LM Reports: Save big bucks on tractor fuel

1 Feb, 2003 By: Curt Harler Landscape Management

Tractor prices today are reasonable. But the operating costs can bite.

A simple strategy will reduce fuel costs by 27%. It doesn’t come
in a bottle and requires no bolt-on equipment.

Simply have workers run the tractor at a high engine load. Tractor engines
have better fuel economy at higher engine loads. Fuel economy at full
PTO power is about 30% higher than at 50% PTO power.

Not every job requires heavy use of PTO power. To save fuel, reduce throttle
speed and use a higher gear. Of course, avoid overloading the engine.
This works because the typical diesel engine gives its best fuel economy
at about two-thirds rated power and two-thirds rated speed.

A realistic overall savings, according to ag engineers, is about 27%.
You can save that much every year of the tractor’s life. Now, take
27% of your company’s fuel bills last year, split it in half, and
send our portion in care of the editor.

The real buzz on tractors

Any time a landscape professional is in the market for a new utility
tractor, the “old boy” network starts to buzz.

User experience is great, but an objective test of the machinery
is better.

The
State of Nebraska requires that any current tractor model sold in
the state must have a performance test completed according to Organization
for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Codes or ASAE/SAE
Standards. The Nebraska
Tractor Test Laboratory carries out those tests. But the information
is available to anyone.

A good bit of data is available free, and there’s a nominal
fee for complete test results. While farm tractors dominate the
results on nearly 2,000 tractors checked, there is plenty of information
of interest to landscapers. Check it out.


	AGCO CORP. 770/813-9200 Six compact tractors ranging from 24-44 hp make up the ST series All offer 4-wheel drive Four largest models (30.3-44.2 hp) have 16-speed tranny Choose mechanical shuttle or PowerShuttle. 24 hp ST25 has 2-range hydrostatic: 6 forwards, 2 reverses

ALLMAND 800/562-1373 25 hp power on Allmand TLB-325 compact tractor Powered by Kohler CH25S or Robin EH 72 Backhoe offers 4611-lb. dig force

	CATERPILLAR 309/675-1000 D7R series II track-type tractors Fuel-efficient Cat 3176C engine Standard finger-tip control or optional electronic differential steer

CHALLENGER 800/767-3221 Challenger MT200 Series compacts range from 23.3-44.2 hp ISEKI diesel All tractors feature power steering Choose among standard, shuttle and hydrostatic transmissions 4-wheel drive front axle standard on all

	CUB CADET 330/225-2600 7252 Cub Cadet compact tractor features 25 hp Kawasaki engine Only gas engine available in compact tractors 2-wheel drive, hydrostatic transmission Push-button PTO

JOHN DEERE 800/537-8233 Low-effort controls on the 4000 TEN series compact utility tractors 4110 has 3-cylinder, 20-hp engine CollarShift tranny standard 8 forward, 4 reverse speeds Four-wheel drive standard

	KUBOTA TRACTOR 888/458-2682 TG 1860 tractor is rated 18 hp Choose liquid-cooled V-Twin gas engine or diesel Electronic rack-and-pinion steering

LONG AGRIBUSINESS 252/823-4151 LandTrac 330 is powered by Mitsubishi indirect injection diesel Powered by 35-hp engine 30 hp PTO at 540 rpm Comes with hydrostatic transmission (pictured: LandTrac 360)

	MASSEY FERGUSON 800/767-3221 Massey 1400 compacts rated at 16.6-55.3 hp Transmission and PTO controls are on either side of the seat Cruise control standard on 16.6-hp 1417 and 23-hp 1423 Choose PowerShuttle or SynchroShuttle transmission

NEW HOLLAND 717/355-1121 Boomer line offers landscapers nine compact models TC21 has three ranges, for running in one gear Units come with a 540 rpm rear PTO, live 2000 rpm mid-PTO on models with hydrostatic tranny

	NMC WOLLARD 800/656-6867 Versadyne Model 3K handles multiple tools Powered by Cummins turbo diesel engine Is surface-friendly to turf MaxAttach tool carrier mounts most skid steer attachments ROPS and FOPS overhead guard

POWER TRAC 800/843-9273 PowerTrac T12 class includes two 30-hp diesels, PT2430 and PT1430 4-wheel hydrostatic drive, 52 in. wide Change equipment without leaving driver’s seat Over 40 attachments available

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