treeman53

Member
I mow in 2nd with my Farmall A, but it seems too slow. I think I need to get more RPM out of the engine, but I'm not sure how. I adjusted linkage from gov arm to carb. I pulled gov arm all the way back, and adjusted arm to wide open throttle plate. Is this correct? Then I tried adjusting governor with the top screw. Wound it out a number of turns, and locked the nut back down. Stll seems very low on RPM. Is there something I'm missing?
 
With engine off remove the pin in the clevis going to the carb. Now open throttle then adjust the clevis holding carb open. replace the pin now your throttle is adjusted. The input shaft on the gov mite be sloppy and needs to be rebushed and maybe a new gov spring. 2nd gear isn't bad for mowing depends on condition of mower sickle and the guards and ledger plates on the sickle bar. How thick is the growth.
 
I forgot to mention, mower is a Woods L59 belly mower. Sounds like I screwed up holding the governor rod all the way back, instead of just opening throttle all the way....
 
Is the deck set so the blades are lower in front when pointed forward by 1/2inch and sharp. Belt also must be tight.
 
You have a farmall A. It is a 4 speed transmission and for most mowing second is a good gear and speed
I would not play around with the governor too much. For most conditions with a woods belly mower second
gear is about right. If it is light cutting, or you are in a hurry, try third gear.
 
belt tight, new blades set right. It's just that it goes so slow in 2nd, and engine is not all that much above idle...
Mows fine, just at a turtles pace.
 
I usually use 2nd gear on the SA for mowing (woods L306 - 59") until the trimming around trees and buildings is done and the mowing path is well-developed. Then I grab 3rd to knock out the wide flat open areas more quickly.
 
The engine is only rated for 1540 RPM no-load speed, so it's not going to sound all that impressive.

Adjusting the governor is not going to have a dramatic effect on RPM either. Maybe 50RPM one way or the other.

First thing you need to do is determine how fast the engine is running, then go from there. Do you know anyone that works on older cars? They should have an automotive tachometer that you can clip on to the #1 spark plug. If you've got a Harbor Freight nearby, $35 gets you a meter with an inductive tach, or an optical tachometer. With the optical tach all you need to do is put a reflective white mark on the front pulley and shine the tach at it while the engine is running.
 
I have both an A with a L59 and a SA with a 306 mower. I use 2nd except in the spring if the grass is long and thick. 3 td gear may be to fast and tend to knock over the grass instead of cutting it. Also if the ground is rough it will beat up your mower. I would use 2nd gear and adjust the engine speed, the mower blades will be turning faster. Just sit back and enjoy the time that know one is bothering you and dream on.
 
I have a Super A with a Woods belly mower. All in good shape I cannot mow in 2nd gear. It's to fast. Only 1st gear. Was there different gear ratios that were offered?
 
I am running a L306A on my A and on level ground I can run in 3rd unless I let the grass get too tall in between mowings. Then I have to run in 2nd. I run three clicks down from wide open and that seems to work the best.
 

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