Posted by Rod in Forfar on June 21, 2010 at 16:39:16 from (64.118.26.65):
I'm looking for answers to the old question: at what speed do I run my finishing mower?
It's a recently-acquired '81 Bolens G174. That's a 41" wide, 17 hp, 4WD, diesel tractor with tall wheels and turf tires. It came with a 3 pt. hitch-mounted Woods 48" finish mower, model RM48YM-2. The thing cuts like a bandit, but the manual's specifications call for PTO settings of 840 rpm or 1000, giving blade rpm of 3126 or 3722. At top speed that's 16,380' per minute, or about 180 miles per hour tip speed.
Then we come to the Bolens's 3-speed PTO. At 2700 rpm, it offers choices of 472, 752, and 1177.
I have put a tank and a half of diesel through it so far, mostly cutting hay out from between young trees -- pretty heavy work. I don't run it at anywhere near full speed, more like 2/3, and it cuts very well at PTO selection 2. When the blades get dull the tractor doesn't lose speed, just beats the daylights out of what it can no longer cut.
My question is for someone who owns a similar tractor with a 2 cylinder Mitsubishi engine: how fast is full speed? (2700?) what's idle? (1000?) what's a reasonable speed for cutting in 1 High? For very intricate or heavy cutting I drop down to 3 Low, but it's a huge drop in ground speed and the mower plugs more readily.
The tractor has impressed me with its strength and versatility. I'd like to know if reasonable revolution choices can hurt it, or can experience with other old engines carry over to the 2 cylinder Japanese wonder.
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