540 RPMS?

[Zippo1]

I'm new to the tractor thing but I do recall someone telling me that I should run my attachments (5 foot brush hog, rototiller and PHD) at 540 RPM at the PTO. My New Holland TC40 even has a cute little 540 icon at the correct place on the tach. However, I also notice that it's only 500 RPMS more to get to redline on the tach (3,000 RPM). It seems strange to drag the brush hog through the pasture at my lowest gearing while the engine is screaming along at 500 RPM below redline. Am I doing it correctly or am I overlooking something obvious?

 

[jeff9366]

My Kubota tractor engine runs at about 2,200 rpm to achieve 540 rpm at the PTO.

Experiment with a higher gear. I usually 'hog in HST/MEDIUM.

Check to be sure your Rotary Cutter blades are sharp.

READ YOUR OPERATOR'S MANUAL. OPERATOR'S MANUAL should be your primary reference for TC40A operations.

 

[RPW]

If your grass/brush is thick and tall go for it. If it's light then I throttle back to about 1500 to 1800 and run in a higher gear.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

unlike your car, the tractor will run at pto rpm all day long with no ill effects. The big thing with mowers that is often forgotten about is blade tip speed. You get a better cut at 540 pto rpm unless you have very light vegetation.

 

[Zippo1]

unlike your car, the tractor will run at pto rpm all day long with no ill effects. The big thing with mowers that is often forgotten about is blade tip speed. You get a better cut at 540 pto rpm unless you have very light vegetation.

Thank you. That helps.

 

[Utopia Texas]

Run your brush hog at the 540 rpm for most efficient cut and then select your gearing/ ground speed to match the height of the grass. In other words the blade speed remains constant but the ground speed forward should match how tough/tall the grass is while mowing.

 

[WM75Guy]

They are designed for that. The mark is at 2400 RPMs. My Boomer 8N is pretty much used for mowing only, occasionally for tilling. It has spent it's whole life at 2500 RPMs. I usually run mine up to 2500 RPMs so if I hit some thick grass it does not fall as much. Before I got it the TC40DA did the same thing.

 

[Zippo1]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the help. I think I'm comfortable now running along at 540 PTO RPM.

 

[Agvg]

Even at 3k you could run for years

 

[jenkinsph]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the help. I think I'm comfortable now running along at 540 PTO RPM.

That is fine for mowing and tilling^^^.

For a post hole digger is not a good idea, usually an idle is preferred for this operation. Much lower speeds.