THANKS. I do understand all of the differnet drive option but I don't
understand what the relationship to HP is. In my head I suspect that shaft
driven is the most efficient transfer of HP then belt and hydrostatic. If
thats the case how much HP difference would be needed between a shaft and
hydrostatic mower doing the same work.


"Lawrence" wrote in message
oups.com...

HotRod wrote:
Call me stupid if you must but while trying to help my Dad find a lawn
mower
with a snow blower for his cottage/house the question arose. What is the
big
difference between belt, shaft and hydrostatic driven mowers?

Ok, stupid. those terms just describe the type of drive mechanism used
to propel those machines. Belts transfer power with a system of
pulleys. Shafts spin a system of gears. Hydrostatic uses hydraulid
fluid under pressure to transmit power similar to an automatic
transmisson. The main difference is in cost, convenience, and
durability. Hydro is more expensive by far but also the easiest to
use. I don't know of a machine which functions both as sno blower and
lawn mower but I'm willin to be educated.

Since the big
push seems it be hydrostatic and I understand that they are easier to
drive
and steer what we really want to know is what is the relationship between
a
hydrostatic mower with 25HP and a shaft /belt driven mower with 25HP. If
he
gets a hydrostatic mower does he need more HP to operate everything?

I don't know what the exact relationship would be but I think a hydro
drive does rob the engine of a small bit of power compared to gears and
transmisssion. A hydro machine is usually a bigger machine anyway and
likely to have adequate power.

I own a sno blower and also a brush mower, both with hydro drive, and I
say hydro is the way to go if you can afford it. The sno blower has a
8hp honda and the mower has a 15hp Briggs. both are adequately
powered. As far a mowers go, i like the Toro and you should check
their zero turn mowers. If I were to buy another blower I would want
one with lights for after dark perhaps with electric start.