HP and FEL

[hunterridgefarm]

Recently added a FEL to my 3130DT and love it, don't see how I ever made it without it.
My question is how much HP does the weight of the FEL take away from the gross HP? I finish mow 2 acres weekly and about 4 different acres every two weeks. Bush hog several more acres every couple of months.I drop the bucket but leave the FEL attached and have noticed I use alot more throttle to achieve the same RPM's as before the FEL.

The Woods FEL weight is 800# without the bucket so I know it is going to use up some HP, I guess I am just use to hogging and mowing without it. I have used 8N's and Ford 600 since I was 13 years old ( now 46 or 47 ? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif)and used the 3130 for two years without FEL.
I plan on removing the FEL when I start bush hogging in a few weeks, just need to grade a level space in my equipment shed in order to remove it easily. However the hog weighs more than my 6' finish mower so I wonder how this combination will work out if I chose to leave it on. On flat ground I think it will be ok.
Most of the mowing, except for around the house is rolling hills and uneven and before the FEL I could finish mow in 1st gear high, now I am mowing in 4 gear low most of the time.
I don't think I will see that much difference with the hog.
I have to travel 1/2-3/4 of a mile on the state road to finish mow 3 acres and have noticed on long grades almost having to shift to 3rd before getting to the top.
I know the simple solution is to remove the FEL I just would like to know if anyone else has experienced this and get your thoughts on how much the weight of your FEL takes away from your tractors HP.

 

[RonR]

I don't know how you would calculate it, but I don't think you will notice any loss of power mowing with the FEL on. It will give you more front ballast to counter the mower.

Be sure to keep the bucket low if you are on slopes to prevent rollovers. A lot of people run the bucket 6" off the ground to "snag" any tree stumps, etc, before they get to the mower.

Best wishes,
ron

 

[ccsial]

You shouldn't notice much difference on the level but on the hills you will. I think your 3130 weighs around 3200 Lbs. 800 Lbs is 25% of that. The amount of HP will vary with the slope. It takes more HP to lift 800 LBS then to roll it at a given speed. It would be a complex calculation.

If you keep the bucket at 6" for stump detection make sure it is tilted up so it rides over it.