[mbrun]

Today I decided I was going to adjust the speed of my tractor following the instructions in the technical manual. Now the reason I did this was that back in the summer I testing the top speed using my GPS running up and down the driveway. Top speeds were around 5.5 forward and 3.8 reverse.

Now I have been content with the current speeds, but I thought it would be nice to have the rated speeds.

According to the tech manual the distance between the forward pedal and the covering on the floor board is supposed to be 1.9 inches. And for the reverse pedal it is supposed to be 1.6 inches.

I made 4" long gauge blocks out of 2x4 material, cutting each to the corresponding size on the table saw. Neither block would slide under the corresponding pedal when the parking brake was applied (neutral position), which corresponded to my slower than expected speeds.

I loosened the bolt in the slot of each pedal arm beneath the floor rest. I then placed the correct block under each pedal and proceeded to tighten the bolts back down.

I started the tractor and let it warm up for about 15 minutes to give the tranny a chance to loosen up. Then with the GPS mounted on the hood in speedometer mode, I ran the tractor up and down my 600' driveway in both forward and reverse. And here are the results.

Forward:
Top speed registered - 7.0
Typical - 6.6 to 6.8

Reverse:
Top speed registered - 6.8
Typical - 6.2 to 6.4

So what is interesting about this is that top forward speed is just a tad under rated speed, yet the reverse speed is a little more than 1MPH over the rated speed. Sweeeeet!

So a question for you x500 series owners. Have you ever checked your speeds and how did they fair? Have you made this adjustment yet?

 

[Harryc]

I think it's a common adjustment on many models of hydrostatic tractors, not just X500's. I have to make this one myself because I noticed a slowdown in reverse over the last year.

 

[Mike Michaels]

I'll have to get my GPS out to see what my speeds are but my yard has so many steep slopes I won't bother adjusting it upwards if it comes in on the slow side.

 

[cgreencorn1]

I purchased my X500 in May 2010 and adjusted it a couple days after the purchase. I was content with foward speed, but I'm extremely happy with the reverse speed know.

 

[mbrun]

Tonight I found something interesting in the tech manual. On the page containing the specific instructions for adjusting the pedals JD lists the 1.9 and 1.6 inch values I mentioned. On another page I found a different set of values. 1.9 and 1.3.

 

[Marcintosh]

round my property you don't really think about top speed. If you're walking you hope you don't twist your ankle coming off a rock and on the tractor, well there's been times I'd have really appreciated a seat belt.:duh:
So speed not so much and issue here. Nothing that a few thousand yards of fill won't fix though. isgus:

 

[wizzo]

I never checked my speed... I guess I might have to sometime.