Mowing high gear

Chrissell

New member

Equipment
Bx2230
Apr 20, 2021
12
2
3
Pennsylvania
Just hit me yesterday if I'm harming anything. I have a bx2230 and some areas I like to cut in high gear and some in low gear. Is it too much strain on the hst or motor to cut in high gear? Seems ok by how it cuts and sounds but just making sure.
 

je1279

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
LX2610 w/ 60" MMM, LP 72" Snow Plow, EA Wicked 55" Grapple, and Woods 60" BB
Dec 6, 2020
723
453
63
Upstate NY
If your not lugging the engine you should be fine. I would just avoid it for any hilly areas.
 

SDT

Well-known member

Equipment
multiple and various
Apr 15, 2018
3,084
923
113
SE, IN
Just hit me yesterday if I'm harming anything. I have a bx2230 and some areas I like to cut in high gear and some in low gear. Is it too much strain on the hst or motor to cut in high gear? Seems ok by how it cuts and sounds but just making sure.
I bought my B1750HST new in 1993/4. Been mowing with a 60" MMM in high range probably 95% of the time since.

No issues.

SDT
 
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jimh406

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Kubota L2501 with R4 tires
Jan 29, 2021
2,154
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Western MT
I’m assuming you only have L and H on your BX. If so, I think H would be the correct mode with L probably too slow for most mowing. If you only depress the treadle part way, it won’t be going that fast.
 

skeets

Well-known member

Equipment
BX 2360 /B2601
Oct 2, 2009
14,094
2,755
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SW Pa
WOT high no worries, unless you have some pretty steep hills then low, but yeah your ok
 
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RCW

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BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
Apr 28, 2013
8,282
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Chenango County, NY
WOT high no worries, unless you have some pretty steep hills then low, but yeah your ok
Yep - - skeets and I both have BX2360's...a little newer than yours.

I used to do mine own and 2 other lawns of an acre-plus each. I could go really fast and get them done... no harm at all. Just keep RPM up.
 

DaveFromMi

Well-known member

Equipment
L3901, 5' Bush Hog
Apr 14, 2021
542
450
63
Indiana
If you have clumps of grass, just run over it again.

I have another mower, 42" deck, mulching plug in. I mow at 4". Most of the time I am in high gear mowing once a week. I slow down for extra thick heavy grass and mowing on slopes.
 

Chrissell

New member

Equipment
Bx2230
Apr 20, 2021
12
2
3
Pennsylvania
Great thanks guys! Yea if I'm going up hill or cutting long grass I'll throw it in low. More use high on level areas and pastures. And yea, putting it in L and mowing all my acreage would stink bc its alot of area and not fast at all.
 
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Mossy dell

Active member

Equipment
B2601 (2021) JD970 (1998) B2100 (1991) B6100E (1988)
Jul 20, 2020
274
125
43
sw VA
I WISH I could mow even in Medium range. Because of my terrain, I'm in low all the time. My HST functions more like a geared tractor. But I am grateful for the three ranges allowing me to pick the best range.
 
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Henro

Well-known member

Equipment
B2910, BX2200, KX41-2V mini Ex.
May 24, 2019
5,116
2,341
113
North of Pittsburgh PA
Just hit me yesterday if I'm harming anything. I have a bx2230 and some areas I like to cut in high gear and some in low gear. Is it too much strain on the hst or motor to cut in high gear? Seems ok by how it cuts and sounds but just making sure.
Do you run in high gear in order to get more speed than you can get out of the tractor than if you run in low gear with the directional pedal pushed fully down?

There was a recent thread where a similar question came up, related to the effect on the HST of running in high gear with the pedal push down slightly, as compared to running in low gear with the directional pedal push down more fully.

I didn’t fully digest the points that were made, but I got the impression that with the HST, for a given ground speed, that running in lower gear with the HST pedal depressed more may result in better cooling of the HST fluid.

Of course if you’re running in high to get more speed than you can get in low, then there’s no option but to run in high. I always mow in low range at full speed and full engine RPM. I envy you guys that can run faster! The ground I mow is not smooth enough for me to do that without being bounced around significantly…To the point of discomfort.
 
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Captain13

Active member

Equipment
M7040 4WD ROPS, ZD28, Woods (84” box blade, 72” harrow, 48” pallet forks)
Feb 27, 2019
516
168
43
Kathleen, GA
I mow in 6th gear (2 High) on my M7040 using a Woods PRD8400. No lugging, smooth cut.