High/Low Observation

[jesseb3@att.net]

I don't know how to start a poll (or if I even can start a poll), but I am surprised at how many people use low range, as frequently as they do. I'm wondering why there is such a fear of high range? If the tranny isn't struggling at all, you can limit your speed with that pedal on the right... that's what it's there for, right?

Me?
Mowing
I can't imagine mowing three+ acres in low... I ain't got that kind of time. Hills, flat ground, whatever... it's in high. My buddy mows at top speed in high and gets a great cut with a BX2230, while my BX2350 has to run a bit slower for some reason to get a good cut, but it's still in high. It's in 4WD when on hills for braking ability, but otherwise, it's in 2WD.

Driving around
It's in high, loaded FEL or not. Trying to go up a hill, or if the FEL is heavily loaded, the tranny works too hard. It goes in low. BTW - I use a box blade as a counter weight, no wheel weights. I control my speed with the HST pedal.

FEL Scooping/Pushing
I drop to low, because again, high doesn't have the oomph needed.

Ground engaging implements
Goes in low, needs the oomph.

Safety statement
Do NOT use high range and 2WD, on hills, with an FEL. In fact, don't you dare try to drive across the hill with an FEL, loaded or not, until you know the limits of your tractor. There, got that out of the way.

Since you can control your speed with the HST pedal, why does it seem that some are afraid of switching to high? If I had read some of these posts regarding the use of low to mow, I wouldn't have bought my BX.

I don't mean this post to come across as a personal attack on anyone - I'm just trying to understand it.

Jesse

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Wellll Jesseee I'll just tell yuh! My yards rough, ditched, rocked, hilly and treed. I've never needed any more speed than what slow will do with the pedal to the metal. Yes, the speed can be changed with the pedal in slow just like in high. If I did high I would have to be changing it frequently back down to low because of my property terrain. Hate to think you would have not bought a tractor to mow because you read one of my posts for using low. Glad you didn't read one and went ahead and got yourself a tractor that you can use however you want to, I don't really mind that you use high or low just whatever makes you happy. I do use high and 2wd when I drive down the road at a high nose bleeding rate of speed! The road is paved and level. Chill out Jesseeeee and let us drive ours however we want and you go right ahead and keep er in high. I think your doing it the right way. Course I rarely drive my WRX in the higher gears, by the time I get past 3rd I'm in jail.

 

[PUSHINDIRT]

Hey Jess,

Since I don't have alot of grass yet, I usually tool around in Med 4/WD. Since I'm just moving stone, sand, and brush I find this seems to be the right balance of traction and speed. If my wife is on my case, I usually do the work in L!

 

[jesseb3@att.net]

I should've been more clear in my post. I'm talking about the BX owners... you guys with that bigger equipment, well, you've got different set ups altogether.

The BX is a crawl in low. You can walk faster.

Sorry for not specifying the model better.

 

[radioman]

I'm with jesse on this one. I use high most of the time. I drop down to low for easy fine movement, easy towing/pushing, easy engine running. If I even suspect the engine gonna work too hard, I drop down to low. No need to overwork engine. So I guess it gonna be my phrase, go high all the way till you need the power.

 

[BigD23]

I use the appropriate gear range for whatever application needed at that time...No fear of high range.

Don

 

[TripleR]

I use the appropriate gear range for whatever application needed at that time...No fear of high range.

Don

Me too; I do the same thing on my 60 and 80 horse tractors as I do on my BX.

 

[rdsaustintx]

I'm wondering why there is such a fear of high range?

Sonic booms

This is a silly thread.

 

[milkman]

I'm with Jesse, if I'd read the threads on here about everything the BX can't do, like some can't use CAT1 implements, or hydrostat can't be used for ground engaging implements, I would have bought something else. This tractor is the right size for me and what I do, glad I didn't go bigger. I mow in high range, hills and all, would never get done in low. I stay in high unless I'm using the FEL to load the bucket, when moving I'm in high even over the rough stuff I can slow to a crawl in high range, I ain't skeered.

 

[thavil]

I tend to use low range more than high only because of the abrupt reverse stop "feature" on my 50 series tractor.