What is the correct engine rpm for 540 pto rpm ?

[Livewire84]

I have a 1962 fordson super major.
I have always used 1200 engine rpm when running any kind of pto driven attachment that is rated for 540 rpm.
I read a conflicting article that on the super major that said if the "raised pto" was a option, which my original tachometer did say on it, then the engine had to turn 1600 rpm in order for the pto to obtain the 540 rpm.
Can anyone clear this up for me please ?
I want to make sure I am using my bush hog effectively and not bogging the engine or brush mower, when mowing down heavy brush.
Thank you.

[SvendH]

Good Morning,
1200 turns on the motor will give 540 on your pto, which in case of heavy loading on the bush hog Will labour your tractor (it does my 61 )
If i were you I would set about 1300-1350 revs without load, the motor will pull much easier!
Stop Cruelty To Majors!!!

[Livewire84]

Ha ha. I wil try to stop the cruelty to my major, but it likes some dirty, hard work from time to time.. lol
Thank you for your advice !
At 1200 rpm heavy brush will bog my engine as well.
I will bump the rpm up a little, so it won't strain as much.
Thanks again !

[Les bryant]

when i ran a rotary slasher behind a fordson i ran at full revs also with sixty inch rotary hoe was aiways full throttle at least 2000 revs . cheers Les from NZ .

[SvendH]

Wow that slasher must have been RACING.Unless you had raised pto,or perhaps it was a new performance super with the high ratio pto drive?

[Les bryant]

no was major no raised pto had to run full revs to get the power . power major for rotary hoe if you didnt run full revs you would be along time hoeing a paddock , about 1 acre per hour 9 to 10 hours a day 6 days week .

[Billy26F5]

Hi,
540 rpm PTO speed is achieved at 1200 rpm for the standard PTO

and 1600 rpm for the raised PTO (Has a large box bolted on where the standard PTO has a simple cover plate). The tachometer is the same for either option.
Sandy

[mathias1]

That's right Sandy.

The raised pto has a reduction of 24/18. So you need to speed up the engine to 1600rpm to have 540pto output.

The new performance super major needs about 1500rpm to achieve the 540 pto speed. The raised pto for this tractor didn't have a reduction.

[Livewire84]

Thank you for the replies.
I appreciate them all.

[blackbob]

A rotary hoe is easier to manage, there are usually alternative sets of gears in the hoe's gearbox (eg Howard 'Selectatilth') so you can keep up the engine revs for max power, even though the pto is over 540 rpm. A topper/slasher/mower wouldn't really be designed to be operated over 540 rpm, mine (which has all its blades, but some pretty worn) starts to vibrate worryingly at maybe 400 rpm!