N80
Super Member
Its all about listening to the engine. I often wonder if people who are raised on automatic transmissions and HST tractors ever learn to listen to the engine. The reason I wonder that is that I have noticed that I don't pay attention to the engine now that I've been driving my first ever automatic transmission for 4 years.
But, when I drive a stick or my geared tractor, it all comes back. So that's why I suspect a lot of people have no idea what an engine is telling them.
Plus, the other day, I wasn't listening. Was pulling the box blade through some dense soil. Usually have it in a lower gear but had put it in a higher gear to travel a short distance. Didn't down shift and as the boxblade dug in and filled up, the engine started to lug, bog strain or whatever you want to call it. I was already hot, tired and frustrated and began to floor it when I realized I was in too high a gear. So even those of us who think we speak the language can get stupid when the conditions are right. It didn't take me long to realize what was going on...black smoke, heading towards a stall, me cussing out loud and when I realized it I down shifted and chugged right along.
I'm assuming no real harm done, but wouldn't want to do the poor machine that way all day.
Long story short, listen to the engine, it will tell you what to do...oh, and when you are hot, mad, tired and frustrated, it might be better to be on the porch than the tractor.
But, when I drive a stick or my geared tractor, it all comes back. So that's why I suspect a lot of people have no idea what an engine is telling them.
Plus, the other day, I wasn't listening. Was pulling the box blade through some dense soil. Usually have it in a lower gear but had put it in a higher gear to travel a short distance. Didn't down shift and as the boxblade dug in and filled up, the engine started to lug, bog strain or whatever you want to call it. I was already hot, tired and frustrated and began to floor it when I realized I was in too high a gear. So even those of us who think we speak the language can get stupid when the conditions are right. It didn't take me long to realize what was going on...black smoke, heading towards a stall, me cussing out loud and when I realized it I down shifted and chugged right along.
I'm assuming no real harm done, but wouldn't want to do the poor machine that way all day.
Long story short, listen to the engine, it will tell you what to do...oh, and when you are hot, mad, tired and frustrated, it might be better to be on the porch than the tractor.