Hydro Mowing Speed????

[leeave96 490]

I mentioned in an earlier post that I was mowing with my 520H and going at a fairly speedy clip as storm clouds looked like they were forming.

 

There have been several posts about what gear folks mow with their Wheelhorse, but I don't recall a topic on how fast folks mow with their hydros.

 

Question is - are you mowing slow, somewhere in between or pedal to the metal?  What year and model hydro are you mowing with and what size deck?  How's the quality of cut and how would you compare your speed to a gear drive - what gear?

 

I know some of the earlier 520H and I think all of the 520HC model tractors had a faster ground speed than the later 520H tractors, so pedal to the metal with them might be a different story.

 

Just curious.

 

Thanks!!!!!!!!

Bill

 

[OhioGregg 6]

Ever since I got the 520H, I have mowed with the powered bagger on it. The tractor came with it on a 48" deck. I guess my speed would be some where in the middle. In taller, thicker grass, you could hear the whine in the impeller fan, slow down. I still used it this spring. But, this year has been exceptionaly wet around here, non-stop mowing it seems. I got tired of driving back to the woods and emptying the bags every couple minutes.

 

So I took the bagger system off.. Now mow without it, and I do find myself driving faster I think. The 520H handles it well. I mow the grass lanes going to the wood lots, and back road here with my older 518H and 48"deck. The old deck is in bad shape, rusted out in several places. So I use it for the "rougher" areas, and I do and can run pretty fast with it. The 518H handles it well too!! I do mow the back lanes much faster than the rest of the main lawn areas.

 

Gregg,

[varosd 1,185]

On the 8-speed, I'm in high-2nd

On the hydro, about the same speed...I find while I can obviously go a tad faster, my quality of cut suffers. 

[Red-Bovine 334]

I tend to go mid range on speed depending on the height and thickness of the grass. I have a 520H and 48" deck.

 

Red

[coldone 35]

Hydro speed is determined by load for me. This year I have not been able to mow my yard as often and with all the rain, I am not mowing I am bush hogging. Thick, tall grass I slow down for. Thick, short grass, I go ata decent speed. I listen to the engine to determine what I need to do for speed also.

[shallowwatersailor 3,214]

The beauty of the 5xi series is the two-range Eaton 11. I mow in Low with my foot on the pedal all the way down, and throttle up. According to the specs that should be 4.5 mph.

[can whlvr 994]

i mow alot so i can go almost full out with the 312-h,and 2nd high on the gear drives