Novice operating exerience....

[TripleR]

Sometimes, for a true novice, it is better to spend some time not doing any work until you spend a bit of time familiarizing yourself with all of the controls. I have had new owners go out into an open field and practice. I have done this when buying a new tractor.

As mentioned, when working pay close attention and I certainly can't improve on the advice given.

We were all novices once and can't certainly identify with your situation.

 

[Andrewnewy]

You said you are operating the throttle. Tractors are not like cars, you set your throttle once and typically do not touch the throttle while operating.

Your comments here are only partially correct, if your tractor has an HST trans the yes you set tractor rpm and adjust speed with the HST peddle, if your just driving(I.e not working) the set the rpm as low as possible to achieve the desired speed, when you start working the tractor you then set engine rpm to match what is required for that task, for example if you have a PTO driven implement requiring 540rpm @ PTO then you set your engine revs to achieve this.
Gear tractor you tend to drie just like a car, start in a low gear and change up as you increase speed, selling engine revs and clutching as you normally would, however the above still applies when you start working.
Diesel engine like operating under load, if your revs are two high and your not working your tractor you can where the tops of your crank bearings, on the otherhand if they do nothing but idle you will ware the bottoms, ideally you want to where both equally hence keeping it under load. (but without overloading it)

As for the OP, as others have said, take your time, get use to each operation first before you try doing it all together, tractors can kill if not use properly, and if you don't know something ask hear.

 

[rus_geek]

One thing I learned was what happens when you are backing up, looking over your shoulder, raising the bucket, and forget you are raising the bucket. ...

I was sure this was going to be another "I tore the corner off the garage" stories. Not that anyone here has ever had one of those . . .

My favorite when backing up is when one wheel switches suddenly from foot-deep snow to a foot-high chunk of ice. That'll wake you up in a hurry.

-rus-

 

[TripleR]

I was sure this was going to be another "I tore the corner off the garage" stories. Not that anyone here has ever had one of those . . .

-rus-

Yeah, I am pretty sure that's another one of those urban legends.

 

[RidgeHiker]

You said you are operating the throttle. Tractors are not like cars, you set your throttle once and typically do not touch the throttle while operating. Tractors have a governed throttle and the engines are designed to operate continuously at 2000 to 3000 RPM.

Gear tractor you tend to drie just like a car, start in a low gear and change up as you increase speed, selling engine revs and clutching as you normally would, however the above still applies when you start working.
Diesel engine like operating under load, if your revs are two high and your not working your tractor you can where the tops of your crank bearings, on the otherhand if they do nothing but idle you will ware the bottoms, ideally you want to where both equally hence keeping it under load. (but without overloading it)

I am confused here. Our Kioti is gear driven - high and low range, 4 speed trans. Moving snow requires a lot of changing direction and clutching. If I drive it like a manual trans in a car I will adjust the RPM to match the clutch function. I will be also be turning the bucket as I move forward to scoop it, etc. Can I really just set the hand throttle for this?

 

[kday64]

1) ROPS up
2) Seat belt on

Tractor safety starts with the above!

Take your time and remember your tractor will be more unstable on not flat terrain.

~Kevin

 

[CompactTractorFan]

You said you are operating the throttle.

I have to say, I'm guilty of doing this...:ashamed:

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I was sure this was going to be another "I tore the corner off the garage" stories. Not that anyone here has ever had one of those . . .

Nope, not me...Just the door...

 

[Gittyup]

I am confused here. Our Kioti is gear driven - high and low range, 4 speed trans. Moving snow requires a lot of changing direction and clutching. If I drive it like a manual trans in a car I will adjust the RPM to match the clutch function. I will be also be turning the bucket as I move forward to scoop it, etc. Can I really just set the hand throttle for this?

Yes. Use the proper range and gear. Set the throttle and go. Best on your clutch above 2000 rpm's if traveling.

If you have both a foot and hand throttle, you can set the hand throttle to some "minimum" operating RPM and go to work. When you need a little more umph, say faster loader operation, mash on the foot throttle. Keep in mind the tractor will pick up some speed as you add throttle. So, practice and work slowly at first. Can do the same thing if traveling across flat land where you might not need full throttle. Then as you turn up hill, you add throttle with the foot control.

I find I do heavy loader work in 1st gear, switching between hi and lo ranges depending on whether digging into a pile or traveling with the load. You do have to stop to change ranges.

 

[TripleR]

Yes. Use the proper range and gear. Set the throttle and go. Best on your clutch above 2000 rpm's if traveling.

If you have both a foot and hand throttle, you can set the hand throttle to some "minimum" operating RPM and go to work. When you need a little more umph, say faster loader operation, mash on the foot throttle. Keep in mind the tractor will pick up some speed as you add throttle. So, practice and work slowly at first. Can do the same thing if traveling across flat land where you might not need full throttle. Then as you turn up hill, you add throttle with the foot control.

I find I do heavy loader work in 1st gear, switching between hi and lo ranges depending on whether digging into a pile or traveling with the load. You do have to stop to change ranges.

This works best for me when using a geared tractor though there are times I will just put it at a set RPM. Experience/task/equipment will lead you to what works best for you.

I have 50+ years on geared tractors, so even though I have operated HST's for a few years, unless I am running something off the PTO, I vary throttle; just seems natural and works well for me.