bellweather
Platinum Member
I have a BX22 with MMM and I think the manual says to run at max rpm when using the mower. Is this correct? My tractor doesn't have a tach but I've been mowing at around 3/4 throttle. Any words of advice?
Mowing how much rpm for mowing?
- Thread starter bellweather
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whistlepig
Elite Member
I always run my riding mowers at max when mowing. I always run my tractor at PTO speed when mowing. There are others that say to just run enough RPM that is necessary to run the mower well. Saves fuel and wear and tear on the equipment they say. I can't argue that. I do what the owners manual tells me to do. They would know better than me. This has always worked for me.
I run mine up to WOT then back it off just a smidge...Not the most scientific approach but it's what I've done for years.
Don
aggiehortguy91
Silver Member
My BX2200 manual says about 3050 for the MMM, which is just a smidge below WOT. I always laugh when I read "3050 rpm" because there isn't a tach so I guess I'm supposed to count!
My BX2200 manual says about 3050 for the MMM, which is just a smidge below WOT. I always laugh when I read "3050 rpm" because there isn't a tach so I guess I'm supposed to count!
That is funny!
Don
powerstroke444e
Veteran Member
WFO or you will be on here asking why the motor is over heating and complaining that the motor did not last near as long as you hoped.
So, WFO=3050 rpm?
aggiehortguy91
Silver Member
I just looked everything up in my manual. I don't know about the BX22, but for the 2200 it is as follows:
Rated Revolution (WOT or WFO)=3200 rpm
Rear PTO=3068 engine rpm
Mid PTO=3125 engine rpm
3068 and 3125 are both pretty close to 3200. Countin' that fast, I'm bound to be off by a couple of detonations
have_blue
Veteran Member
If your blades are nice and sharp, chances are you won't need full throttle. When your blades get dull, increase the RPM until you get an acceptable cut, or sharpen the blades. The slower the blades turn, the longer they stay sharp. You won't be able to back off too much on the RPM, because it won't cut very well. But you will be able to save some fuel and some wear and tear on your engine and mower.
RobJ
Elite Member
That's a new one. I've only found 2 things that keep the blades sharp. 1) don't use them and 2) don't hit dirt and rocks and junk!
kthompson
Elite Member
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I think if you mow real slow ground speed you can use a slower blade speed. But I run mine to get the PTO rpm the cutter is rated for. Find it funny to watch someone cut with slow blade speed and then be puzzled by bad looking finish.
RobertN
Super Member
I run mine at PTO speed when mowing. It's made to run there. You motor is rev limited by the governor; it won't rev till it blows. If wide open is 3000rpm, the governor will try to hold it there as load changes, but won't let it go past that.
My B8200 is PTO=2650rpm. It revs out at 3000rpm.
Funny, these motors rev high. The old IH Farmall-A with a gas motor made about the same power, 22hp or so. It was rev limited/governed at 1600rpm. You would think that old gas motor would be the one revving higher...
Volfandt
Veteran Member
As evidenced by the excellent finish cut of the commercial ztr's, the faster the blade tip speed, the better the cut and the better the disbursion.
Our cuts/scuts mowers (both MMM & RFM) don't make the blade tip speeds of the commercial ztr's but inorder to get as good a cut as possible, one needs the max blade tip speed their machine can attain to get the best cut. That'll be the pto rated speed sports fans
Our cuts/scuts mowers (both MMM & RFM) don't make the blade tip speeds of the commercial ztr's but inorder to get as good a cut as possible, one needs the max blade tip speed their machine can attain to get the best cut. That'll be the pto rated speed sports fans
TripleR
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I have owned several lawn mowers including John Deere and I have always mowed with the engine at full power except when breaking them in. I recently sold my much loved BX2200 to buy a BX2660 and after reading the comments here, I pulled my manual out and it said to mow with the engine at maximum RPM. I ran my BX2200 this way for five years and my son in law is now doing the same. Yes, you can mow at lower engine speeds, but I see no reason to.
rpoage
Gold Member
I started out running 3000rpm but have switched to WOT as the quality of the cut is much better. There is a good difference in fuel consuption between WOT and 3000 so if it's not your front yard or you don't car about the finish save the $$$.
I agree with the "not your front yard"...Fuel being higher priced and a lot of the area I mow isn't really a show place, I mow that part when I get around to it and don't go for the "finished" look...Have never done the WOT anyway.
Don
GeneD14
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As evidenced by the excellent finish cut of the commercial ztr's, the faster the blade tip speed, the better the cut and the better the disbursion.
Our cuts/scuts mowers (both MMM & RFM) don't make the blade tip speeds of the commercial ztr's but inorder to get as good a cut as possible, one needs the max blade tip speed their machine can attain to get the best cut. That'll be the pto rated speed sports fans
Amen!
aczlan
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Running 1800rpms on my FIL's B7510 makes it lug a lot more when in tall grass (8-10" grown up hayfield) than running it at PTO rpms (~3000 rpms). As I see it, there is less wear and tear on the tractor running it at PTO rpms (think of the difference in force needed to cut a tree when you swing an ax slowly vs. swinging it fast) and it is less likely to overheat (which that tractor has done in the past when the grass was high and the tractor was being run at ~1800 rpms).
So, all in all I don't think that there is a noticeable difference (when cutting heavy grass and such) between the overall cost of running at 1800 vs 3000 rpms.
Also (in my experience) at higher rpms the deck is not as likely to clog as it is at lower rpms
Aaron Z
Tom_H
Veteran Member
Those blades are not exactly scalpel sharp. The faster they move, the cleaner the cut. At slower speed, they do more ripping across the grass blades and less clean slicing.
I have always run WOT, except during the initial 50 hr. break-in period.
There should be no overheating problem if pre-screen, screen, filter, pump, hoses, thermostat valve, coolant, etc. are clean, at proper level, working properly. I have brush hogged with BX2200 at 117 degrees F. My overheating was from debris building up on screend and face of radiator. I do have to vacuum face of radiator often at that temp.
I have always run WOT, except during the initial 50 hr. break-in period.
There should be no overheating problem if pre-screen, screen, filter, pump, hoses, thermostat valve, coolant, etc. are clean, at proper level, working properly. I have brush hogged with BX2200 at 117 degrees F. My overheating was from debris building up on screend and face of radiator. I do have to vacuum face of radiator often at that temp.
