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How slow do I go?

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Andy - Hammond,

04-15-2001 19:14:55

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Finally got my brand new 5' hog for my 8n. I am so excited. I was bushhogging yesterday (of course with ORC) and I kept noticing that when the PTO indicator on my tach/proof meter was dead on at 540RPM - it felt like I was literally CRAWLING along and there was just not enough power to the blades - Does this make any sense? The fields were very light - just some yellowdots - no real grass in the primary pastures.

I was cutting in 1st to avoid the weak 2nd gear issue - but with that field - I could have cut in 4th gear. (haha) - Is it supposed to feel like you are crawling when hogging at 540PTO in 1st?
Is there enough power? Kinda annoying - at times it would be nice to be able to increase power to the hog while maintaining a slow overall ground speed. - but that is a disadvantage of a N, I guess.

Do I have to keep it right on at 540? What about 2 or 3rd gears when the field is really light? Even in 2/3rd, do I need to keep it at 540 PTO? What damage will result from running it higher RPMs to the PTO/HOG? 1st was perfect for the much heavier field grass but even there I had the PTO up around 700+ RPMs on the tach/proof meter - it just didnt seem to have enough 'power' at the lower range.

Engine ran perfectly and oil pressure never dropped below 27-30psi ALL DAY LONG - I am very pleased with this great tractor - but I feel like I could have crawled around towing a boat on my back faster than the 8n was at 540 in 1st. Any opinions/comments?

Thanks!
Andy

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Andy - Hammond, LA

04-16-2001 05:26:38

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Re: How slow do I go? in reply to Andy - Hammond, LA, 04-15-2001 19:14:55

Thanks for the comments. So, the gear will depend on the terrain. But in that gear, must the PTO speed stay around the 540RPM mark? What type of damage might occur above 540RPM? The bush's driveshaft seems to begin to wobble much more severely above 540 etc. BTW, YES slower was better in my back paddocks, one has about 15 old stumps in it and I had to go really slow in order to see them. (of course I was crawling - slower than syrup while doing this) and I still managed to roll up my front wheels on 2 of them. Dang things! It is really hard to walk it out since the grass was SO THICK and high.

Thanks for the help! Andy

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Dell (WA)

04-16-2001 09:49:06

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Re: Re: How slow do I go? in reply to Andy - Hammond, LA, 04-16-2001 05:26:38

Andy..... ..Glad to read that you are using an ORC with your brushog.

540 PTO rpms is not chiseled in granite.

Pick a speed that you are confortable driving across the ground, if your hog is turning TO SLOW, the grass won't cut. If the grass is too tall or heavy, just cut a half a hogswidth.

Just listen to both your tractor engine and your hog. If'n the hogsblades start to moan, your PTO rpms runnin' too fast, cut the engine rpms or shift to a higher gear.

I do a lot of my mowing in 1st & under, and 3rd & under (which is slower groundspeed wize than 2nd straight). I've also mowed in 3rd straight, which is moving to fast for my ruff pasture ground..... ..Dell

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Scott(Ks.)

04-16-2001 04:33:45

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Re: How slow do I go? in reply to Andy - Hammond, LA, 04-15-2001 19:14:55

If you're comfortable that there are no major obstacles where you are mowing use 2'nd gear. I do all my finish mowing in 2'nd. I also pulled a round baler in 2'nd for many years. When baling you put it in and out of gear for each bale all day long. If you're cutting heavy brush, put it in 1'st of course. You are not going to hurt it with normal use.

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Novice 8N Owner

04-16-2001 04:29:56

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Re: How slow do I go? in reply to Andy - Hammond, LA, 04-15-2001 19:14:55

Andy, Sounds like you have open pasture....however, I will tell you what I told my 14 yr. old. Even in 1st gear, don't get "locked-in" to what's going on behind the tractor. Even in 1st, the tractor seems to reach objects quicker than you think. Glad to here you're working the old girl. I'm sure your tractor is much happier now. :)

Todd

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RON/PA

04-16-2001 02:57:50

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Re: How slow do I go? in reply to Andy - Hammond, LA, 04-15-2001 19:14:55

I think that you will find that the 540 speed refers to the pto speed as opposed to faster speeds available on newer machines. I do not try to work any of my pto driven implements by engine speed at the tach. I normally run my 8n so that it is working at a leisurely pace, not overspeed but definately not lugging, ( it is after all a 50 year old piece of equipment) I think you can safely pick up the pace a bit
Just my opinion, and we all know what they're worth. RON/PA

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Big Mike

04-16-2001 00:23:38

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Re: How slow do I go? in reply to Andy - Hammond, LA, 04-15-2001 19:14:55

ME personally ,I would have no worries with using second gear, as the field conditions sound like a mowing job instead of bushhoggin,bush hogs are desighned to cut underbrush and small trees,A MUCH harsher unforgiving tear the heck out of your machine type conditions that you describe,the damage comes from hitting rocks or large stumps stopping the pto dead in its tracks while the motor is trying to spin the pto shaft,I dont have a hog but i use a 8N with a KUBOTA 60 inch finish mower that i mow an old pasture with,learned that 1st best for around trees and obsticles,2nd for thicker grass ,3rd for wide open spaces grass not too high,i just look behind mower.If i like what i see fine if not drop a gear. my .05cents worth

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Bill

04-15-2001 19:39:37

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Re: How slow do I go? in reply to Andy - Hammond, LA, 04-15-2001 19:14:55

I cut the grass in third gear Saturday. Grass was very light, field was flat and terrain was familiar. Bounces you around a lot. Higher grass means second gear to me. In places that I have not mowed before first gear and 1000 engine RPM is safer even if it means several passes.

Slower is much safer. A foot square rock 4 inches thick will do a lot of damage. Found one in a previously mowed field but didn't hit it.

My grandson says the industrial strength lawn mower will hurt you.

Bill Stanley

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