1500 too small for my needs?

tanner · Jun 21, 2003

I have had a 1500 for about two years and and am very pleased with it. I mainly use it for brush hogging about 4 acres of pasture; but occasionally use a 6" auger for fence post installation. My brush hog is 48".
I have started having problems cutting tall and very dense fescue. I fertizlized the pastures last fall and the fescue is very dense this year! If I am on an incline with the tractor in 2nd gear and the PTO in 2nd or 3rd, the mower will come close to a stand still and the tractor almost stops moving. The engine RPM does not seem to change though. I can take the tractor out of gear and just engage the PTO and the mower will pick back up to normal cutting speed. Or put the PTO in neutral and the tractor will climb the hill with zero problems. Is the 1500 too small for the job? If so, what model Yanmar do you suggest. Thanks!

pruntyc · Jun 21, 2003

First place the PTO should be in first not 2nd or 3rd. You are over loading the tractor, with the PTO speed. Put it in Low PTO and then you shouldn't have a problem.

normde2001 · Jun 21, 2003

The PTO should be in 1st, (low gear,which is 540 pto rpm @2400 tractor rpm) at all times. Run your tractor in whatever gear works best for what you are cutting. Do this and you should have no problems. You also might want to check your clutch pedal adj. for 3/4" free play.

Jackbax · Jun 21, 2003

It sounds like the clutch is starting to slip under load, any time I've managed to bog my 1500D down, the engine speed dropped with forward speed. I haven't had to adjust mine yet, so I can't help you there.

Jack

agcomike · Jun 21, 2003

if you're trying to pull a 4' bushhog in 2nd pto gear that's like pulling a 6-8' bushhog.. ~540-570 vs ~980-1020

sounds to me like you're slipping the clutch i'm guessing the increase in pto load coupled with the incline is exceeding your clutch's capacitys.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 22, 2003

If every thing slows down but the engine its a sure sign that the clutch is slipping . Bad.
Ralph /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

tanner · Jun 22, 2003

Thanks for all the advice. I have definitely learned something! I'll keep the PTO in first and hope that solves the problem. Let's hope the clutch is not damaged. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

mszb · Jun 22, 2003

I have the same set up as you do, 1500 & 48 inch hog. I agree with all the other posts, re: gear and PTO speed and clutch. Two other tips,1) sharpen the blades if they have not been sharpened this year, it makes a big difference in grass, less of a difference in brush. 2) Keep the rear of the brush hog a little (1-2 inches) higher than the front so the grass discharges more easily and you are not recutting the grass.
Lastly, a 5 foot finnish mower, cuts grass alot better than a brush hog does and the 1500 pulls it no trouble at all.
MSZB

tanner · Jun 22, 2003

Again, thanks for all the advice. A friend and neighbor, who has been farming for over 60 years, came over today and helped me adjust the clutch. Afterwards, I mowed about an acre of tall and dense fescue (with PTO in 1st) and it worked like a dream. Problem solved.