What should I run my rpms at?

[Ranch120]

I have been using my new L3400 with FEL for the past few days. Have been prepping for a new yard to be put in. Question: where should I run my RPMs at? I notice on the dial it has a small white line next to 2500 rpm. Does this mean the "optimum" rpm setting for most work?, or does it mean "dont go over this rpm level". My old John Deere dealer told me to always run my diesal 455 garden tractor at full rpm maxed all the time.

Any advice is appreciated!

Ranch120

 

[Fjord]

The mark on your tach is probably the rpm at which the PTO is turning at 540, which would be critical for running a generator. For the kind of loader work I do I'm usually running around 1800 and it seems to do the job OK and not as noisy. For the snowblower it doesn't blow the snow as far below rated rpm, but can still be used that way.Just my two cents .I'm not the most experienced guy on this site so take what I tell you with a grain of salt and see what the next post tells you.

 

[Stef]

where should I run my RPMs at?

It's a question of comfort. More RPMs means more ground speed and more hydraulic flow (the loader will move faster and will be stronger... or, depending on your experience working with a loader, it'll be jerkier). If I want to work slowly with medium loads then I use a lower RPM. If I have a lot of work to do or if I work with heavy loads then rated RPM works best for me. Sometimes you don't need a lot of hydraulic flow for the loader but ground speed is too slow so you have to raise the RPM. Another point is: more RPM means higher fuel consumption.

Snowblower, mower, rotary cutter... rated RPM.

 

[MOPAULY]

I run my BX24 around 1800 - 2000 when putting around, about 2600 when mowing. I'm still under my 50 hour service so I can't run full throttle yet, but don't know if I'd have a reason to anyway.

 

[Bird]

When using a PTO powered implement, I always ran my tractors are the full rated engine RPM for 540 RPM on the PTO. But when doing most front end loader work, on the B2710 I found that 2200 was about right for my comfort level; i.e., not quite as loud as PTO speed, but still adequate power and speed for the hydraulics. It would likely be different with different tractors.

 

[kwolfe]

Bird is right. I have a little bx1500 which I run just under full throttle most of the time. Reason, I need all the lift capacity I can get, not to mention lower rpms means the tractor does not move as fast. Since I use low gear for my loader work, I need the extra ground speed.

 

[Sully2]

I with you guys! The ONLY time my 3030 is running wide open is when Im traveling on the road..so I can get MAX "MPH" out of it. As long as a tracor is running at "some RPM" above its max TORQUE RPM...there is no danger of overheating it because your "bogging it down" so to speak.

Id say my usual RPM is "right at" 2100-2200 rpm.

 

[Sully2]

Bird is right. I have a little bx1500 which I run just under full throttle most of the time. Reason, I need all the lift capacity I can get, not to mention lower rpms means the tractor does not move as fast. Since I use low gear for my loader work, I need the extra ground speed.

Exactly! I have a little riding tractor here...12HP..and grass cutting is done at WOT. Ground speed controlled by the tranny..but engine has to be wide open for the mower blades to spin fast enough ( belt driven)

 

[N80]

My tractor has a manual tranny. For loader work, etc, the rpms are dictated by the gear that I _need_ to be in. Mowing is a different story as other things come into play. I want my ground speed to be high enough so that I can get the job done in good time, but my terrain is bumpy and uneven so ground speed has to match terrain as well. So I try to select a gear that gives me just the right ground speed and as close to 540 pto rpm as well.

 

[lwschnell]

In general I prefer to run the engine at about the peak of the torque curve which is in the 1500-1700 rpm range. This is also very close to the minimum fuel consumption rate and provides adequate speed when using the FEL or ground engaging implements. Of course when using a PTO driven implement I operate at about 2600 rpm in order to get the rated 540 rpm at the PTO.