L2501 RPMs

muddhogg

Member

Equipment
Kubota L2501DT, Ford 3910
May 20, 2018
95
55
18
GA
New L2501 owner here, loving it so far. What RPMs should I be running for “typical jobs around the house”, box blade work, loader work, etc…
 

jimh406

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
Kubota L2501 with R4 tires
Jan 29, 2021
2,154
1,557
113
Western MT
Run what you want. You may find you’ll have better loader control at lower RPMs. Once you reach the minimum pressure, there isn’t a huge advantage of lift since the pressure setting is what controls lift.

There is a mark for 540 RPMs. That’s generally a good speed for most everything else. One good thing about L2501s with no emissions is that low RPMs are totally fine.
 
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muddhogg

Member

Equipment
Kubota L2501DT, Ford 3910
May 20, 2018
95
55
18
GA
Run what you want. You may find you’ll have better loader control at lower RPMs. Once you reach the minimum pressure, there isn’t a huge advantage of lift since the pressure setting is what controls lift.

There is a mark for 540 RPMs. That’s generally a good speed for most everything else. One good thing about L2501s with no emissions is that low RPMs are totally fine.
Yeah I’ve been doin all my work around the 540 PTO mark. Was just watching a dude on youtube doing work at idle and was wondering why in the world he was doing that.
 

DDCD

Active member

Equipment
1964 MF135, L2501
May 8, 2021
159
174
43
Oklahoma
Isn't the hour meter on the 2501 tied to rpms? As in an hour is an hour at 540PTO and longer at lower RPM.

Thought I read that here, could be wrong.
 

forky

Active member

Equipment
L2501 HST 4X4 8N
Feb 23, 2021
249
247
43
Wisconsin
Simply listen to your tractor...if it bogs down up the rpm's, and no need to keep the L2501 screaming when not needed. It's fine running at the capable rpm's and nothing more. Same as the drive train...run 2wd until you need to bump up to front assist 4wd.....your tractor will thank you and live longer.
 

FarmerJohn

Member

Equipment
LX2610SUHSD
Jan 25, 2021
25
31
13
NC
Are all of the hour meters tied to the RPMs or is that specific to the L2501? Is the LX2610 the same way?
 

Goz63

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L2501, LA525 loader, QH15,Land Pride RCR1860, BB2560, SGC0660, forks
Jun 19, 2021
299
349
63
Mississippi
I wouldn’t go go over the 540 line until you do the 50 hour service. Manual states not to max out the rpms until that is done. The L2501 is governed down in rpms to keep the hp below 26 hp. The engine will act produce close to 30 hp. Running lower rpms in the beginning helps lower the hydraulic pump flow and makes it easier to control the fel. It is more important to keep them less than max than to determine what to run it at. After 50 hours that doesn’t matter. Like the gas p in your car, feather it to your needs.
 

Fordtech86

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L3200
Aug 7, 2018
4,707
5,478
113
Pineville,LA
Are all of the hour meters tied to the RPMs or is that specific to the L2501? Is the LX2610 the same way?
No not all are like that.

Its not specific to the L2501.

Some tractors use a cable drive tachometer which also control the hour meter (or basically an RPM counter)

Others will use an electrical input for the hour meter which will read actual hours. Im sure your LX is. There have been stories on here of owners leaving the key on for days and the tractor running up hours even though the tractor wasn’t running.
 
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Oliver

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Equipment
L2501, JD 3520
Feb 2, 2011
526
120
43
Preston County, WV
New L2501 owner here, loving it so far. What RPMs should I be running for “typical jobs around the house”, box blade work, loader work, etc…
I find the sweet spot to be around 1,500-1,700 rpm for what you describe which is quieter and uses less fuel, for mowing full PTO 2,100 or even a bit higher.
 
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Nicfin36

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Equipment
L2501 HST, BH77 Backhoe, SSQA Loader ZD1011 Mower
Jun 19, 2019
1,014
457
83
Decatur, AL
I run my L2501 wide open much of the time because I have to depending on the job. I have always heard lugging a diesel engine is not good for it. So, if I need more throttle, I use it. The tractor will most likely outlast me anyway.
 
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jimh406

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Equipment
Kubota L2501 with R4 tires
Jan 29, 2021
2,154
1,557
113
Western MT
Lugging a diesel that has a lot of emissions equipment is bad, but that’s not the L2501. Of course, there’s a big difference between running a lower RPM and lugging an engine.
 
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PaulL

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Equipment
B2601
Jul 17, 2017
2,098
1,106
113
NZ
A lot of guys on YouTube run low RPMs just so you can hear them. An L2501 will do a lot at idle, and it's quieter. But use the RPMs you need.