AT what RPM do you engage your cutter?

bilrus61 · Jul 23, 2012

I have a Kubota L5040 and a JD mx6 cutter. I usually engage the mower at about 1500 to 1600 RPM. It lugs the engine down to about 800 RPM then revs back up. Also do any of you "feather" your PTO engagement? Like just touch it to get the blades turning then really engage it?

tmeadows · Jul 23, 2012

at an idle with all pto implements

mjonesnh · Jul 23, 2012

Idle, which is 1050. Try to feather the clutch a little

nikdfish · Jul 23, 2012

Per the JD 3038e manual, pull the PTO knob at 1500 and then throttle up to 2500 to get the PTO to 540... (PTO is electronically engaged)

Nick

DKCDKC · Jul 23, 2012

Engage at about idle. I have done that on all my tractors and it seems kinder to the equipment. Actually, with an old cutter like mine, engaging at too high an rpm will break the sheer pin.

Willl · Jul 23, 2012

Just above OFF.

smstonypoint · Jul 23, 2012

DKCDKC said:
Engage at about idle.

I do the same, and I throttle down to idle when disengaging the PTO.

Steve

tcreeley · Jul 23, 2012

I always start easy- try to shift in to pto about 1200 rpm and get the blade turning lightly, then shift into gear as I increase the RPM to 1500- when its moving and the blades are turning (not cutting) I shift the RPMs higher to 1800 -2000. By them I am cutting. I usually cut at that rpm- 2400 rpm is 540, but I don't like all that extra noise of the engine- wasted power and its going fine. The fields are bumpy so I am in M, 2nd on my 9x3 tractor. I could go faster, but I like to stay seated- not bouncing around the place with every rough spot of ground left over from the wet spring.

TripleR · Jul 24, 2012

I engage my 10' cutter on our 8540 at about 1200 or so and engage as per manual, basically not abruptly, but not real slow, on the 5740 with 6' cutter about the same though I am still getting use to the push button engagement and may or may not modify, engaging any lower than 1200 causes mine to bog down too much.