Proper rpm / gear for bush hog on MF 245

The tractor tachometer should have a line on it stating "540 PTO", I think its around 1700 RPM. Tractor gear doesn't matter, just keep the RPM at the 540 PTO speed, and pick a gear that seems to do good for you and the terrain. My 245 is a 6 spd or (3 spd with high/low) and I usually mow in 3rd low, or 1st high depending on grass and terrain.
 
No thanks to feral hogs tearing up parts of my pastures I have to use 2 L if you want I my internal organs to remain in their original positions. Feral hogs really can ruin land!
 
4play,

I've been using 3L with 1700 rpm and it's a bit too fast when navigating around trees.

I've tried using 1L and 2L, but the PTO turns so much slower that the blades just push the brush over instead of cutting it.

Why does 1L and 2L with 1700 rpm slow the PTO ?

This 245 is a 4 speed with Live PTO.
 
(quoted from post at 23:31:14 07/12/17) 4play,

I've been using 3L with 1700 rpm and it's a bit too fast when navigating around trees.

I've tried using 1L and 2L, but the PTO turns so much slower that the blades just push the brush over instead of cutting it.

Why does 1L and 2L with 1700 rpm slow the PTO ?

This 245 is a 4 speed with Live PTO.


Sounds like you are using ground pto instead of live pto. You should have to pull the pto lever back for live pto. You should be pushing the clutch pedal all the way down to the foot plate so you can engage the live pto.
 
ptfarmer,

So push the clutch all the way down and pull the PTO lever toward the rear of the tractor (vertical position) ?

I tried that, but when I do, it feels like there's gears grinding and it won't engage.

Do you have to pull the PTO lever back hard to engage ?

What rpm should the throttle be running at ?
 
When you first push down on the clutch pedal the first 3/4" should be free. After that you will feel some pressure, that is the first stage so you can change gears in the transmission. When the pedal is half way down it should get a little harder to push all the way down, that is the second stage of the clutch for the pto. You do pull the pto lever towards the rear of the tractor (vertical position). If the pto grinds when the pedal is pressed all the way down, and the clutch pedal has more than 3/4" of free play the pedal may need some adjustment (its not letting the pto clutch disengage all the way). If it has 3/4" free play in the clutch pedal the pto clutch may need to be adjusted.
 
After viewing videos on different tractors where the PTO won't engage, it appears this is something a tractor mechanic will have to fix.

I'd guess that'll cost around $1,000.
 
Right behind the engine on the bottom of the bell housing there is a plate that is held on with four bolts. After the plate is off there is three bolts that need to be adjusted. There is not a lot of room to adjust those three bolts to adjust the pto clutch. I'll try to get some pictures up sometime tomorrow (been kind of busy the last few days).
 
I will save you a thousand bucks, just buy me beer.
The engine sometimes, sometimes all the times, has to be at slowest idle, not rolling at all, not running speed. If that still don't work, engage the pto while the engine is still off, then start, then raise the clutch pedal....
Is there some one around you that can show you how to operate one of these things? Kindof a dangerous rig to learn on...
 

Tony,

Placing the PTO lever in the Live position with the tractor off works.

Does that mean the PTO clutch still has to be adjusted ?

Here's your zero calorie reward !

13-08-08_015226_cbeer.jpg
 
If that's a Carling Black Label, I'll take it.
A long time ago, an ol feller told me, even if a clutch was adjusted to factory specs, might not matter - or is dirty, got hay or old grease or a dead mouse in there, the flywheel side and housing, and springs, and fingers- will pull the plate along for the ride, he thought- and i agree- an engine at speed - in an enclosed clutch housing shell- will cause a suction effect that will certainly pull the clutch plate along for the ride, but the lower the speed- like slowest idle, sit there a minute,the clutch is less likely to follow along, dead stopped, hey the dead mouse might fall out, and you'll have one less problem... gosh i need another beer....
 
Here is the pto clutch adjustment, on the bottom of bell housing is a plate with four bolts, remove the bolts, and plate.
755.jpg


There is three bolts that need to be checked, all three need to have the same gap.
756.jpg
 

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