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Hello Frank, I was out mowing the vineyard this weekend (not mine, a friend's) with my p/p TED (your TO 30), and it's uphill in first gear most of the time, similar grass condition and length. The mower was a 6 foot, triple bladed finishing mower - but it does a good job as a rough cutter, too. Like you, I wondered about the power needed, and just how many of the original 30 horses were still working after 52 years! Ray is right in his suggestion about opening the throttle - it's a good test. Occasional dropping of revs when you hit a dense patch should be fine, as long as the engine recovers when you are out of the patch. As far as cracking the block goes, maybe its different with the Continental, but with the Standard engine, as long as it has been well maintained, and the water pump is working and the radiator is clear, and the block isn't sludged up, you shouldn't have any trouble. Cracking should only occur when you have severe temperature gradients or differentials between two proximal points on a casting, and if your engine is well maintained, this should not happen. In other words, cracking a block is a 'lack of maintenance' issue. I really am not having a pop at Ray, because his experience has obviously been different to mine, but as far as we in the UK are aware, these engines/tractors did not have a reputation for cracking blocks when worked hard. Maybe it has something to do with hotter temperatures over there, but the old girl was sweating in 30+ degrees C this weekend, and has done similar work for the last 52 years, and no problems yet. One way round the 'problem' you have would be to cut the grass more often, ie when it's shorter and less woody. Just my thoughts.
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