Proper engine speed zero turn motor

[oldcodger]

What speed should the engine run (full throttle setting and blade engaged) on a zero turn mower? I put a cheap tach on my and the speed is about 3,000 rpm,

 

[GMBoy]

Wide open or close to it. You need enough RPM to spin the blades fast enough for your conditions and enough to propel the mower. I keep mine a hair below max and it does fine and saves some fuel. I believe the max setting is not true max to save the motor.

 

[Cujet]

Most of the OPE engines create rated HP at 3600RPM. I recently adjusted the governor on my JD235 to 3600, per the manual. It was down to 2800! Most likely due to the governor spring rusting and getting weak. I don't often need to run the eng at full RPM, but it's nice to have when mulching leaves, as it does a much better job.

NOTE: I think this thread belongs in the Lawn Mower section, not Motorcycle.

 

[walterjay]

I run my JD at 3,150 rpms. Perfect for my application.

 

[Propflux01]

I would think this applies to a dual-blade Zero Turn as well. If you have a 42" mower with 2 21" blades, 3,274 RPM would be your speed.

Blade tip speed (in Feet Per Minute) is calculated by multiplying the engine RPM by π (approximately 3.1415) and the blade length (in inches), then dividing by 12.

(Based on maintaining the standard 18,000 FPM target)

 

[dnewton3]

Most of the OPE engines create rated HP at 3600RPM. I recently adjusted the governor on my JD235 to 3600, per the manual. It was down to 2800! Most likely due to the governor spring rusting and getting weak. I don't often need to run the eng at full RPM, but it's nice to have when mulching leaves, as it does a much better job.

Correct; 3600 rpm is the commonly designed operating speed for most any OPE engine.

NOTE: I think this thread belongs in the Lawn Mower section, not Motorcycle.

thread moved

 

[Zee09]

My EFI 33hp Kohler engine suggests mowing at 3600 rpm. The Spartan does have a tach and residential mowing is fine at 3200 rpm but farm fields etc... 3600 rpm is best...

It's very fuel efficient either way
Under 1 gallon an hour

 

[nwjones18]

Most of the OPE engines create rated HP at 3600RPM. I recently adjusted the governor on my JD235 to 3600, per the manual. It was down to 2800! Most likely due to the governor spring rusting and getting weak. I don't often need to run the eng at full RPM, but it's nice to have when mulching leaves, as it does a much better job.

NOTE: I think this thread belongs in the Lawn Mower section, not Motorcycle.

How exactly do you go about adjusting the governor? I need to put a tach on my John deere zero turn. Cut quality has always been poor even with new/sharp blades and all I can figure is lack of blade speed. Engine sounds normal. Briggs 22hp