What gear do you mow in?

[gravest]

cub 122 2nd gear unless grass is to my knees.

[Derek E Hopper]

I try to mow in third gear with my 582 / 44" deck. But, I have to reduce the throttle half way to reduce the speed. This, of course, reduces the blade speed and results in a bad cut ( currently using gator blades). I am thinking about experimenting by changing the main drive pulley on the deck to a larger size. My theory is that this will allow me to reduce the engine rpm without reducing blade speed. Has anyone attempted this before? If so, then were you successfull? 2nd gear is too slow, 3rd is a bit too fast for my bumpy 2 acres!

[jbollis]

Originally Posted by Derek E Hopper

I try to mow in third gear with my 582 / 44" deck. But, I have to reduce the throttle half way to reduce the speed. This, of course, reduces the blade speed and results in a bad cut ( currently using gator blades). I am thinking about experimenting by changing the main drive pulley on the deck to a larger size. My theory is that this will allow me to reduce the engine rpm without reducing blade speed. Has anyone attempted this before? If so, then were you successfull? 2nd gear is too slow, 3rd is a bit too fast for my bumpy 2 acres!

I think you would want a smaller pulley. That would increase the blade speed. I have often wondered about this. My neighbor has a newer 2000 series and the blades hum on it. They are definitely turning faster then on our older ones. We both have gators on, but it is a night and day difference between the discharge. He has almost no visible clippings.


JOE

[Derek E Hopper]

Gotcha Joe! Smaller would be the right one. My neighbor across the road uses a huge John Deere Garden Tractor (newer model) that I borrowed before purchasing the 582. Those blades are singing! I believe that if I could get these blades to spin faster, then I could get a better cut in less time! Any ideas on where to get the pulley and what size might provide the best ratios?

[Matt G.]

Don't mow at anything less than full throttle...you'll eventually damage the engine. It needs to run at full throttle to cool properly.

[Derek E Hopper]

I didn't think of that Matt! Thanks for the heads up. That said though, my neighbor (72 years old) believes my 16 hp briggs revs much too high. Is there a limiter that I can adjust? Is it possible that these motors can rev too high?

[Matt G.]

It's possible, but if the governor is put together right and is working, it shouldn't. If you look at the throttle linkage on the motor, there's several slotted holes, and the governor spring is in a different hole depending on the application of the engine and therefore what the max RPM should be. Max engine speed should be set at 3600 RPM. I'll have to look at one of mine and see which slot the spring is in. The only way to really know if it's right is to use an inductive tach or something like that.

[Derek E Hopper]

I can check, but it sounds like any of those holes selects an rpm range that the engine is calibrated for. Would an old automotive tach work for checking the rpm's? if so, then where would you attach it?

[Battlewagon]

I mow in 3rd with my 1200 w/44" deck. Try to hit it twice a week and cut it to the roots.

Originally Posted by Derek E Hopper

I try to mow in third gear with my 582 / 44" deck. But, I have to reduce the throttle half way to reduce the speed. This, of course, reduces the blade speed and results in a bad cut ( currently using gator blades). I am thinking about experimenting by changing the main drive pulley on the deck to a larger size. My theory is that this will allow me to reduce the engine rpm without reducing blade speed. Has anyone attempted this before? If so, then were you successfull? 2nd gear is too slow, 3rd is a bit too fast for my bumpy 2 acres!

yea put a smaller pulley on. the larger the pulley the slower it will turn. the smaller, the faster.