5' bushhog with a YM1700 (20 HP)?

[California]

I just mowed a tight, sloping area near the barns this afternoon with my YM240 (YM2000) and 4 ft mower. There was so much starting, stopping, backing under trees etc that the tractor was continually lugging the mower up to speed. I was thinking about this thread while I was out there.

My conclusion: a 5 ft mower would simply work the YM1700 hard, IF your application is to mow in rational straight lines like farm mowing. I wouldn't be afraid to do that, and watch the temperature gauge. Maybe set the mower higher and take half-stripes if it can't hack it.

But for the kind of intricate stuff I described (and all up and down gentle slopes) a bigger mower would burn out the clutch, and also not cut very well, because the smaller engine/larger mower combination couldn't attain enough rpm's in the short runs before backing up to go in a different direction. It takes a lot of hp to overcome the resting inertia of a big mower.

I also use this mower behind my YM186D (YM1510) and there, the Powershift saves the day because the little engine doesn't have to put the tractor in motion before the blade is up to speed. But you can feel that it is working hard to start that 4 ft blade.

 

[clemsonfor]

DeepNdirt -- actually, I just purchased a radiator screen from Hoye, as I noticed I didn't have one. I installed a water T gauge, so I can keep track of the temperature, especially when I know I'm working it hard.

Also, I just found a very nice looking 4' Bush Hog SQ480 listed on Craigslist. It looks brand new and the guy says he only used in twice. He is asking $450 obo. I'm going to try to get that one.

If it looks brand new thats a **** of a deal as the KK is like you said $700

 

[Ginormous]

Unfortunately, it is "the one that got away" ...

 

[Transit]

To help the radiator clogging problem, try opening the hood 2-3 inches to draw more clean air and less junk from under the tractor.

 

[clemsonfor]

To help the radiator clogging problem, try opening the hood 2-3 inches to draw more clean air and less junk from under the tractor.

Dont thik this will help on his 1700. Its pretty open, i know theres the rubber gasket or metal separation thing but as your driving you knock the seeds fluff off and they just end up on the screen. I did put a window screen on the front metal grill, that helped a ton and i could go 4-5 times longer before i had to clean off. It helped cause as the window screen on the grill clogged it could still draw air from the side grates which dont pic the fluff up as much. The old screen fell victim to blackberry briars and eventually was torn off, i need to cut some more screen for this year.

 

[Ginormous]

Clemsonfor - Do you have a picture of the window screen on your front radiator? Did you just strap it on to the outside of the metal?

 

[Transit]

Dont thik this will help on his 1700. Its pretty open, i know theres the rubber gasket or metal separation thing but as your driving you knock the seeds fluff off and they just end up on the screen. I did put a window screen on the front metal grill, that helped a ton and i could go 4-5 times longer before i had to clean off. It helped cause as the window screen on the grill clogged it could still draw air from the side grates which dont pic the fluff up as much. The old screen fell victim to blackberry briars and eventually was torn off, i need to cut some more screen for this year.

Dose your tractor have a fan to cool the radiator? that is why opening the hood works.

 

[Ginormous]

Yes, the YM1700 has a fan pulling air through the radiator. The sides of the engine are more open than on some tractors, which is probably what Clemson for was referring to.

 

[clemsonfor]

Dose your tractor have a fan to cool the radiator? that is why opening the hood works.

It does have a fan. But that fan is behind the radiator and if you open the hood it will not cause any less fluff to be pulled to the radiator, nor will it allow a clogged screen to cool better. No matter where the air comes from, behind the radiator around from under the hood or in front it will all have to move through the clogged screen before it can get to the radiator.

 

[deepNdirt]

While reading about the suggestion to get more air flow into the radiator I happen to think about what if using a larger or a 5 blade fan could help to better pull more air through the radiator? just a thought, although I'm sure if the radiator becomes clogged it won't really matter how much air draw the fan can provide if cannot pull through a clogged rad. i would suppose the best is to prevent the rad from becoming stopped up in the first place,
Now if we could only cut grass at a faster speed say like 35 mph we could setup a fresh air cowl inducted system to funnel the air to the radiator

BTW when cutting fields with the stuff flying everywhere don't forget to check/clean/replace the air filter more often as well,:thumbsup: