Economy PTO.

Gary Fowler · May 22, 2018

My LS doesn't have an economy switch but it does have a 3 speed PTO gear box(540/750/1000). I usually run it in 750 speed but reduce the throttle from 1900 RPM which is PTO speed to about 1400 which is about the ratio of reduction between 540/750 (72%), this gives me slightly over the 540 speed but enough RPM for a little added power. It not only reduces wear on the engine but makes for quieter engine also. I really haven't checked to see if it is saving any fuel but logically it should save about 25%.

Grumpa Wally · May 24, 2018

My M7060HD12 with a 6' bush hog in 24" grass will run about 550 PTO rpm at 3.2 mph and do a good job. I can't tell any harder load on the motor, it has plenty of hp to handle it. Loving this machine so far.

BufordBoone · May 25, 2018

Cut the grass in front of the cabin and around the pond today. Ran the M7060 in EPTO mode with the Bush Hog 10' offset cutter. It cut very well. Had been two weeks since last cutting. Around the pond I ran it in 2nd gear. On the long stretches I ran it in 6th gear.

Best part is that the cutter doesn't have any sway on this tractor. The JD 2355 always had some sway. I would have to guess how much to cut around objects.

Another benefit is the M7060 has a tighter turn radius than the JD2355.

And then there is the cab...and air conditioning.

Every time I use this tractor I become more pleased with the decision.

Turbys_1700 · May 25, 2018

Yes...the cab and air conditioning are game changers for me too...

rustyshakelford · May 25, 2018

SDT said:
EPTO is intended to reduce fuel consumption and wear and tear on the engine.

I use EPTO most of the time on my M9960 with a HD Woods BB840X 7' rotary cutter. I can operate the engine at around 1,700 RPM which operates the PTO at around 600 RPM, which is about right for most of my mowing chores.

That said, I mow about as fast as my mowers will cut well (600 PTO RPM provides higher blade tip speed allowing higher ground while, at the same time, increasing engine RPM a bit, resulting in a bit more HP) and there are times when I cannot pull the 7' cutter in heavy cover at the ground speed that I want to maintain while in EPTO.

I plan to replace the 7' cutter with a 15' BW within the next year. Once I do that, I expect that it will never again see EPTO.

SDT

I run my 15’ batwing in ePTO unless it’s very tall and thick. According to the Nebraska tractor tests the hp difference is about 5hp between the two. Only thing I’ve noticed is it doesn’t like starting the mower when it’s been up and the blades haven’t spun recently. Bump the throttle up and it’s fine. Once it’s been running it’s no problem to get it going

Brett

Dave M7040 · May 26, 2018

The engine torque curve tells the story.

By design the 540 rpm pto is operating just over the peak of the engine torque curve.

As the load on the pto increases and the engine slows down, it is actually moving back up the torque curve and can respond easily to a heavier load as it has more torque available.

A pto driven generator is an example of when knowing where you are operating on the torque curve is important as you don't want the engine to suddenly stall if a large load happens at the generator.

If you were running a generator using the lower engine speed pto and a sudden large electrical load happened, your engine could suddenly stall as you are operating on the down slope of the torque curve and the slower the engine rpm the less the torque you have available.

It is a great feature, you just need to understand when it is appropriate to use it.

Dave M7040