L5240 hydraulic oil overheating with JD MX8 mower

lylesings

New member

Equipment
L5240
May 26, 2015
3
0
0
reisterstown MD
I have L5240 tractor with HST. I'm using a John Deere MX8 8 foot rotary mower, semi mount version (so tractor does not need to lift it off the ground). JD specs says minimum 40HP to operate & it weighs about 1700 lbs. It's a fairly big implement. When I run this with tractor rpm at 2000 and PTO 400-425 the hydraulic oil overheats & comes spilling out of the safety/pressure relief valve located in bottom center of tractor after about 1.5 hours of use. Grass is light to moderate thickness; definitely not too heavy to cause a problem.

Is this too much mower for this 50HP tractor? Or is there something else that needs to be addressed? The fluid level is filled to proper level when starting & oil cooler is cleaned of debris.
 
Last edited:

Jim L.

Active member
Jun 18, 2014
811
86
28
Texas
Mower greased and lubed? Blades turn freely when off the tractor PTO?

Running at a lower RPM is not a good fix, as the blade tip velocity will be inefficient, requiring more power.