You answered your own question....

If the max output is at 3600 that's where it can be set, That's where I set them.

 

I did some checking and found that the 3600 number is no load. Since this mower does not have a BBC do I have to remove the blade to test no load? Can the mower evern run like this? Or better yet, what is the max rpm with the blade engaged?

Thanks,
Jason

 

With my GCV160, I take it up to 3650, blades engaged. Doesn't seem to harm the engine and it cuts better.

 

3600 with the blade on is just fine, 3650 as Gbug said is fine.
As long as you stay close to the specified RPM you should have no problems.

 

The whole idea behind a max RPM on a mower is to not exceed a certain blade tip speed. I can't remember the exact FPS, (I think it's something like 17000 FPM), but it works out to around 3100 RPM for a 21" mower.
I think that's a homeowner type standard whereas commercials can go a bit higher.
Don't hold me to the exact numbers tho-

 

I believe the tip speed for a given distance from the center of the blade to a a specific location is calculated by multiplying the distance by the angular velocity. In simpler terms multiply the distance (inches) /12 x rpm x 2 x pi (3.14159). So...for a 21 inch blade spinning at 3250 rpms the tip speed is calculated as follows:
Tip Speed: 10.5/12 x 3250 x 2 x 3.14159 = 17,870 ft/min

If I increase my RPM to 3600, the new tip speed will be 19,792 ft/min.

 

Is that on a Toro commercial 21"? My experience with the Honda engines on those mowers has not been good. No matter what RPM you set it at, the engine is going to bog down in heavy grass. As a rule of thumb, those Honda engines are gutless dogs. No torque compared to the Kawasaki engine that you can get on those machines. If the mower is new, my suggestion is that you see if you can exchange it for one of the "good" Toros with the Kawasaki engine.

 

The correct top rpm speed under no load with the blade on (engine wont run without the blade on).
Is 3100 rpm +/- 150 rpm. Usually 3050 is more than ample.
The engine is not meant to be run at 3600 rpm and it can't reach that high anyway, the engine will max out at about 3400 rpm and you are not supposed to run it that high. At that speed the engine will be running way to fast, it will be racing and you will notice it because it will sound like it is ready to explode and their is a good chance it will.
The horsepower rating is derived at 3600 rpm but you do not run the engine at 3600 rpm, nor can you.
The torque rating of these engines is derived at 2500 rpm.
3100 +/-150 rpm is the max safe and proper speed for one of these engines on a lawnmower. This also holds true for most lawnmower engines, Briggs, Tecumseh, Kohler and clones.
That is the max spec for these engines no matter what lawn mower it sits on.
Short answer 3100 rpm.

 

Set it at 3700RPM

 

You cant, it will not go above 3400 governed. Try it and you'll see. 3100 is where your supposed to be, much higher than that your risking blowing the engine and you shorten the lifespan of the engine significantly.
These are the specs from honda, not me. I'm sorry if people don't like it, but it is what it is. Everything above the facts I laid out above are incorrect.

 

11 year old thread?

 

Man I wish I knew how to contact Honda and let them know they are advertising their engines safe operating range incorrectly.

https://engines.honda.com/models/model-detail/gxv160#PerformanceCurves

Mowers are governed at a lower RPM because ANSI mandates the max allowable blade tip speed is 19,000 FPM.

Your average 21" blade would be moving just a hair under that at 3,400 RPM. Somewhere around 18,796.8 ... give or take a foot.

A GXV160 isn't at risk of blowing up if you run it at 3,600 RPM. Just know that if you are running a commercial operation and you have the engine set that high with the blade spinning you're technically breaking the law, and I see OSHA guys out there measuring blade tip speed all the time. :laugh:

At a certain point, which varies with blade type, you'll start creating so much turbulence under the deck that you're just making things worse if you want a clean cut.

 

closing this one out and for the new guy with all the hating, name calling and uncalled for attacks on others, NO need for it to continue. you claim to have come here 11 years later to correct some things, then proceed to insult others, our community, etc. in the process? Again, NO need to post in such a manner again

thanks