BX1880 - not enough power to run mower

[RaydaKub]

Seems like most of the comments on all 4 pages are concerned with cut quality. OP said it will drop by 1000 rpm's. That sounds like fuel or the brake is on to me. There's no way with the mower cutting only 1/2" grass that it should drop RPM at all no matter how fast it goes.

 

[jonsstihl]

I forgot until you mentioned it but maybe the brake is on and he is in high gear. that would explain a few things

 

[USMC2001PSD]

I just bought a used BX1880 with 5 hours on it. I should have, but did not test it using the mower to cut grass before bringing it home. I assumed they limit it to a 54 mower for a reason. I didn稚 expect huge power output. However, I did think I could mow 1/2 off my grass (grass at 4 and deck set to 3-1/2? without it bogging down. In high range at wide open throttle, if you advance the hydrostatic pedal even half way on flat ground the rpms drop easily 3-400 rpm. If I try full speed at wide open throttle, flat ground, cutting only 1/2 off the top, the engine bogs down and drops from 3450 rpm to 2500 rpm.

I didn稚 expect it to mow like my ZD331 but this is pretty disappointing. Am I expecting too much? If it痴 normal I guess I have to live with it. If not, I壇 appreciate suggestions on things to check. Moisture in the fuel seems possible, but I have no way of knowing if this is normal. Thanks in advance.

I have a BX2360 not an 18XX series but check to be sure the PTO is set only to the "mid" option. My neighbor was cutting with his set to "mid and rear" by accident and it was bogging. I mow with my 60in deck at 3.5in and can run maximum ground speed but it won't deliver a good cut and is an extremely rough ride. I generally mow in high range but do not go fast. If I'm cutting tall grass I mow in low range.

 

[trentstractor]

I bought a BX1880/54 about a year ago, and have 50 hours on it, mostly mowing. I have never been short of power except going up a hill mowing. I don't push a mower hard, but do run in high range at a speed faster than low range will go. I would guess I run around 4 mph, up to 5 sometimes. I had a Cub Cadet dealership from 1998-2010, and saw a lot of different situations. One thing that will use power is the deck being out of level from front to rear. The front should be about 1/4" lower than the rear. If the rear is lower than the front, the grass gets cut twice, and it takes a lot of power. I mow with my BX 1880 around 2750 rpm and it does fine. I don't like too much blade tip speed because our grass is often wet, and a slower speed will throw it out and a higher blade speed will plaster it under the deck more. Most consumer model gas mowers are over powered anymore. The BX1880 is not overpowered, but adequate for the 54 in my opinion. I saw a lot of customers over the years that only knew one speed, as fast as it will go. I had some people get on a commercial z turn, and say it was "too fast". Didn't make sense to me as you could operate it at any speed up to full speed. I would say if it will mow at 5 mph, that would be good enough for me. If you want to go faster than that, you may need more power.