Using PTO in high range?

[torch]

After 15 or 20 hours of trying it both ways, I can't find any significant difference in performance. If the bucket hits a stubborn root, the relief valve kicks in and switching to 540 @ full rpm makes no difference -- things are still limited by the relief valve. The motor does not seem to lug at all. Operational speeds are the same either way.

It's quieter and (presumably) uses less fuel in high at part-throttle. The only disadvantage is I have to remember to shift to neutral when reving up to backfill with the loader.

 

[Mike9]

I run 540rpm at WOT the way it's designed to run. I don't have any issues with excess fuel consumption.

 

[kenrevo]

I'm not sure which backhoe you have but I have a BL4690B and the OEM pump is Eaton gear pump; it is rated at max of 3600rpm. Theoretically I could run the pump at in high at max rpm and get more flow with out hurting the pump but I'm not sure if the bracket will support the extra force. I run mine in high around 1800rpm without any issues.

 

[Berry]

I'm not sure which backhoe you have but I have a BL4690B and the OEM pump is Eaton gear pump; it is rated at max of 3600rpm. Theoretically I could run the pump at in high at max rpm and get more flow with out hurting the pump but I'm not sure if the bracket will support the extra force. I run mine in high around 1800rpm without any issues.

Reading all your post with some interesting points. I have been reading up as much as I can as I am new to tractors. I am positive I have read somewhere that with two speed PTOs for anything in ground breaking earth, you should always use the low RPM, everything else use the high speed. Again not sure where that came from but it made sense to me. In my case, my B7200HST is rated 540 RPM @ 2500.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Which PTO speed you use really depends upon the implement. Most 'old skool' implements are designed to work at '540 RPM' probably as old tractors didn't have high HP, so to get torque, you needed a lower RPM, to get work done. Modern tractors have 100s of HP, so they can spin the PTO shaft faster and still deliver tons to torque. What speed you can use, really depends on the load on the implement. I can easily run my 5' tiller faster than 540 all day in my high tilthe veggie patch, but only 100-150 in rough sod.