Even though this isn't 4x4 related I think I have more of a chance at getting the help I need here rather in Gen Chit Chat.

Ok what I have is a Lesco 300 fairway mower. This thing is 3 wheel drive, rear hydraulic steer, 22Hp Onan twin. The rear steer wheel is larger then the other two drive wheels and each wheel has it's own drive motor.

The mower was given to me and I want to convert it over to a snow plow for sidewalks. I'm in the process of stripping off all the hydraulics that ran the mowers and the lifts but what I need to know is how to I increase the speed of this thing?

The few times I've driven it it was really slow, even in "transport" I could walk faster then this thing moves.

One other question, on the main valve body if I just cap off the ports that went to the reel motors and lift cylinders will that be ok as long as the levers don't get moved?
Someone told my that blocking them off won't work but that doesn't make sense to me. They said I need to loop the pressure side back into the return.

Re: the valve body..just block them off..the pump will go into bypass before anything else even if you hit the levers..it makes a weird noise though.

As for moving faster, you need to get more fluid to the motors...any adjustments that you can see?

try here these guys might have the answer.
http://www.route6x6.com

Originally posted by Scout Dude
Re: the valve body..just block them off..the pump will go into bypass before anything else even if you hit the levers..it makes a weird noise though.

As for moving faster, you need to get more fluid to the motors...any adjustments that you can see?


I don't see anything (this thing is a plumbing nightmare!) and I even have all the manuals including the hydraulic schematic (If I didn't have those I wouldn't be attempting this).

Hydraulic problems is why the mower is no longer made, they work great when they're working but there are too many things that can go wrong (why it was given to me). I don't think Lesco enginers ever heard of K.I.S.S. technology.:laughing:

Gonna get a LOT of hydraulic cylinders out of it though!:D

You might want to check the controls at the pump to see if you can get any more travel. Next I'd check the pressure going into the wheel motors, and maybe try to bump up the governor a little bit.
I have a simular mower that I'm making a snowplow for ( great minds think alike ).
Mine has a front deck and I made some forks for it...very handy.

Hey dirtrod, maybe I'll have you come take a look at it!:laughing:

Actually I've seel a lot of these type of mowers converted into trailer mules. They weld a bar across the two lifts with a ball in the middle. Makes moving boats or campers around the yard a breeze!

a bypassing motor at one wheel most of the fluid would be going through the bad motor and then back to tank unless it has been slow since new you could put a higher GPM pump on but it would get hotter quicker Just a thought

check the filters and strainers, I have a skidloader and it was super slow, the suction strainer was clogged, so I replaced that and the filters and it's like new again.

Craig