Mowing Pto speed brushhogging

[PHILIP8N]

ive always ran my pto at 1800 to 2000rpms .never have i ran it at full 540 pto speed.

That is a pretty high pto speed! So, what does your 'engine' rpm of 1800-2000 translate into pto rpm? Philip.

 

[Grandad4]

I suppose it varies quite a bit from tractor to tractor and also what you're cutting at the time. Around my place, we seldom need to get the cutter wound up to 540 rpm... it cuts just as well at a somewhat slower speed. If there's no difference in how it cuts, there wouldn't seem to be much need to add the extra engine rpm just to reach 540 on the pto. I think part of it is that the tractor we use has a reserve of power for the size of the cutter. The engine speed for 540 on the pto is 2700 rpm, but we've found once you get above 2200-2400, there's essentially nothing we can mow that will pull down the rpms. On a tractor with little or no power reserve it would probably be more important to keep the engine rpm's at or near the magic 540 pto speed.

 

[Bluegill2]

I never run mine at 540 pto rpm. 1500 engine rpm on the big tractor and 1800-2000 on the smaller one.

 

[7879fordman]

You can see in the pics my pto and engine speeds in the pic. I set in the higher pic at 2200-2300 for a 540 pto speed in 3rd fear low . But in the pic I have shifted down to 2 gear low that's why it was 560 pto .

The main thing I'm gathering here is the m7040 and landpride will be ok if ran at a 540 pto speed and a little under is ok also .

Remember I have the 75 engine hp m7040 64 pto hp . And the landpride they sold me the 1872 its rated 20-65 pto hp .

Sent from my iPhone 5 using TractorByNet

 

[TripleR]

You can see in the pics my pto and engine speeds in the pic. I set in the higher pic at 2200-2300 for a 540 pto speed in 3rd fear low . But in the pic I have shifted down to 2 gear low that's why it was 560 pto .

The main thing I'm gathering here is the m7040 and landpride will be ok if ran at a 540 pto speed and a little under is ok also .

Remember I have the 75 engine hp m7040 64 pto hp . And the landpride they sold me the 1872 its rated 20-65 pto hp .

Sent from my iPhone 5 using TractorByNet

Pretty much, I run right at 540 as mine, like yours have a readout, but on others "around 540" was fine, we even have some tractors without working tachometers and I just run it at a speed that gives me good cut.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

I run my MX 5100 at engine rpm 2,100 to 2,300 when mowing. I also like to stay a bit under and gear down to let the mower do the work.

 

[avc8130]

I have always brush hogged at 540 rpm at the PTO. I always adjusted speed based on gear selection with my L39. With my L45 I just started brush hogging today. I was running 540 PTO rpm and using the HST to adjust speed.

Maybe tomorrow I'll try a slower speed. What advantage does a slower PTO speed have? Reduced fuel consumption?

ac

 

[Grandad4]

Probably a bit less fuel used, but I wouldn't expect it's enough to make a big difference. Someone might argue there's only so many revolutions in the life of an engine and it'll last longer, but I also doubt that would make any difference. Heck, that tractor is going to outlast me no matter what I do to it!

For me, it's just less frantic and noisy running it a bit slower. HST is a bit easier to feather for turns, etc. If I can mow just as quickly and effectively at 2300 rpm instead of 2700, why not do it?

 

[pdowling1]

Just make sure you don't run so slow that the blades start folding back in heavy cutting. These machines rely on rotational speed to keep the swinging blades at full extension. Any speed fast enough to cut clean and not load the engine down is good. Don't worry so much about a specific RPM.

 

[Ken45101]

ive always ran my pto at 1800 to 2000rpms .never have i ran it at full 540 pto speed.

Bush Hog advises NOT to run at low RPMs, it causes more wear and tear on the cutter. My understanding is that the blades do not have as much momentum and get pushed back and forth more than if they are running at design speed (540).