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As components wear, higher levels of debris will build up in the hydraulic oil. "This debris can cause secondary damage to the HST system," says Gidaspow. "So it is very possible to get further damage when operating a hydrostatic transmission that is worn excessively or damaged."

This circulating debris intensifies the wear process. "These particles can be more dangerous to a system since they are 'work hardened' to a greater hardness than the surfaces from which they came, and are very aggressive in causing further wear," says Zumbusch.

Any hydraulic component performing out of specification also causes heat, which in turn causes exponential decay of all hydraulic system components. "Heat breaks down the oil quicker and prevents it from doing all of its jobs in the hydraulic system," says Cahalan. "Heat damages seals and hoses, causing leaks which can allow contamination to enter the system. Operating a vehicle in this manner is just begging for a major hydraulic system failure and downtime."

A few easy checks can determine if your hydrostatic system is in good working order. "One quick way to check a hydrostatic system (both motor and pump) is to time the wheel or track revolutions," says Cahalan. "Most manufacturers provide revolutions per minute specifications. However, the only way to determine which component - the pump or the motor - is not performing up to specification is to check each with pressure gauges and flow meters."