l2501 bushhogging questions

[okiecraig]

OK, gents, I have only operated my L3940 GST for last 20 years. Next week I have to use a L2501 HST to bushhog about 20 acres in Colorado of fairly level land mostly former hayfield of timothy, orchard and brome grasses. This will be winter prep cut of 4-6 inches. I will set the back end of the cutter higher than the front.

1. Fuel tank holds about 10 gal of diesel. Any estimates how much fuel I might need for 20 acres running about 1500 RPMs?
2. Any tips on HST operation as opposed to a GST.

Thanks

 

[SPYDERLK]

OK, gents, I have only operated my L3940 GST for last 20 years. Next week I have to use a L2501 HST to bushhog about 20 acres in Colorado of fairly level land mostly former hayfield of timothy, orchard and brome grasses. This will be winter prep cut of 4-6 inches. I will set the back end of the cutter higher than the front.

1. Fuel tank holds about 10 gal of diesel. Any estimates how much fuel I might need for 20 acres running about 1500 RPMs?
2. Any tips on HST operation as opposed to a GST.

Thanks

NO EXCUSE to run below correct PTO rpm - cut will suffer.

Also, in general, the lower hp HST is going to force a slower travel speed. -- Fortunately the HST gives you infinite and seamless control of that.

 

[anomad]

What size bush hog and how thick is the field?

 

[paulsharvey]

OK, gents, I have only operated my L3940 GST for last 20 years. Next week I have to use a L2501 HST to bushhog about 20 acres in Colorado of fairly level land mostly former hayfield of timothy, orchard and brome grasses. This will be winter prep cut of 4-6 inches. I will set the back end of the cutter higher than the front.

1. Fuel tank holds about 10 gal of diesel. Any estimates how much fuel I might need for 20 acres running about 1500 RPMs?
2. Any tips on HST operation as opposed to a GST.

Thanks

Ok, so lets assume 5 ft cutter, 5 mph; your cutting; your going to get about 2.8 to 3.3 acres per hour. So, 20 acres; should be about 7 hours at 2200 rpm. Almost all equipment full tanks are sized to run 8 hours at PTO rpm; so you should use almost exactly 1 full tank of diesel.

Now, all that is dependent on field shape, condition, and if you can take a full 5 ft bite while running at speed. In real life, it might be more like 9 hours; and 1.25 tanks.

 

[okiecraig]

NO EXCUSE to run below correct PTO rpm - cut will suffer.

Also, in general, the lower hp HST is going to force a slower travel speed. -- Fortunately the HST gives you infinite and seamless control of that.

I hate to get spanked, but wth.....I have for years only used a cutter at 1500 rpms. figured i was being easy on my engine. SO, what is "correct" PTO rpm - 540?

 

[okiecraig]

Ok, so lets assume 5 ft cutter, 5 mph; your cutting; your going to get about 2.8 to 3.3 acres per hour. So, 20 acres; should be about 7 hours at 2200 rpm. Almost all equipment full tanks are sized to run 8 hours at PTO rpm; so you should use almost exactly 1 full tank of diesel.

Now, all that is dependent on field shape, condition, and if you can take a full 5 ft bite while running at speed. In real life, it might be more like 9 hours; and 1.25 tanks.

thank you, It is a five foot cutter but I will probably run about 3 mph since it is a new field with rental equipment.

 

[okiecraig]

What size bush hog and how thick is the field?5 ft cutter

 

[okiecraig]

5 ft cutter. growth is dormant grasses with thin orchard and timothy about 15 inches high and thick brome about 6-8 inches high.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

The brush hog will perform much better with the rear PTO turning 540 RPM, which means your engine will be near max RPM, my 5" Bush Hog brand has blades that have "lift " like a regular lawn mower blade, this needs speed to get and keep the grass to stand up to get cut.

IIRC my Massey Ferguson GC 1725 MB engine has a redline about 3200 RPM, the PTO needs about 2900 RPM ... My Kubota L5030 engine has a redline about 2700 rpm, and PTO needs about 2600 RPM.

My 1.1L 25 HP SCUT burns about 3/4 gallon of fuel an hour ...

The L2501 has a slightly larger engine displacement of 1.6L

Here is a picture of a L2501 dash, notice on the tachometer the indicator for 540 PTO at 2000 RPM ...

 

[paulsharvey]

thank you, It is a five foot cutter but I will probably run about 3 mph since it is a new field with rental equipment.

Ok; sounds like you should be able to take a full about 4.5 ft cut; probably about 80% actively cutting (turns, backing, slowing around trees/fences, ect); i get 1.31 acres per hour. So, 15-16 hours of mowing; or roughly two tanks of full. Maybe running at 1500 rpm (is that the 540E rpm on a l2501?) vs 2200 rpm (the rpm for the pto to be at 540) might save 30% fuel?

Couple notes; 60" rotary cutter in grass is a pretty full load on a 2501; your cut may or maynot be great at reduced speed; you might need the full rpm to avoid bogging. Id pretty much set it at 540 mark or 540e mark, and let her eat