Mowing hi-gear vs. low-gear mowing

[GardenFence]

Looking for opinions on mowing in hi-gear vs. low gear with my Kubota BX2200 3-cyl. diesel, 60-inch deck, and also whether to use full throttle or not. Dealer told me to mow in low-gear full throttle. Others have said high-gear and not-full throttle, which can be quicker also. Both seem to work well, and give me a nice cut. Bottom line - what is better / easiest on the tractor? Does it even matter which method, as long as i am getting a nice cut and the tractor isn't labouring? Thanks !

 

[Transit]

There are a lot of depends on that your not telling us. What kind of mower, rough cut or finish? How tall is the grass?
In general, what ever engine speed it takes to run the PTO at 540 rpm. 60 in deck is 5 ft, at 5 hp/ft you need a minimum of 25 hp at the PTO, not engine hp. Yes, under ideal conditions you can do the job with less hp.

 

[TripleR]

I had a BX2200 60" MMM for six years and since it had no tach, I ran it full throttle or close and I mowed in low while my wife mowed in high on flat ground and low on hills. I honestly couldn't tell the difference and since my son in law now has it and it still runs like a top, I don't guess we hurt it. I am sure you will get differing opinions and all I am going by is my personal experience.

We are running our BX2660 the same way, except I have a tach now and run at PTO speeds.

 

[GardenFence]

It's a mid-mount finishing more, and i mow around 2 to 2.5 acres of lawn, approx. 1 acre of which is pretty thick. I think TripleR maybe has the answer.... mow in low for the thicker stuff, but can go to high for the thinner part of lawn where it is sandy and the grass is not too thick.

 

[flyingcow]

Is it HST? I think you should run the rpm's up with a HST.

 

[RoyJackson]

Is it HST? I think you should run the rpm's up with a HST.

The BX2200 was only available with HST.

That out of the way...your mower will probably cut better at PTO speed (higher RPM) since that's the speed it was designed to cut at. Since the PTO is independent of ground speed, eiither high range or low range should work, as long as the mower is turning at it's design speed.

 

[Soundguy]

Use the engine rpm that give you correct pto rpm. choose a gear/range at that rpm that gives you a safe ground speed for the material you are mowing. IE.. slow enough to not bog down and to dodge obstacles.

no single answer as it will depend on what/where you are mowing each time.

soundguy

 

[Squeak n Itch]

Another factor for ground speed is the terrain. On rough and bumpy ground slower is better as the bouncing is kept to a minimum. On smooth ground, much less of a difference.

On my Befco RFM they write that a higher ground speed will help in dispersal of cuttings. But it is a rear discharge mower.

Perhaps we are talking, as my Grandpa used to say, "Six of one, half dozen of the other!"

 

[radman1]

I mow in high on my JD 2305 with 54" deck. Mostly flat with mild slopes. Seems too slow in low range. Low range only if grass is heavy and can't go fast.

 

[TGF]

This brings up and interesting question, with the mowers its a good idea to run at 540 or 1000 regardless of the expected work load. In other threads I see people running PTO stuff like PHD's at barely above idle. Being new I thought you ran everything at 540 or 1000 if it attached to the PTO. How do you know which attachments are ok to run below 540 or 1000?