Low range or high range

[Tmar04]

I have 94 b7100 hst. Should I use lo range or high doing dirt work? How about bushhoging with 4 ft mower? Just bought tractor . Thanks

 

[ipz2222]

For most dirt work, I use low, for mowing , hi, with the understanding that if the grass/weeds are too thick, switch to low.

 

[Bulldog]

That's a hard question to answer. Every situation is different. If you're having to push hard in the dirt I would say Low is better just to be easier on the tractor. If you just grading small amounts of dirt and the ground is smooth enough them High is fine. Best advise I can think of is learn the sounds of the tractor. If you're loading the engine up and making it work to hard then it's time to drop a gear. Remember, you're on a B7100 not a D8 Caterpillar. Once you get used to the way the machine acts and sounds operating it will become second nature.

In the end you'll be amazed at what a small tractor can do. It may take a little longer than a larger tractor but the little 7100 is a work horse.

 

[Tmar04]

Thanks to both u guys. Bulldog, most of dirt work is grading a half mile dirt road between me and paved road. Mostly sandy loam and some clay mixed in. Using a 4 ft United Imp HD box blade. Mowing is mostly level weeds and grass.
Again, my thanks. Health and happiness in 2015.

 

[Dieselbob]

Here's a question I don't believe I have seen answered to my satisfaction. On a HST transmission like on a BX, does lugging the tractor down in high range actually present a damage risk to the transmission? I have always been careful to use low whenever I was doing any real work, but I have always wondered. None of the kubota literature I have seen has ever really addressed the issue.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

On a HST transmission like on a BX, does lugging the tractor down in high range actually present a damage risk to the transmission?

Simple answer No, not much damage can be done by lugging an HST.
You're just not moving enough fluid to make the system work.

 

[cerlawson]

With most internal combustion engines, you get the most horse power at the very top of the RPM range. Lugging the engine is making use of less HP and, at least for a gasoline engine, will tend to burn valves and carbon up the cylinder area. You are causing less stress on the engine parts by reving up the RPMs for the same load.

 

[Dieselbob]

In the case of the BX where power is seldom if ever an issue, there are times like plowing snow where the extra speed of high range would be nice, but I have always been concerned that under a really hard pull the transmission would get overworked. I also hate to hear the engine screaming all the time. I tend to run with the least amount of throttle that will get the job done, sometimes only throttling up becuse the Hydraulics speed is too slow at low RPM.

 

[85Hokie]

Here's a question I don't believe I have seen answered to my satisfaction. On a HST transmission like on a BX, does lugging the tractor down in high range actually present a damage risk to the transmission? I have always been careful to use low whenever I was doing any real work, but I have always wondered. None of the kubota literature I have seen has ever really addressed the issue.

I am with wolfman on this too - lugging the hst is not a problem - lugging the engine at low RPM is !

I tend to run mine in low 85 % of the time, mainly do the lack of flatland I have around here, some hills the BX cannot climb in high gear. I typically like to have a little punch when I need it, run at 85% throttle and in low when i need to get something accomplished that needs a little smack in the a$$.!

 

[Bulldog]

Will running a HST in to high of range create a over heating issue?

 

[gssixgun]

I guess I am over cautious

Simple rules for me

Doing work = Low Range
Getting To/From the Work Site = High Range

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Will running a HST in to high of range create a over heating issue?

Normally dogging any vehicle would overheat it, But surprisingly the design of the HST system won't normally dog the motor down with it, so no overheating.

 

[D2Cat]

Wolfman, where did this expression originate, "dog the motor down..."?

I know we were discussing these sayings on another thread, but I had to ask!

 

[Lil Foot]

I guess I am over cautious
Simple rules for me
Doing work = Low Range
Getting To/From the Work Site = High Range

This pretty much works for me also. Low range gives another advantage that no one has mentioned- things happen slower in low- a plus when trying to front blade or box blade as close as possible to walls, rocks, trees, etc. and maneuvering in tight quarters.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Wolfman, where did this expression originate, "dog the motor down..."?

I know we were discussing these sayings on another thread, but I had to ask!

My best guess would be on old steam donkey engines for logging, dogging the engine kept it from being able to run in reverse.
Dogs were cams to stop fee wheel movement.

 

[sheepfarmer]

My best guess would be on old steam donkey engines for logging, dogging the engine kept it from being able to run in reverse.
Dogs were cams to stop fee wheel movement.

The only one I ever heard was "lug the engine" or more often "don't lug the engine" when I was learning to drive

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

The only one I ever heard was "lug the engine" or more often "don't lug the engine" when I was learning to drive

All I ever heard was quit drag racing, quit speeding, quit driving reckless...