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Cullom, Illinois | Per the previous posts, I pulled the 305 on the dyno today. There was a question as to whether the plate on top of the air cleaner restricted the engine enough to limit horsepower and raise fuel usage. Engine made 265 HP with and without the plate installed. And it used 14.5 gallons per hour at rated speed with and without the plate installed. So absolutly no difference there.
I did learn something that may be of interest. If you turn on the cruise control, lower the rpm from 2100 to 2000, under full load, the tractor will only use 12.5 gallons per hour and make just as much horsepower. And as you unload the engine, mimicking field conditions (like chiseling where you hit tough spots and then easy spots), the fuel usage goes even lower. Without the cruise on, the engine uses fuel at a higher rate, loaded or not. That's 14% less fuel doing the same work.
Makes sense now how Deere and Agco get fuel efficency out of their IVT transmissions. Idle back the engine, speed up the tranny, to maintain ground speed when you don't need the power. And then reverse the process when you do.
So I guess the tractor isn't so bad, once I learn how to use it.
As for the radiator getting plugged, I added some weather stripping around the bottom of the hood and made sure the foam at the top of the radiator was in place. Think this will help the problem a lot.
Tractor still needs a bigger fuel tank (200 Gallon) and a cleanable air filter, but all in all, a good solid tractor for the price you pay.
BTW...for you GENISIS tractor owners out there. Pulled the old 8870 with 4000 hrs on the dyno too. Rated at 180 PTO HP from the factory, pulled 235 HP on the dyno. Wish the heck they had kept that same motor in the newer Genisis tractors. One of the hottest motors ever. Pulled as high as 280HP!!!! And how many of them do you see on tractorhouse with over 5000 hours and still going strong. | |
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Versatile 305 update
