3 hrs on new machine, go mow 3 acres?

montejw · 07-04-2007, 09:56 AM

Just got our NH TC30 HST yesterday, having fun. Wife loves the HST with the FEL. 4 horses generate "stuff" to keep the FEL busy.

Some friends are out of town and I'd like to surprise them by mowing their pasture while they're gone, it's about 3 acres, I've got a 6' finish cut flail mower. Do you think doing this with 3 hours on the tractor is advisable? I looked through the owners manual at the break-in procedure, about all I could see was don't run it with no load at constant engine speed for long durations. Mowing will be with load, at constant engine speed, for a long duration, probably 3-4 hours. I guess I can vary the engine speed a little with the throttle lever, and the load will be changing a bit. I just don't want to mess up the break-in, it's pretty important.

RoyJackson · 07-04-2007, 10:10 AM

It's simple....about every 15-20 minutes, just disengage the PTO (well, you don't have to do that) and lower the RPM for a few minutes. You can use the foot throttle to vary the RPM during this time.
This will extend that 3 hour mowing time somewhat however.

That's what I did, anyway... The first 50 hours go by pretty quickly.

Of course, I'm not overly concerned about the break in instructions (other then leaving the oil in for the break in period). How many commercial or ag users would follow those break in procedures?

zzvyb6 · 07-04-2007, 10:10 AM

Just be sure they weren't saving that grass for Grandma's new skirt or a new roof on the Organic trellis. If they have some dead horseshoes in there, your mower will find them, your tires will first (just the ones will nails up). Be carefull going by fence posts. I always leave a little lateral play in the mower hookup to allow a post strike and deflection.

If you know they want it done, go 4 it. "One hand washes the other" in farming. Think of a good reply when they ask what they can do for you.

montejw · 07-04-2007, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zzvyb6

Just be sure they weren't saving that grass for Grandma's new skirt or a new roof on the Organic trellis. If they have some dead horseshoes in there, your mower will find them, your tires will first (just the ones will nails up). Be carefull going by fence posts. I always leave a little lateral play in the mower hookup to allow a post strike and deflection.

If you know they want it done, go 4 it. "One hand washes the other" in farming. Think of a good reply when they ask what they can do for you.

Oh, I know they want it done, I've been offered baked goods and diesel. It's my wifes riding partner and they take care of each other's horses when the other is gone/sick, etc.

montejw · 07-04-2007, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoyJackson

It's simple....about every 15-20 minutes, just disengage the PTO (well, you don't have to do that) and lower the RPM for a few minutes. You can use the foot throttle to vary the RPM during this time.
This will extend that 3 hour mowing time somewhat however.

That's what I did, anyway... The first 50 hours go by pretty quickly.

Of course, I'm not overly concerned about the break in instructions (other then leaving the oil in for the break in period). How many commercial or ag users would follow those break in procedures?

There's no foot throttle, it's got a hydro pedal. I could change the rpm's with the lever once and awhile, but it's not the same as the way I was taught to break-in my cars. With them it was acceleration, deceleration, acceleration, deceleration, acceleration, deceleration, etc.

cp1969 · 07-04-2007, 10:37 AM

I started mowing with my tractor when it had something like .4 on the tach. I don't think it's all that important. We used to take class 8 trucks right out of the overhaul shop and hook them to an 80,000 GVW load. Their break in day was identical to every other day they worked.

If you are worried about it, just vary the rpms every 10 minutes or so, up or down a few hundred rpm.

EddieWalker · 07-04-2007, 10:43 AM

I'm suprised they even mention a break in period. My tractor didnt' say anything about it and my dealer said it was good to go the second I got it home. Check your fluids, make sure your radiator is clean and watch your tempature gauge. Pick a good speed so you don't over work your engine and go for it. I'd think that a 3 acre pasture with a six foot mower should take you just over an hour to mow at a decent speed if the grass isn't too tall and thick. If it's on the thick side, just go slower and enjoy the day.

I've found that wearing headphones and listening to music or talk radio really makes the time go by quickly.

Eddie

milkman · 07-04-2007, 11:03 AM

From day one, I run mine the way I use it, did the OTR trucks the same way, just don't lug it down, it'll be fine, tractors are not made to be babied. Keep the radiator grill clean so it doesn't over heat, I don't need music, the diesel working is music to me, it'll be fun.

Thomas · 07-04-2007, 11:11 AM

Just go w/your gut feeling...maybe try cutting w/4' of the mower at first...over lap..little less stress.

Some say hour an acre....take little longer less chance of down time.

Oleozz · 07-04-2007, 11:34 AM

Monte--Very nice gesture on your part. Do it, have fun, and I bet your friends will really appreciate it.

