Mowing Old L275 and brush hog

[jimmysisson]

Hello all. I usually post over in NH but this is for a friend. He bought a nice-shape L275DT, no loader, 900 hours, sight unseen. Also bought a Bush Hog SQ160, almost new, from another dealer. The service mgr at the Kubota dealer who serviced the tractor and shipped it to him said the Squealer was too much mower for that tractor and would stress his PTO clutch. This is an older Kubota with the shuttle lever next to the main shift lever, not up by the steering wheel.
The manual says this machine can handle a 650# brush hog up to 6' wide, so I say his tractor can handle his mower. The squealer is 650# and 5' wide. My friend is mechanically hopeless. What do you all think? He'll be mowing grass only, pretty much, about 7 acres rolling, 3-4 times a year.
Thanks, Jim

 

[KennyV]

It should be Fine with a 5 foot mower... if he wants to 'reduce' the load on the drive line, have him keep the blades as sharp as possible, should be easy to do if he is mainly mowing grass... KennyV

 

[jimmysisson]

Thanks, Ken. I agree about keeping sharp, once the rocks are marked or removed. Any other comments from anyone? I'm hoping to make my friend not feel foolish.
Jim

 

[wmonroe]

I also think it will handle it fine, but if he does get into some heavy stuff just take a narrower pass. I wouldn't worry too much and just adapt the mowing as needed, but for grass that's fairly kept up with it should work well. Might get some front weights depending on how hilly the ground is.

 

[LD1]

The dealer that told him a 5' meduim duty mower is too much......he's an idiot.

 

[jimmysisson]

Thanks, all. Pretty much what I told him. The SM had him nervous, this should help.
Jim

 

[jimmysisson]

Hi. I need a bit more help for my buddy's old L275. His main shift lever has four speeds for the wheel drive. To the left of that, what I thought was a F-R shuttle lever (his owners manual is incorrect) is a four speed PTO shifter. Between them and closer to the seat is a vertical-axis two speed shift lever that seems to affect both the wheel drive speed and the PTO speed.

So this rig has 8 fwd / 2 rev tranny and 8 PTO speeds?? Anyway, which PTO gear position do you think corresponds with 540 PTO rpm at the mark on the tach (2800??)? He's mowing in low range third gear as he gets used to the machine. I have not sat on this machine, only asked questions as he has operated it.

Also, how do you tell how hot the engine is running? No temp gauge. I'd sure hate him to overheat the thing, since he's not used to it yet.

Thanks all
Jim

 

[LD1]

May want to start a new thread. I know nothing about the 275 other than what can be found online. Which tractor data lists as a 4 speed trans with high low reverse shuttle. And no mention of anything other than 540 pto

 

[wmonroe]

I can't help with the transmission but for engine temp it probably has a whistle on the radiator overflow. My dads B8200 is set up that way but I've never heard it whistle, so either he's never had it too hot or it doesn't work. Gauges can be had pretty cheap, it would probably be worth putting a coolant temp gauge in.

 

[rbargeron]

Big edit - had the wrong info - sorry. L275 parts list does show a gear-type reverser was available.