TC40DA MOWING
- Thread starter JOE62
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Smallplot
Gold Member
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2011
- Messages
- 295
- Location
- Pike County Illinois
- Tractor
- 1974 IH 1066, 1969 IH 756/FEL, and 2011 TYM T603 Cab/FEL
You should have PTO marked somewhere on your tachometer. That will give you the best cut. Of course you may run a little lower depending on what you are cutting and how sharp your blades are. Guessing you are talking about mowing with a rotary mower such as a bush hog?
WM75Guy
Elite Member
540 RPM PTO is about 2400-2500 engine RPM. There is a mark on the tach.
lhfarm
Veteran Member
When running my mower, I engage the PTO at a lower RPM to avoid a jolt, then increase the engine speed to the mark on the tach. When stopping, I first lower the RPM, then disengage the PTO.
Had a friend running the mower and he set the engage at the PTO mark, then engaged the PTO lever. It was an old/rusty mower and the jolt broke the PTO shaft. Since then, I have a whole lot of respect for the torque developed there.
The TC40DA is a very comfortable mowing machine.
Had a friend running the mower and he set the engage at the PTO mark, then engaged the PTO lever. It was an old/rusty mower and the jolt broke the PTO shaft. Since then, I have a whole lot of respect for the torque developed there.
The TC40DA is a very comfortable mowing machine.
jinman
Rest in Peace
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- Feb 23, 2001
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- 20,387
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- Texas - Wise County - Sunset
- Tractor
- NHTC45D, NH LB75B, Ford Jubilee
As Barry pointed out, on the TC40DA, you should engage the PTO at low rpm to preserve the life of the PTO clutch/brake in the tractor. Also slowly feather the lever until the PTO clutch engages. Your tractor has so much torque that you'll likely break a shear pin on the mower if you just pull the lever even at low rpm.
When you get ready to disengage the PTO, slow the engine down to idle speed before disengaging. When you disengage the PTO brake will stop the mower spinning in about 5 seconds. If you have the mower at high rpm, it puts excessive stress on the PTO brake.
I have 1750 hours on my tractor and my PTO clutch and brake still work like new because I am very careful to follow the rules above. Once the mower is running, you can increase engine rpm up to 540 PTO speed as shown in the lower right portion of your instrument panel. A little green light that says "540" will illuminate when the engine is around 2600 rpm. If your mower cuts fine at a little below this rpm, it's okay to run slower, but not a lot slower. Rotary cutters are designed to run at 540 rpm and that's where they work best. Don't worry about your engine running that fast. It may take getting used to, but your engine will be fine running 2600 rpm.
When you get ready to disengage the PTO, slow the engine down to idle speed before disengaging. When you disengage the PTO brake will stop the mower spinning in about 5 seconds. If you have the mower at high rpm, it puts excessive stress on the PTO brake.
I have 1750 hours on my tractor and my PTO clutch and brake still work like new because I am very careful to follow the rules above. Once the mower is running, you can increase engine rpm up to 540 PTO speed as shown in the lower right portion of your instrument panel. A little green light that says "540" will illuminate when the engine is around 2600 rpm. If your mower cuts fine at a little below this rpm, it's okay to run slower, but not a lot slower. Rotary cutters are designed to run at 540 rpm and that's where they work best. Don't worry about your engine running that fast. It may take getting used to, but your engine will be fine running 2600 rpm.
WM75Guy
Elite Member
Jinman's info on how to engage and disengage is spot on. The light situation may be different depending on the year and transmission.
Is your machine HST or gear?
My 2005 TC40DA HST had a amber light (11) at the bottom right of the instrument cluster that comes on when the PTO lever is engaged. The tach has a mark (13) for 540 RPM PTO. There is no green light at proper RPMs.
