New G154 Owner here

   / New G154 Owner here
  • Thread Starter
#11  
Im in the process of getting a small barn build for the tractor, but I keep it covered with a tarp when not using it.
So, Im changing the gear oil again. This time I'm rinsing it with a gallon of diesel to see if I can get it clear.

New question, can anyone recommend a brush hog for this tractor? I guessing a 4ft is all it can handle, but I heard of a lighter 5ft cutter that would work for 15hp+ tractors? ANy thoughts?
 
   / New G154 Owner here #12  
Fundamentally you have a given amount of horsepower to work with, in this case around 13 hp. Yes, the "15" in the "154" designation is supposed to imply 15 hp but if you look at the engine block you'll see "13PS" stamped into it which is just under 13 hp. A "PS" is another measure of power that is slightly less than a hp. You'll hear people say "well it's a diesel so the extra torque means it can handle more" which is not accurate. Horsepower is what gets work done (at a certain rate), not torque. If torque was the ultimate answer to doing work I'd find a way to run a mower with the 1500 ft*lbs available from one of the impact wrench I have (compared to the 30 or so ft*lbs available from the engine).

Larger implements (within physical limitations) just means you will need to go slower assuming you have enough power available to overcome the inherent losses in the equipment with some to spare to do the actual work. From a practical standpoint, 4' is about as large as I would look for. The "rule-of-thumb" I've always heard is 5hp per 1' of mower. Then you can get into the type of mower as some are more efficient than others, etc. but it's a good starting point. Obviously if you stick diligently to that you're looking at 3' of mower width but it will help ensure you can travel at a "normal" speed by holding to this smaller value.
 
   / New G154 Owner here #13  
OP - I think you will be happier in the long run with a 42" cutter. It will match your HP and rear wheel width better.
 
   / New G154 Owner here
  • Thread Starter
#14  
Hmmm. I'm beginning to wonder if this tractor is too small for what I want it to do. I have just over 8 acres I need to manage for my cattle, and I think a 4 foot cutter might be too small. Thoughts?

On a side note, flushing the gear oil with diesel cleaned it right up, and is now nice a clear. She's a good little tractor, just the previous owner neglected her a bit.
 
   / New G154 Owner here #15  
It comes down to how much time you have to dedicate to mowing and buy the amount of horsepower and mower necessary to get to what you have in mind. I would suspect to mow at a rate of 6mph in reasonably thick/tall grass you'll need the 5 hp/ft value.
 
   / New G154 Owner here #16  
15hp just means it takes a little longer. I had a '48 Farmall Cub which was 8hp. I got a lot done with it. I now have a 30hp for my 19 acres and it works well. Many folks like the much larger tractors 50hp and up. It is a matter of preference and money to spend.

The rule of thumb is 5 HP per foot of cutter. Thus a 5 foot bush hog requires 25 HP.
I used to use a sicklebar mower with the Farmall Cub. That worked very well. Get one second hand.
5 Foot Sickle Bar Mower For Subcompact Tractors - YouTube



Fill the rear tires with RimGuard beet juice. It is non toxic unlike antifreeze, and it won't corrode the rims and valve stems like calcium chloride.
 
   / New G154 Owner here #17  
I have a 4' brush hog for my 152. It cannot mow up any steep grades but will run all day; because that's how long it takes to mow my 5 acres. Also have a sickle bar that doesn't require as much HP but half the width so no real advantage.
 
   / New G154 Owner here #18  
Your tractor could easily handle a 5' sicklebar mower.

I like sicklebar mowers. Here is a you tube sicklebar mower at work. Sure beats a 42" mower.
For years I used the same combination to cut the goldenrod and small spruce that were growing up in my back pasture.
 
   / New G154 Owner here #19  
Here is a horse drawn sicklebar mower at work. No need for a bush hog!

 
   / New G154 Owner here #20  
No need for a tractor either! So that makes the horsepower to length of cut more like 0.2hp/ft! Sounds like the way to go :)
 

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