TC55DA sounds like over-rev!

Roto · Jun 30, 2007

I was mowing hay today and noticed that she sounds like she is going to take off into space. 2500 is the 540pto speed and I cut at 2100-2200 and any more then that and she sounds like its over-reving the engine. Any other TC55D owners feel that way? Either my tach is off or its just me but sounds way faster then my other 2 tractors and looks like its(mower) going faster as well.

mike

DieselMonk · Jul 2, 2007

yeop, same here. I usually mow between 1900 and 2200 rpms. I don't think she is overreving at 2500, but it surely sounds fast. I always had the impression that my TC55DA doesn't need to rev 2500rpm for 540 either. I thought so 2100-2200 and the mower sounded same as fast as she did on my old MF165 at 540 PTO. Not sure, as I don't have anything to measure the speed of the PTO shaft.

Ford850 · Jul 2, 2007

I've been mowing in Medium range, 3rd gear, at about 2000 rpms. I've gone through very heavy growth with no problems. Part of the "takeoff" sound is turbo winding up. I thought I was saving fuel but sometimes the higher rpms can save fuel as I understand it. I have to check out the nebraska tests again.

Soundguy · Jul 3, 2007

It's not to hard to get a dial indicator with a wheel to check your pto speed... just be carefull standing next to the exposed stub.

Soundguy

JC-jetro · Jul 3, 2007

Soundguy said:
It's not to hard to get a dial indicator with a wheel to check your pto speed... just be carefull standing next to the exposed stub.

Soundguy

I would go with a non contact optical tach. it is pretty safe, just stick a small piece of reflective tape that comes with the device on the shaft, hub or etc and then point the light square at the tape and depending the type of tach either read rpm digitally or analog. I don't think if "dial indicator" is the right terminology. You can have contact type tach also (older vintage) where you have a cone shape rubbber adaptor that you line of with the rotating end of the shaft, steady yourself and make the contact. The rubber cone shaft will spin at the rate of the shaft and you can read rpm. Contact type is dangerous and have hardly seen any service tech use it for a long time.

JC

Dial indicator:
Chicago Dial Indicator - mechanical and electronic gages

Optical tach (non contact):
Fieldpiece Optical Laser Tachometer - Mfg# SRPM1

Roto · Jul 3, 2007

Ive been baling last couple of days and it runs a little better at 2300-2400 when baling. She sure winds up at 2500 but that probably is the correct 540 pto speed. Your suppose to be able to run this at 2700 for rated rpm and man i cant imagine it. She sure sounds like she is burning some fuel cranking at 2300 to 2400. My little TC33d is so much quieter and sounds like its idling at pto speed compared to this but must just be the HP difference and turbo.

Mike

TrippleT · Jul 3, 2007

I have had that same thing with my TC33D, sounds like it is screaming. When I run it fast enough to turn the 540 light on it will cause the oil to come out the vent in the top of the mower. But, I can run about twenty two hundred and the mower does just as good a job, and doesn't push the gear oil out.
If you have doubts and want to run at the 540, you can do as Soundguy says and check the RPM's on the PTO.

CJ4 · Jul 13, 2007

I've had my TC55 for over 1 1/2 yrs now and I've always felt the same thing. I thought it was just my brush-hog. I can't imagine that the 540 pto speed is the necessary rpm to run this tractor at. Glad it's not just me.

Roto · Jul 13, 2007

I cut more hay yesterday and run it at 2350 and it didnt sound as bad as before. Its just me i guess and im not used to the turbo diesal or something but she sure sounds like its reving high.

mike