backhoe PTO gear and RPM help

[MichaelWhite]

Hello experts,

I've been digging through Google and YouTube trying to find a solid tutorial on the ideal gear and RPM settings when operating a PTO-driven backhoe. I'm very new to tractors and still learning the ropes with this equipment.

I’m working with a Kubota 1980 L295DT paired with an L4510 backhoe. The tractor has three PTO gear settings (1, 2, and 3), but I’m having trouble noticing any significant difference between them during operation. While there are plenty of great videos out there on general backhoe use, I haven’t come across much that specifically addresses PTO gear selection and RPM optimization for this setup.

If anyone has experience with this or can point me toward helpful resources, I’d really appreciate it!

 

[Russell King]

So is the backhoe using the rear PTO to drive a pump? I assume so or you probably wouldn’t have asked the question. There are tractors that use the tractor engine mounted pump.

If it is a rear mounted pump, it should have a name plate on it with rating information on it. It is probably rated at 540 RPM, but there may also be a speed limit on the highest RPM to operate at.

The flow is speed dependent and the pressure is not so much related to speed. So you can operate at any engine speed you want to between idle and the rated speed on the tachometer for 540 RPM. The performance of the pump and speed of the backhoe should change along the engine speed but it should not be a REALLY significant difference.

 

[MichaelWhite]

Yes, that is correct. It has a pump on the PTO that feeds the hydraulic lines for the backhoe. There are no stickers on the pump or pretty much anywhere on this beast. It is seen many summer days in the sun the last 45 years.

This is what tractordata has on the backhoe, but it sounds like I need to try to identify the pump.

Kubota L4510 Backhoe
Backhoe type Kubota L4510 Backhoe
Transport height 93 inches

Bucket width
12 inches
18 inches
24 inches
36 inches

2-Foot flat digging depth 88 inches
Reach from pivot 128 inches
Loading height 84 inches

Bucket Rotation 180°
Swing Arc 180°
Bucket force 7000 lbs
Dipperstick force 4000 lbs


The previous owner said he ran it in 2nd gear, so that is what I have been doing.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Yes, that is correct. It has a pump on the PTO that feeds the hydraulic lines for the backhoe. There are no stickers on the pump or pretty much anywhere on this beast. It is seen many summer days in the sun the last 45 years.

This is what tractordata has on the backhoe, but it sounds like I need to try to identify the pump.

Kubota L4510 Backhoe
Backhoe type Kubota L4510 Backhoe
Transport height 93 inches

Bucket width
12 inches
18 inches
24 inches
36 inches

2-Foot flat digging depth 88 inches
Reach from pivot 128 inches
Loading height 84 inches

Bucket Rotation 180°
Swing Arc 180°
Bucket force 7000 lbs
Dipperstick force 4000 lbs


The previous owner said he ran it in 2nd gear, so that is what I have been doing.

Presumably you want PTO speed @540 RPM.

As best I can determine the PTO speeds on a L245DT are 540. 700, and 1000 @ 2400 engine RPM

Dan

 

[MichaelWhite]

Presumably you want PTO speed @540 RPM.

As best I can determine the PTO speeds on a L245DT are 540. 700, and 1000 @ 2400 engine RPM

Dan

Still a bit confused on the PTO gearing. Does this mean in 1st gear the engine RPMs should be running at 2400 and in the higher gears, the engine could be set to a lower idle getting the same results. (power and speed)

 

[TheOldHokie]

Still a bit confused on the PTO gearing. Does this mean in 1st gear the engine RPMs should be running at 2400 and in the higher gears, the engine could be set to a lower idle getting the same results. (power and speed)

It does not mean that. It means you will get maximum PTO power @540 RPM using range 1. If you gear up to range 2 or 3 you must reduce engine speed to obtain 540 RPM at the PTO and that means less PTO power.

Dan

 

[Russell King]

And to further clarify the PTO speeds:
The other PTO speeds (750 and 1000) are also obtained by setting the engine speed to where the tachometer is marked (probably for 540 RPM) (2400 RPM per above).

The USA is basically set up on a 540 PTO RPM standard for implements. Other parts of the world have been based on other speeds. There are also some implements in the USA that operate at 1000 RPM but those are usually not used by small land owners.

While you can get the engine speed lowered to use the 1000 RPM gear running at 540 RPM by nearly halving the engine RPM to 2400*(540/1000)=1,296 ENGINE RPM, the engine is not producing the required output power to do much work (as stated above).