Why mow in first gear? (tach says 540rpm 1st)

[MMagis]

Really? I always thought that each blade takes a little bite as the deck advances into the uncut grass at a uniform rate. In other words, each blade takes a turn cutting when it's in the leading half of the deck, then a turn mulching or just sightseeing when it's in the trailing half of the deck.

You are correct. But I have to be honest, I fail to see how this has anything to do with the question.
I can't imagine mowing 10 acres in 1st gear. That had to be agonizing. Not sure about everyone else, but I mow at the speed and RPMs that fit the conditions. It may be 1st gear and full throttle, or 6th gear and half throttle. Obviously, different tractors have different gearing. My pointing being, there's no one correct speed.

 

[Ken]

You are correct. But I have to be honest, I fail to see how this has anything to do with the question.
I can't imagine mowing 10 acres in 1st gear. That had to be agonizing. Not sure about everyone else, but I mow at the speed and RPMs that fit the conditions. It may be 1st gear and full throttle, or 6th gear and half throttle. Obviously, different tractors have different gearing. My pointing being, there's no one correct speed.

I have usually thought the tach. rpm was from engine speed 540 rpm set for pto. and the ground speed driven by gear ratio of transmission. But then still new to tractor operations around 60 years.
ken

 

[MMagis]

I have usually thought the tach. rpm was from engine speed 540 rpm set for pto. and the ground speed driven by gear ratio of transmission. But then still new to tractor operations around 60 years.
ken

I guess I'm not sure what you're saying. Did I imply otherwise?

 

[Soundguy]

You are correct. But I have to be honest, I fail to see how this has anything to do with the question.
I can't imagine mowing 10 acres in 1st gear. That had to be agonizing. Not sure about everyone else, but I mow at the speed and RPMs that fit the conditions. It may be 1st gear and full throttle, or 6th gear and half throttle. Obviously, different tractors have different gearing. My pointing being, there's no one correct speed.

yep.. on my gear driven fords, for instance.. on my 8spd 4600.. I mow in 5th gear.. etc. at pto rpm..

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

I have usually thought the tach. rpm was from engine speed 540 rpm set for pto. and the ground speed driven by gear ratio of transmission. But then still new to tractor operations around 60 years.
ken

it is.. .. i don't think anyone else has implied otherwise.

soundguy

 

[EE_Bota]

Presumably, this is not a "ground speed" pto, right?
Using high gears in a ground speed type has nasty safety consequences.

 

[jbooth]

Simple solution!!! Kick it up a gear or 2 and see how it mows. If it bogs, drop down a gear.

 

[Reg]

As I recall Kukje tried to incorporate the tach and speedo functions into one gauge.

I think there is an outside quadrant indicating "Ground speed in 1st gear" (words to that effect) when PTO is at 540.

I don't remember the exact markings on my slightly larger Kukje that is 80 something miles from here right now, so I can't check.

I have always taken it to mean something like;
"This is the engine speed that gives 540 on the PTO and at that engine speed your ground speed IF you are in first gear is (see outer quadrant, it may be around 1/2 or 1 MPH).

I typically mow in the highest gear I can.
As I have said in other threads, I will often mow with a 540 flail mower on the 1,000 RPM PTO gear with reduced engine revs when the load is light.
Running the engine at 54 or so (50 to 60) percent of revs drops the ground speed (in the same gear) by the same percentage, so the work load is also decreased.
Sure, it may take a little longer, though not always, and I am not always in a hurry to finish (-:

PS
I am fairly sure that the "HOURS" indicated on the tach/hour meter are in fact some representation of revs, e.g. total revs/2600*60.
It is NOT an hour meter in the "run time" sense, i.e. not a simple 12 volt clock that runs when the key is on and the engine running.

 

[Reg]

Is this one of those grey market asian tractors with a multi-speed PTO?

Depends what you mean by "asian"
"asian" as in built by the same south Korean company that has made several (many ?) of the Deere tractors for several decades ?
Then yes, it is "asian", built by Kukje and brand named in PA, they made it "Red" and I think that means non-gray.

They are pretty much synonymous with "Branson".

It has a two speed PTO, 540 and 1,000.
The output gear speed is selected with a lever, the engine speed for 540 or 1,000 rpm PTO speed is close to the same for either gear.
As I recall there is a short arc on the tach, one end of the arc for 540, the other end for 1,000, i.e. the internal gearing is not exactly in the ratio of 27:50

 

[Carykong]

I used to hog,5' mower, with my CASE VAC. I normally set the gear and rpm for a consistent speed and rpm and would vary the width of cut,if necessary, to preserve the speed and rpm. I seldom played with the gears once I had a speed that I was comfy with. Keep in mind,a 1952 CASE VAC,puts out only about 15-20 horsepower,but has a sturdy gear box. That tractor could climb a telephone pole if it had enough traction.