__Using a Howse 4 ft. mower. I still don"t feel confident about the mower (Bush Hog type), in terms of it"s position and 3 pt. hook-up to the tractor. Reason being the strain it seems to put on the Jube when mowing. I need to point out that the pastures were way overdue to be mowed. (had to solve the over-heating issue first) The grass was-some still is- up to 24" tall, and in some low areas where the rain settles, it"s extremely thick also.
___Currently, after raising the backside by dropping the wheel one hole, I"d say the bottom edge of the sides sit about 4" from ground. The blades are a bit under 2" higher. As for front-to-back leveling, I"m getting conflicting info. The manual says "at least" 1/2 in. lower in front, but no more than an inch!?? That"s not an easy thing to achieve. I think the Howse is at the 1" point lower, if not more. Just last night I read a post in which someone said they mow with the front end a full 2" lower than the back! I"ll bet if you could look at a single pass like that, you"d be able to see a curve in the cut grass. ___I read about the increased load it puts on the engine if the blades are not level, but perhaps worse if lower in the back instead? So, after a great deal of time, using 2 levels, trying to put the tractor and mower on the same plane- I think I found a good setting. All of this is for naught, however, when I"m having to make 2,3,and 4 passes over the tallest and thickest grass!! Because once you raise it, the mower finds a new level state, which may suck up more HP from the engine?
___I know I"ve gone way long here. One more note and/or question is about the top link. I"ve tried it in all 3 of the positions available. It"s now pinned in the bottow hole. I"ve learned that if the pin atop the mower"s bracket isn"t very close to being snugged up at the front of the slot (closest to tractor)..the back end of the mower could drop when going to raise it. That just doesn"t look good, and seems it makes for a harder job for the lift arms!?
___**Just how low should I be cutting pasture grass? We"ll not let it get out of control again like this.(tractor problems, noted below) And.. btw, I am mowing at the PTO mark, 1500 RPMs. Sometimes going to 1700 due to the grass height.
___**What gear? In 1st, it does go smoother, but that"s WAY sloooowwww!! I"m usually in 2nd, and realize that more HP is now demanded to move the tractor forward, at the same time having to mow the grass at a higher rate. If you"ve stuck with me, but are truly dizzy by now... I need the basics in mowing, I guess. And what can I expect from a 60 yr. old, 30 HP tractor?
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___((THE FOLLOWING pertains mostly to the Jubilee and might help in responding to the above. And/ or may be of interest to other owners of "mature" tractors. ;-)
___Spent a great deal of time with the "Jube", adjusting carb and timing. I"m no expert, so I read many posts to gather information on both matters, and bought a timing light.
___It starts on the first crank, sounds real fine for an old machine . I focused on the manual"s max. degrees BTDC, for 1200 RPMs. Then, based on some opinions, and several field tests mowing over-grown pasture grass, I set the Jube to 1200 RPMs again, and slightly advanced the timing-not using the strobe- and could tell she was revving up some.
___I think it had a little more spare power in the tougher/taller/thicker grass, but it still seemed to bog down too easily. OR,... and I expecting too much out of her?
___Currently, after raising the backside by dropping the wheel one hole, I"d say the bottom edge of the sides sit about 4" from ground. The blades are a bit under 2" higher. As for front-to-back leveling, I"m getting conflicting info. The manual says "at least" 1/2 in. lower in front, but no more than an inch!?? That"s not an easy thing to achieve. I think the Howse is at the 1" point lower, if not more. Just last night I read a post in which someone said they mow with the front end a full 2" lower than the back! I"ll bet if you could look at a single pass like that, you"d be able to see a curve in the cut grass. ___I read about the increased load it puts on the engine if the blades are not level, but perhaps worse if lower in the back instead? So, after a great deal of time, using 2 levels, trying to put the tractor and mower on the same plane- I think I found a good setting. All of this is for naught, however, when I"m having to make 2,3,and 4 passes over the tallest and thickest grass!! Because once you raise it, the mower finds a new level state, which may suck up more HP from the engine?
___I know I"ve gone way long here. One more note and/or question is about the top link. I"ve tried it in all 3 of the positions available. It"s now pinned in the bottow hole. I"ve learned that if the pin atop the mower"s bracket isn"t very close to being snugged up at the front of the slot (closest to tractor)..the back end of the mower could drop when going to raise it. That just doesn"t look good, and seems it makes for a harder job for the lift arms!?
___**Just how low should I be cutting pasture grass? We"ll not let it get out of control again like this.(tractor problems, noted below) And.. btw, I am mowing at the PTO mark, 1500 RPMs. Sometimes going to 1700 due to the grass height.
___**What gear? In 1st, it does go smoother, but that"s WAY sloooowwww!! I"m usually in 2nd, and realize that more HP is now demanded to move the tractor forward, at the same time having to mow the grass at a higher rate. If you"ve stuck with me, but are truly dizzy by now... I need the basics in mowing, I guess. And what can I expect from a 60 yr. old, 30 HP tractor?
**** ********** **** ********* **** ******
___((THE FOLLOWING pertains mostly to the Jubilee and might help in responding to the above. And/ or may be of interest to other owners of "mature" tractors. ;-)
___Spent a great deal of time with the "Jube", adjusting carb and timing. I"m no expert, so I read many posts to gather information on both matters, and bought a timing light.
___It starts on the first crank, sounds real fine for an old machine . I focused on the manual"s max. degrees BTDC, for 1200 RPMs. Then, based on some opinions, and several field tests mowing over-grown pasture grass, I set the Jube to 1200 RPMs again, and slightly advanced the timing-not using the strobe- and could tell she was revving up some.
___I think it had a little more spare power in the tougher/taller/thicker grass, but it still seemed to bog down too easily. OR,... and I expecting too much out of her?