law. you can go super fast. better wear a crash helmet. and vroom vroom vroom or get a harley davidson engine 1000 cc engine

2006-08-19 09:46:05 by JOEY M

Price: $2,299.95 $1,799.95

Air induction for improved cutting performance, deck wash port
Easily accessible fender-mounted cutting height adjustment
Pedal-operated hydrostatic transmission for smooth speed and control

I don't think it helps but It's a Murray email me for more details if there are any needed.

Check for set screws holding the pulleys on. If there are none, you will need a bearing/pulley puller to remove them. You may need to remove the entire shaft as some models are a one piece unit. These have 4 bolts holding the unit to the deck.

2009-07-27 10:46:22 by supersalomi

most transmissions are sealed, but i dont know if mine is. it is a dana spicer 4360-122.

Thank you

If there is, then you will likely see some type of drain plug. Likely it will be an allen head. I'm not sure about a manual transmission in a Craftsman, but I know the automatic does have a plug, and there is also a very small fill plug at the top on the right-hand side (partially covered by the rear pulley, thanks a lot Mr. Engineer! lol)
Try cleaning the rear end and then looking, it might be there but covered up in caked on crud.

2007-11-21 17:13:26 by Cody