Branson Trailer 4720i (47 hp)

rasorbackq · Nov 19, 2012

This tractor thing is all new to me.
I just bought a larger piece of land and wanted to get a tractor . After an long search I bought a Branson 4720i (hydrostatic) with a hoe. Not sure if I am driving it correctly or if there is a problem with the unit. Seems I run the throttle at 1500in low gear most times Seems any small incline the tractor wants to stale on it. RPMs goes from 1500 down to 500 She continues to climb it but its not a big hill by no means and is me and the hoe . It works better with out the hoe on the back but still has some problems It has yet to stale but is very close.
Yesterday I tried it at 2200 RPM engine was just screaming and was even worst . Any ideas?

greg_g · Nov 19, 2012

You're not the first new owner to make this mistake. Get used to the "screaming". If you think you need ear protection, so be it. Tractor work is done with torque, and you need RPMs to develop that torque. Lugging the engine is unproductive, wastes fuel, and exerts undue stress on expensive components. There should be a mark near the upper end of your tachometer to mark the point where PTO revs are being developed. This is both the most productive and the most fuel efficient operating range for the engine. And even though it might be counter-intuitive, wear and tear is at a minimum at speed as well. It's just how they're engineered.

Sounds like you don't have the tractor manuals, I strongly recommend you invest in and study a set. Pretty sure Branson tractors are Korean by the way.

//greg//

Bob Rooks · Nov 19, 2012

I concur with Greg. My Mustang is hydrostatic drive and the engine speed has to be in the operating range.
Get the manuals, they will tell the story.

rasorbackq · Nov 19, 2012

I have the manual . Too bad every second word is spelt wrong. Manual is very poor. The dash does have a PTO 1 and PTO 2 mark.
PTO 1 is 540 ?? and pto 2 is ?????
Update 1800 rpm says 540E PTO2 Not sure what that means ?
2500 -2700 RPM is PTO 540 1 mark

Rich Waugh · Nov 19, 2012

It has a two speed PTO and at 1800 rpm pto 2 is at 540 rpm while pto 1 would be much slower. Your engine is designed to run at about 2500 rpm to develop full torque and 540 rpm in the pto1 position. There should be a lever to change the pto setting. Most al US implements are designed to run at 540 rpm pto speed. Your engine is designed to run at 2500 rpm for ax efficiency and power.

Bob Rooks · Nov 20, 2012

rasorbackq said:
I have the manual . Too bad every second word is spelt wrong. Manual is very poor. The dash does have a PTO 1 and PTO 2 mark.
PTO 1 is 540 ?? and pto 2 is ?????
Update 1800 rpm says 540E PTO2 Not sure what that means ?
2500 -2700 RPM is PTO 540 1 mark

The PTO's are 540 and 720 r/m PTO shaft speed. The 1,000 r/m PTO's have twelve splines.

rasorbackq · Nov 20, 2012

Rich Waugh said:
It has a two speed PTO and at 1800 rpm pto 2 is at 540 rpm while pto 1 would be much slower. Your engine is designed to run at about 2500 rpm to develop full torque and 540 rpm in the pto1 position. There should be a lever to change the pto setting. Most al US implements are designed to run at 540 rpm pto speed. Your engine is designed to run at 2500 rpm for ax efficiency and power.

Will try to get a pic of the console today Both marked areas say 540 PTO.

rasorbackq · Nov 20, 2012

Rich Waugh · Nov 20, 2012

Looks to me as though your PTO has the customary two speeds with neutral in the middle, just that they're labeled 584 and 790 rpm, versus 540/720 which is standard. That is probably what they have calculated, based on their recommended engine rpm of 2500-2700. So I'd say run the engine at about 2500 rpm.

Bob Rooks · Nov 20, 2012

Rich Waugh said:
Looks to me as though your PTO has the customary two speeds with neutral in the middle, just that they're labeled 584 and 790 rpm, versus 540/720 which is standard. That is probably what they have calculated, based on their recommended engine rpm of 2500-2700. So I'd say run the engine at about 2500 rpm.

I'd like to add to Rich's post with my interpretation of the two PTO speeds on the tach. The #2 speed ~1,800 r/m is for stationary PTO driven implements that do not require tractor propulsion: ie. log splitters, generators, chippers, etc. The #1 speed ~2,500 r/m is for implements requiring power with the tractor in motion: ie. rototiller, brush hog, etc.

rasorbackq · Nov 20, 2012

I did run the tractor and hoe today at 2200 RPM . The exhaust was blue and fuel was consumed much more quickly then I would have thought. Maybe I should run the hoe at 1800 RPM.?

The manual has only a paragraph about PTO operation and it its very basic with no details . There is also a switch for PTO link and independent which also is not explained.

Bob Rooks · Nov 20, 2012

Blue exhaust is not a good thing.
The cause can be from several different or combined issues, but basically tells you that you're burning oil.

erj · Nov 20, 2012

It appears that Branson has dealers in both the US and Canada. You may want to go to this website to see if there is one near you.
Branson Tractors - About Branson

Greg was correct that the tractors are Korean. In fact there is a site here on TBN for the Branson brand.
RonJ

Bob Rooks · Nov 20, 2012

rasorbackq said:
Maybe I should run the hoe at 1800 RPM?

Assuming you mean backhoe, yes, that would be my recommendation, and maybe a little slower since you aren't moving the tractor.
I run my backhoe at 1,100 engine r/m in the PTO 540 r/m range.

Diamondpilot · Nov 21, 2012

Bob Rooks said:
The PTO's are 540 and 720 r/m PTO shaft speed. The 1,000 r/m PTO's have twelve splines.

Not on a Jinma 254 or 284. I have a 284 and it has a 540/1000 selector and my mechanic has a 254 with the same.

Chris

rasorbackq · Nov 21, 2012

erj said:
It appears that Branson has dealers in both the US and Canada. You may want to go to this website to see if there is one near you.
Branson Tractors - About Branson

Greg was correct that the tractors are Korean. In fact there is a site here on TBN for the Branson brand.
RonJ

I did not see a Branson area to post. My BH is not a PTO drive Just needs to run the pump.

rasorbackq · Nov 21, 2012

Bob Rooks said:
Blue exhaust is not a good thing.
The cause can be from several different or combined issues, but basically tells you that you're burning oil.

When I bought the tractor is only had 100 hrs on it and 2 years old. Maybe the blue smoke was too strong a word but I could see the exhaust.

Bob Rooks · Nov 21, 2012

Diamondpilot said:
Not on a Jinma 254 or 284. I have a 284 and it has a 540/1000 selector and my mechanic has a 254 with the same.

Chris

Correction: The 1,000 r/m rated implements are 1-3/4" shaft and 21 splines (that was a typo). I didn't make that up, those are ASAE standards.
However, on machinery coming from China, all bets are off.

Bob Rooks · Nov 21, 2012

rasorbackq said:
When I bought the tractor is only had 100 hrs on it and 2 years old. Maybe the blue smoke was too strong a word but I could see the exhaust.

In that case it could be just a matter of the rings not being seated yet. You might also check your air cleaner.

rasorbackq · Nov 21, 2012

Bob Rooks said:
In that case it could be just a matter of the rings not being seated yet. You might also check your air cleaner.

Looking for dirt or plugged??
I did see the Branson section today.
Thanks.
I ran the tractor and BH today at 1500 rpm Was leveling a spot for the garage.Hope to have that done tomoorow.