Mowing hi-gear vs. low-gear mowing

[Dead Horse]

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?

Mowers, sprayers, snow blowers, chippers at full PTO (design spec 540 or 1000) speed.

Tillers. winches, spreaders, splitters at "as work condition calls for speeds", ie generally a LOT slower as "speed" is not the optimum measure of effectiveness.

 

[Cline bailing]

I don't care what peoples reasons are but diesels should always be ran full throttle. Your engine life will be extended and its not as big of strain on the tractor when you get into some thick grass.

 

[Soundguy]

I don't care what peoples reasons are but diesels should always be ran full throttle. Your engine life will be extended and its not as big of strain on the tractor when you get into some thick grass.

I would think PTO rpm, instead of full throttle. ( at least for mowing, or pto work )..

Full throttle on my diesels is another 33%, on average, above my pto speed.

soundguy

 

[Marveltone]

I would think PTO rpm, instead of full throttle. ( at least for mowing, or pto work )..

Full throttle on my diesels is another 33%, on average, above my pto speed.

soundguy

I would tend to agree. My 1510 manual recommends a the PTO (540 RPM) to be run at 2422 engine RPM, which is roughly 80% of my 3000 RPM redline. I would argue this is probably the best combination of power and efficiency for most PTO jobs, such as mowing. Check your manual. Plus, it seems diesels aren't happy unless they're churnin' out a few R's with a good load on them.

Of course, having a gear driven 12 speed tranny, I can't comment on the hi vs. low HST debate.

 

[JoeinTX]

"I don't care what peoples reasons are but diesels should always be ran full throttle....."

I had always heard this as well but I don't believe it's universally the best. Large acreage farmers tend to find proper gear/ground speed combinations for tillage and field work that allows them to throttle back and reduce fuel consumption......that's been a big deal for years now.

A former employer of mine had sort of a combination theory here: full-out for plowing and tillage vs. PTO speed/optimal RPM for other things. All of his equipment was (is) about as tip-top as it gets so I don't see that this has harmed them much if any.

 

[rswyan]

Kubota B2910 with a 72" MMM ..... if the grass is not excessively tall or thick (like today when I mowed) I use high-range and run about 1800 rpm or so (PTO speed is around 2600 rpm) ....

I think I have the gauge wheels on the deck set at 3" inches currently ... and I was cutting around an inch to an inch and a half off on average .......

Sometimes if it is really tall or thick I'll use mid-range, but never low-range .....

 

[bp fick]

I also mow in high range with my BX1860. I find that I keep the petal to the floor in low range (just to slow) so I use high range but not a lot of the pedal travel. It seems to allow me to adjust my speed much better.

Since my BX is basically new, 18 hours, I am only running it at 2600 for mowing. I also try to very the RPM some what to break it in. Once I complete the 50 hr service I plan on running it at full PTO speed.

Everyone does what is right to their own sensibilities, but mowing in HI, while only turning 2600 rpm? With 18 hours on your BX, you might consider varying the rpm more. In 15 minute intervals, have you considered running 2900 or 3000 then back down to 2800 instead?

2600 seems rather sluggish on the rpm, especially while mowing in HI.

 

[jmwade36]

I have two ranges on my Case 235 Hi and Low. I cut approx. 6-7 acres using this and a woods 60 in belly mower. I run the ground speed in high range and first gear and run the RPM around 2550 for the mower and it cuts great.

If i run it at lower RPM it doesn't cut as well and gets real bogged down in medium hight grass.

I would recomend you run your rpm at the setting stated for your PTO. If 540 probably over 2000.

 

[rjkobbeman]

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 !

Well, my RPMs are around 2200 in order to achieve 540 PTO RPM... so I have to run in low range and about 2nd gear.

Since engine RPM is tied to PTO RPM... and PTO RPM is 540 for my cutter, I use a gear that suits the terrain.

 

[Soundguy]

that's the safest bet.. safe ground speed, and whatever gear that gets that for you with engine at correct speed for correct pto or ground engagement rpm.. etc.

soundguy