Mid-Mount Mower mowing speed

[filltbo]

I have a mid mount 60 inch mower on a duetz-allis 5215 (18 hp diesel). In low range I can mow just about anything. In mid range it needs to be relatively flat or the tractor stops moving forward and just whines. In a HST compact tractor, what is the recommended range to mow? Is what am am experiencing normal, or is this suggesting that my hydraulic pressure it too low?

Many thanks

 

[leonz]

I have a mid mount 60 inch mower on a duetz-allis 5215 (18 hp diesel). In low range I can mow just about anything. In mid range it needs to be relatively flat before the tractor stops moving forward. In a HST compact tractor, what is the recommended range to mow? Is what am am experiencing normal, or is this suggesting that my pressure it too low?

Many thanks

It all depends on the charge pump for the
transmission and how many operating hours
the tractor has.

Your mowing speed is totally dependent on the
mowing conditions.

Your directional valve may be worn and need replacing
and that could be the major problem.

 

[filltbo]

My manual says that the operating pressure should be about 3500 for the high pressure relief valve. If the relief valve is worn, would i get a lower reading if I test the pressure? Can I adjust the high pressure relief valve?

The day I was mowing, the grass was very wet and long.

Thanks

 

[jenkinsph]

I would ask how well the tractor handles in transport or with the mower raised and pto turned off? In middle range you have from 3 to 6 mph which should be plenty fast for tall weeds. So it would be useful to know if it related to the load on the pto or just transmission problems. Also how does it operate on a driveway in high range?

 

[Soundguy]

mow at a ground speed in a range suitable to the environment and material to be mowed. ie.. mow at a safe speed at an range that does not bog the engine down.

soundguy

 

[AndyG]

I would ask how well the tractor handles in transport or with the mower raised and pto turned off? In middle range you have from 3 to 6 mph which should be plenty fast for tall weeds. So it would be useful to know if it related to the load on the pto or just transmission problems. Also how does it operate on a driveway in high range?

I would want to know the answer to this as well. I get them impression that there is something wrong with the HST (HydroStatic Transmission) that is not related to mowing. You may have a flow resrtiction or low pressure in the HST. Have you checked the trans fluid level? When was the last time that the HST filters/oil were changed?

 

[filltbo]

A little history may be useful.... I am a new tractor person having bought this Deutz-allis 5215 from an auction knowing that it needed a new clutch. I did that (always looking for an adventure) and then proceeded to clean up the tractor and put in new filters and hydraulic oil. The hydraulic oil was the inexpensive kind bought at TSC. I did mow the grass when it was dry in mid range with no noticible problem. Wet grass was a problem in mid range. It behaves fine when the mower is not engaged going up slight inclines in mid range with no issue. On the road the tractor goes very well.

The belly mower is run off of the 14hp pto that has a box on it to reverse the direction of the 540 rpm pto so it can drive the belly mower (the mid pto does not run the belly mower). The deck was purchased seperatly from the tractor. I am wondering if the 60inch deck is at the upper limit of the tractors capabilities.

The FEL can pick up just about anything and it seems to run fine in all ranges when no load is applied. I just do not have enough experience to know what I should expect (for example... should I be able to start up a steep hill in high range?) You can see from the pics that it was not much to look at when I started this project... and it now looks pretty good.. I am just hoping it works the way it should.

 

[AndyG]

does the engine bog down or smoke when you are trying to mow faster? Are you running the engine at wide open throttle when mowing?

 

[clemsonfor]

A little history may be useful.... I am a new tractor person having bought this Deutz-allis 5215 from an auction knowing that it needed a new clutch. I did that (always looking for an adventure) and then proceeded to clean up the tractor and put in new filters and hydraulic oil. The hydraulic oil was the inexpensive kind bought at TSC. I did mow the grass when it was dry in mid range with no noticible problem. Wet grass was a problem in mid range. It behaves fine when the mower is not engaged going up slight inclines in mid range with no issue. On the road the tractor goes very well.

The belly mower is run off of the 14hp pto that has a box on it to reverse the direction of the 540 rpm pto so it can drive the belly mower (the mid pto does not run the belly mower). The deck was purchased seperatly from the tractor. I am wondering if the 60inch deck is at the upper limit of the tractors capabilities.


The FEL can pick up just about anything and it seems to run fine in all ranges when no load is applied. I just do not have enough experience to know what I should expect (for example... should I be able to start up a steep hill in high range?) You can see from the pics that it was not much to look at when I started this project... and it now looks pretty good.. I am just hoping it works the way it should.

Yea im gonna say that cutting tall wet weeds with a 60inch mower with 14Hp is probly too much for your tractor in mid range. Untill you said all this i was thinking problems in the HST pump/clutches.

 

[clemsonfor]

Yes you should be able to start up practically anything except super steep terrain in any gear if your not mowing or doing any other work.

 

[MHarryE]

At your tractors age (22 - 24 years) and without your knowing its service history, I would suspect worn hydro components. First thing is to check propel pressure and make sure it is reaching 3500 psi. You probably already know your tractor was built by Hinomoto. If your OMM gives any indication where to check propel pressure, plumb in a gauge and see what kind of pressure you get when the tractor stalls out. There should be a way to adjust the high pressure relief (possibly 1 relief for forward and 1 for reverse) to compensate. I can't think of any real wear point in these direct acting reliefs but springs can lose tension with time and heat, and the relief pressure is set at a given flow rate through the relief. If the pump is no longer capable of producing this flow, the relief will need to be readjusted to compensate.

 

[filltbo]

Thank you all. Terrific advice and insight for this newbie! Based on your inputs I did a couple of tests and I think these are pointing to the high pressure relief valve.

1. My rpm drops about 150 rpm when I engage my mower deck on the driveway. So I guess that is a lot of extra load on the hydraulics!

2. In low gear I can climb a VERY steep hill without issue (mower disengaged). The hill is steep enough that I would most likely tip over if i drove on it sideways (it climbs about 10 feet in 30 feet distance).

3. In medium gear i get up about 9/10th of the way and then something between my feet starts to whine, If i throttle up to get my motor rpm up to 2500 it just whines louder, but the tractor does not move. A friend of mine (heavy equipment operator) said that he would think the tractor should climb the hill with no issue in medium range. It should like most of you would probably agree.

4. The tractor behaves the same forward and in reverse.

mHarry suggests that the high pressure relief valve can be adjusted after testing the pump output pressure. I will get a gauge and see if I get more than the 3500 psi needed. I FINALLY found the high pressure relief valve assemply in my repair manual. Looks like I will disassembling part of the tractor again!

AGAIN... many thanks to all of you. This helped point me in a useful direction to test this issue. Its a lot of fun to take a non-functioning pile of steel and bring it back to life!