More is not better with a hydro

Suess · Jan 28, 2005

I guess it comes natural to me to slow ground speed when running out of power. But then I was driving tractors long befor cars. I can easily see if your use to a car that it would be natural to want to push harder. I usially run in low if I don't need the ground speed less pressure/torque for the hydro motors to turn the the final drive. Less pressure = less heat = longer life or so I'm told by guys who work on combine hydros. It has been my experience with the 72" RFM on the B7610 I can go full speed in low all the time and not run out of power but at the same speed in high range I am out of power when going up hill and must let up on the hydro. So perhaps there is greater effency with the hydro running faster under less pressure? Not sure.

_RaT_ · Jan 28, 2005

<font color="blue"> I would much rather be on the ground wishing I was in the air, then in the air wishing I was on the ground.
</font>

That's pretty good Mike. I have never thought of it that way but it certainly summed up my idea of it, well that and the cost.

DmansPadge · Jan 29, 2005

Thats a great post Bill. I got my brushhog last week and finally got to use the tractor a little. I found myself using the pedal like a gas pedal. Even though I know better... it really didn't sink in until I read your post. As said earlier.... you learn something new every day!

stevepio · Jan 29, 2005

Kind of funny the way different people learn the same things in different ways. The wife and I both love driving cars with standard transmissions. Once I finally figured the tractor out and the wife was in training, the way I explained the hydro pedal was that it's not the throttle, it's an upshift / downshift pedal. When the load goes up, you need to downshift so as not to stall. Instant success. She doesn't tractor often, but never has problems when she does!

MadDog · Jan 29, 2005

Yep. I learned in a C150, too. Entirely agree w/your "philosophy of flight." Takin' up gen aviation planes is kinda like climbing mountains; "when in doubt, don't." /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

But, assuming that you survive, you do learn from those hairy experiences; I found that I was choosing to stay on the ground when I'd been flying for 20 years, in conditions that I'd have gone up in without hesitation when I had just gotten my ticket.

To adapt a line from the police training manuals; "there are old pilots and bold pilots, but d**n few old, bold pilots." /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif