Woods RM990 Finish Mower, How fast should I mow

[djradz]

</font><font color="blue" class="small Tractor speed is dictated by how rough your ground is. Blade RPM is dictated by the grass height and condition. Start mowing at a comfortable tractor speed and low blade RPM, and ramp up the blade RPM just until you are happy with the result.

Reason for the lowest blade RPM is important. If you are lucky enough to get a good cut with a low blade RPM, the blades can stay sharp 2x or 3x longer. I would guess blade wear quadruples when the blade RPM is doubled.

Reason for the highest tractor speed possible (Without rattling your bones) is, there's something cold to drink waiting for you when you finish.

I agee with the tractor speed being dependent on the ground condition but also would add that the desired results are highly dependent as well. However, blade speed should be at whatever results from the tractor running a PTO speed of 540 rpm, or at least close to that. The tractor engine is in its "sweet spot" as far as HP and torque, and the mowing equipment was designed to run somewhere near that speed. If you run much slower, the blades start to be plowing through the grass rather than cutting it and clearing out the cuttings is much less efficient.

 

[Mark Page]

I've always set my bush hog and my finish mower an inch or two 2 higher at the rear than at the front. The reasoning is you only want to cut the material once, and it allows the clippings to escape with less resistance. It's also easier on fuel and the implement and gives a cleaner cut.
This is another piece of sage advice from an old farmer at the local Farm Supply Store. In the winter you can always find 2 or three of them there. Just listening to their conversations is an education. If they know you and decide that you're OK you can occassionally slip in a question.