07-04-2007, 09:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
montejw Gold Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NW WA State Posts: 273	3 hrs on new machine, go mow 3 acres? Just got our NH TC30 HST yesterday, having fun. Wife loves the HST with the FEL. 4 horses generate "stuff" to keep the FEL busy. Some friends are out of town and I'd like to surprise them by mowing their pasture while they're gone, it's about 3 acres, I've got a 6' finish cut flail mower. Do you think doing this with 3 hours on the tractor is advisable? I looked through the owners manual at the break-in procedure, about all I could see was don't run it with no load at constant engine speed for long durations. Mowing will be with load, at constant engine speed, for a long duration, probably 3-4 hours. I guess I can vary the engine speed a little with the throttle lever, and the load will be changing a bit. I just don't want to mess up the break-in, it's pretty important. __________________ Monte 2007 NH TC30 w/FEL, 6' box blade, 6' back blade, 6' Mott F6 flail mower, 6' chain harrow, 6' rock rake, Pat's Easy Change, looking for a 6' snow blower

07-04-2007, 10:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
RoyJackson Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 4,394	Re: 3 hrs on new machine, go mow 3 acres? It's simple....about every 15-20 minutes, just disengage the PTO (well, you don't have to do that) and lower the RPM for a few minutes. You can use the foot throttle to vary the RPM during this time. This will extend that 3 hour mowing time somewhat however. That's what I did, anyway... The first 50 hours go by pretty quickly. Of course, I'm not overly concerned about the break in instructions (other then leaving the oil in for the break in period). How many commercial or ag users would follow those break in procedures? __________________ Roy Jackson JD 790 w/ FEL The 790, a tractor with a vertical exhaust and a hard gear shift lever...symbolic of the MANLY man

07-04-2007, 10:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
zzvyb6 Platinum Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 644	Re: 3 hrs on new machine, go mow 3 acres? Just be sure they weren't saving that grass for Grandma's new skirt or a new roof on the Organic trellis. If they have some dead horseshoes in there, your mower will find them, your tires will first (just the ones will nails up). Be carefull going by fence posts. I always leave a little lateral play in the mower hookup to allow a post strike and deflection. If you know they want it done, go 4 it. "One hand washes the other" in farming. Think of a good reply when they ask what they can do for you. __________________ There is no "I" in team, but there is a "Me" if you want to jumble it up a bit...

07-04-2007, 10:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
cp1969 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,772	Re: 3 hrs on new machine, go mow 3 acres? I started mowing with my tractor when it had something like .4 on the tach. I don't think it's all that important. We used to take class 8 trucks right out of the overhaul shop and hook them to an 80,000 GVW load. Their break in day was identical to every other day they worked. If you are worried about it, just vary the rpms every 10 minutes or so, up or down a few hundred rpm. __________________ Meetings: If more than two people are there, at least one's time is being wasted.

07-04-2007, 10:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
EddieWalker Super Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tyler, Texas Posts: 8,296	Re: 3 hrs on new machine, go mow 3 acres? I'm suprised they even mention a break in period. My tractor didnt' say anything about it and my dealer said it was good to go the second I got it home. Check your fluids, make sure your radiator is clean and watch your tempature gauge. Pick a good speed so you don't over work your engine and go for it. I'd think that a 3 acre pasture with a six foot mower should take you just over an hour to mow at a decent speed if the grass isn't too tall and thick. If it's on the thick side, just go slower and enjoy the day. I've found that wearing headphones and listening to music or talk radio really makes the time go by quickly. Eddie __________________ My Goals for 2008 1. Fishing and Hunting with my kids. 2. Build my storage Shed. 3. Put my outside access bathroom together. 4. Fence in a quarter acre for Turkeys. 5. Build my gazebo for my front pasture. 6. Finish back pasture and plant it in Bermuda. 7. Start my food plots. 8. Build a comfortable deer stand for two. 9. Build a wood burning fireplace in my home. 10. New flooring in my home. 11. Build a pasture sprayer. 12. Get my old jeep running.

07-04-2007, 11:03 AM	#8 (permalink)
milkman Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Ky Posts: 1,970	Re: 3 hrs on new machine, go mow 3 acres? From day one, I run mine the way I use it, did the OTR trucks the same way, just don't lug it down, it'll be fine, tractors are not made to be babied. Keep the radiator grill clean so it doesn't over heat, I don't need music, the diesel working is music to me, it'll be fun. __________________ "Wisdom doesn't necessarily come with age. Sometimes age just shows up all by its self" (Tom Wilson)

07-04-2007, 11:11 AM	#9 (permalink)
Thomas Super Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 6,650	Re: 3 hrs on new machine, go mow 3 acres? Just go w/your gut feeling...maybe try cutting w/4' of the mower at first...over lap..little less stress. Some say hour an acre....take little longer less chance of down time. __________________ Thomas..NH

07-04-2007, 11:34 AM	#10 (permalink)
Oleozz Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pa. Posts: 1,198	Re: 3 hrs on new machine, go mow 3 acres? Monte--Very nice gesture on your part. Do it, have fun, and I bet your friends will really appreciate it. __________________ "Land management is an art that builds on history and is based in science." Herb Stoddard Sr.

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