If we ever got to mow our land before the grass got [too] high, we'd use Mid-range and high revs, but as we always seem to get stymied by rain and work schedules, and we live on a heavily treed property with lots to maneuver around, we mow in Low-range with high revs.
If we had an open flat meadow-like lawn without rocks, trees, holes, dips, hills, dales, culverts, and a large koi pond, it'd still be Mid-range with high revs, but then we'd prolly floor the go-pedal...
We have a Kubota B2320, and for that tractor's HP vs weight ratio, even unloaded- High really IS just a road gear- if we try to head up the hill on our driveway coming in from the road, it cruises pretty quickly along- until about 3/4 of the way uphill, and then no matter how fast you were going, or what you do with the go-pedal [keep it down for max velocity or lighten up on it to let the hydros get more power] it'll bog down and stall- unless you stop and downshift to the Middle-range
/ Mowing Travel Speed: What range is everyone using?
I need more comment on this ...... If using the BX High range and lowering the HST speed with the pedal with the PTO at 2500 rp...m, what has one accomplished? As I understand it, the blade speed ( approx 2500 rpm) is an important factor. But putting the pedal to the metal in High range would make for a bumpy ride, even on the straight away....and would make a poor cut on taller grass. Hi O Silver Away.
But, it must work....cause some are doing it to their satisfaction.
Cheers,
Mike
/ Mowing Travel Speed: What range is everyone using?
I have a 72” 3pt rear discharge deck on my B2650.
I have steep hills in 2 areas that I mow in LOW and 4WD.
The rest I mow in MIDRANGE and 2WD but I don’t floor it.
In all cases I keep the PTO speed at 540 rpm for the mower deck.
Forward speed as terrain allows. Bumpy areas are slower of course.
/ Mowing Travel Speed: What range is everyone using?
Moship -- what you have is not an equipment question or issue, it is a personnel issue. I run a BX2200 with belly mower here and a B2150 in another location with either belly mower or 5ft bush hog when the grass is higher. In my opinion the best competent user adjusts his speed and gear selection to what he hears and what produces the better outcome. If it doesn't sound right to me I change speed or gearing until it "seems right" and feels smooth. Sound and feel are more drivers than the numbers. In other words very subjective.
I have no idea of you or your Dad's equipment operating background . My guess is you have differing views of his operator behavior and you are trying for a landslide of opinions you can hit him with and say "See there, they say to slow down." It appears to me from the various inputs (and my own experience) that most are using medium range if they have one and not using high range on rough surface fields (as opposed to smooth lawn surfaces.) Given that your Dad is now running a larger machine than before and a cab model as well and is mainly on moderately rough surfaces the consensus I hear is "use medium range rather than high." I think most of us run full throttle rpm on the smaller BX series and adjust speed with the pedal. I have no experience with the 3030 or cab tractors of any size.
I would say there is a big difference between a BX2200 and a 3030 cab model with a 6ft MMM. Pure guess is that flat out rpm and mid range on the 3030 is just as fast as one would normally mow on the 2200 AND cutting a foot wider path. I'd run there until proven otherwise by experience and feel.
