Proper RPM range for FEL work?

[Marooned]

Just got my 4330 HST a couple of days ago. I love it! Tackled a big dirt mound in the pasture right away and was impressed with the tractor and loader.

I was wondering, what RPM range should I use for the FEL work? I kept it around 2000, and it worked good, but was just wondering what you guys think? Would I get more power at a higher RPM? I did stall it once, when I tried to grab too much dirt.

Thanks for any input. Oh, by the way, Happy New Year! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Mike_Lipke]

between 90 and 100% full throttle is better for everything. They are made to run that way, unlike a gasser. Watch dozer, crane, payloader, scraper, backhoe operators. They are always at full rpm.

 

[inveresk]

I run mine at anything from 1500 to 2400 rpm depending on the task in hand. Higher revs. than that for my heavy handedness makes the loader too jumpy.

 

[Marooned]

Thanks for the input. The only tractor I have ever run much was a gas engine and tach did not work as it was an old Ford 800 that was really, really old. We just always listened to the engine to tell if we had it rev'd up enough.

It's difficult to do that with the new tractor. Guess I just have to get used to it. Of course having a tach that works helps tremendously.

So running the tractor at 2600 rpm (4330 makes max torque & hp @ 2600 according to specs) at extended periods will not harm the engine?

 

[wushaw]

I run My L2800 HST at 1800-2000 for FEL and Box Blade work.
Just listen to your motor/tranny and you will get a feel for what rpm you are comfortable with the task at hand.

Running your tractor at rated for extended periods shouldn't harm a thing...just look at all the ZTR running at rated hp, I have a 21hp Grasshopper W/Kubota diesel eng and it doesn't seem to bother it.

 

[ksmmoto]

For loader work I run 1800 - 2200 rpm on my L3430. It gets to jumpy for me any higher. However for PTO or ground engaging I run at 2750 which is just under wide open. Diesels are built to run at or close to full throttle all day.

Since your tractor is brand new you may want to run a little less till you get some hours on it. Look in your owners manual.

 

[Toolguy]

I adjust my RPM according to the type of work I am doing. For light lifting and when I am not in a hurry I will run about 1500 RPM. The engine seems to like that speed. Very smooth and plenty of power for most jobs. If I am doing heavier work then I will increase the RPM to about 2000 RPM. Another speed that the engine seems to like. The only time I run WOT is for mowing and then I back it off just a bit as again, the engine runs a little bit smoother and quieter when it is just below WOT. I think any speed you run at is OK as long as you don't bog the engine. For heavy work though, it is better to have more RPMs than less. The hydraulics and especially the HST like to have lots of oil flow. You will probably develop a feel for your machine over time and find just the right speed for each job. I don't think just because it is a diesel that it needs to run WOT all the time. That is just a waste of fuel in my opinion. Sounds like a nice tractor you have there. Have fun and wear that seat belt. Good luck.

 

[JoeL4330]

If you set the engine rpm so that it would give you 540rpm at rear PTO, (just shy of 2400 engine rpm on my 4330) you are at a point just past the torque peak (by design) so that if the engine wants to bog down, it picks up that extra bit of torque ...so, if you stall doing whatever you are doing, that is the best operating point, I believe

 

[daTeacha]

There seems to be two lines of thought about engine speed. Just because an engine is designed to handle close to full throttle continuously doesn't mean you'll hurt it running it slower than that. I've seen contractors equipment being run by the guy who owns it and the guy who works there. One runs it wide open all the time and the other doesn't -- want to guess who does what?

IMHO, I'd run it just fast enough to assure you have a comfortable amount of power for what you want to do without making the loader and motion pedals too sensitive to inputs and not worry about it. Then again, I like gear tractors with foot throttles to give me more power when my hands are running the loader. I just don't like running stuff wide open. I don't think you'll hurt it either way unless you lug it or overrev it a lot.

 

[rdsaustintx]

1/2 throttle will give you enough power to stall at relief pressure, but WOT allows you to dig faster. I run WOT when in a hurry, less when I am working around buildings or stuff I don't want to bump with the hoe.

Russell in Texas