mowing in high gear

[arthurpbloom]

On a large flat field, does anyone mow in third gear? I tried it today on a lawn about 50' by 150' to save some time and it seemed to work pretty well. It was not as clean a cut as when I use 2nd gear, but it sure was fast.

[Barnyard]

That's a little too fast. 2nd gear may be slower but it is easier on the equipment and does a better job.

[arthurpbloom]

Thanks for the advice. It was just an experiment. Second gear, in addition to a better cut, allows more deep thought, without distractions.

[duff]

I do that on occasion when I need to get done on my back areas that don't get seen much but it is too much like work at that speed. I like the steady pace of 2nd and even 1st some days...less beer spillage!

[BigBill]

I tried it but going faster on the turns is kind of dangerous??? The straight aways are ok.

What a waste the third really is??? Its useless in my cubs and cub cadets.....

[cyriaque]

BigBill-third is great in my subdivision in Baton Rouge! Vroom...vroom :-O

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

3rd gear was primarily intended for transport. or pulling lightly loaded wagons or trailers on a smooth area. You have to remember that when the cub (including tranny in 154) was designed, they were farm tractors, and very few people had trailers to haul them on, so the 3rd was to get to the field.

[Barnyard]

What a waste the third really is??? Its useless in my cubs and cub cadets.....

I never use it while using an implement but I'd be lost with out it. Like john said, it is great for transporting. It gets a workout around here and my place isn't big at all..

[BigBill]

I have used 3rd gear on the road going to mow at another place. But I wish we had a gear between 2nd and 3rd to break up the slowness of 2nd were 3rd is too fast. We also have to remember the 154's have more rpm's too so there faster in 3rd over the fcubs. I also notice my 8,3x24 turf tires are taller than my 13,6x16 turf tires. I would think that using 9,5x24 turf tires maybe even a little taller? That would help out second gear in mph?

I also notice it in my cub cadets too when mowing that 2nd gear is too slow and 3rd is too fast. But with these tractors its cheap to play with the tire diameter. My cadets mow better with 26" tires but 26" tires don't clear the decks when lifting them on all the cub cadet models. There mainly made for 23" or 24" tires. But with having the creeper tranny in some of my cub cadets the three speed tranny works awesome with the ranges in low speed on the creeper. Even the creeper on my int154 works better in some cases too when in low range.

The farmall a's/sa's are 4speeds right?

I don't know the speed on my national mower with the 68" gang reels yet. But I'm thinking for down the road my next tractor maybe an older ford with the 12sp sherman trans??

[josys36]

The farmall a's/sa's are 4speeds right?

Yes the A and Super A have 4 speeds. 4th is 10 MPH and really can feel like a rush when there is nothing around you. Otherwise it is a bit fast. On the road it is a dream, but in the field or lawn it can take a few minutes for your back teeth to stop wiggling. I use 3rd to move between lawns and 2nd to mow them in. I really think 3rd would be way to fast to mow anything.

[danovercash]

At last check my cub topped out @ 7.2 mph, courtesy of GW's math and a high revving engine.