What gear should I be in?

Fastball · Jan 17, 2017

New tractor user here.
I've got a Kubota L2900 and it is used primarily for snow removal with a 6 foot blade in back. We don't get a TON of snow, only maybe 3-6 inches of fluffy stuff at any one time.
I've been using the top gear of the low range as I plow, but the engine seems to be running near/over the 2k rpm mark...and obviously, you just crawl along. Should I be in a low gear of the higher range, so the engine isn't revving as high...and you're not sucking along at 2mph or so?

Shaneard · Jan 17, 2017

What are you scraping, parking lot or driveway? Paved or gravel? Any obstacles? Any hidden things you may run into while scraping? Do you have to reverse and go forward often? That all depends on what gear you need to be in.

Fastball · Jan 17, 2017

Shaneard said:
What are you scraping, parking lot or driveway? Paved or gravel? Any obstacles? Any hidden things you may run into while scraping? That all depends on what gear you need to be in.

Gravel driveway...just shoving it over to the side. Obviously, when its deep going, I'm in low range. I think I need to load my tires as well, as the tractor seems to steer cock-eyed in the deep.

RNeumann · Jan 17, 2017

I'm on a sloped driveway with an HST (different I know). For me I am in mid range going down hill and if I'm really trying to move the edge out or scrape down to near gravel I'll drop into low range going up hill. If it was me and I was on a driveway I know I'd be in mid range and see how it went. With a little momentum the snow tends to wind row off a bit better anyway.
Obviously near buildings or other obstacles you will need to go slow. Also moving or making piles may require low range.

Thomas · Jan 17, 2017

Try middle range on steady move,as stated lower range going up hill maybe less RPM.

atsah · Jan 17, 2017

I use hi most of the time for the fluffy stuff and 2000rpm, the heavy wet stuff I use lo and 1800rpm. If I had mid gear I would think that would be best but I don't so I don't know..