Quite a Snow Season here in Western Wisconsin - and increasing speed.

[AxleHub]

Greetings,

Well, winter can be a pleasant part of the seasons in Western Wisconsin - but since January this year - its been a little "over the top" for lack of charm

My josh we've had a lot of snow in February and drifting. Just a week ago or so - we got 14 inches of snow fall in our specific area. But then drifting added in - and I had 42 inches deep of snow to get the tractor cleared to be able to even sit on it my GC1715 and start it - and 30 inches most everywhere else. Normally my snow plowing hours with my snow edge and bucket run about 20 hours or so for the winter - but in 24 days in February I'm already over that and that doesn't include snowblowing or shoveling.

So this year some of the repetitive functions of snow plowing on concrete on a long steeper driveway cause you to want to "get it done" a little faster especially with heavy winds.

SO while I normally always use low gear for everything but transport and road needs - final touchup was an area to experiment with this February - using high gear instead. And I fully know that 2nd gear doesn't offer the same uphill power for mowing or snowplowing. However what I was surprised at was how the hydraulic braking process in high gear is much different than low gear.

I don't understand that. Speeds are about gearing as I know - but why would engine braking/hydraulic braking be effected so much too. On an incline - even a rather mild incline - in high gear I actually can't sit still without putting my foot on the brake - something I never need to do in low gear. In high gear - anything other than a flat surface will start to move a little unless the brake is depressed. And on a more inclined surface - the roll is considerable unless I have my foot on one of the direction pedals.

Can anyone explain why high gear has so little hydraulic engine braking where low gear has a great deal ?

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

In high range, all the "passages" in the HST are larger to allow greater flow of hydraulic fluid. Hence when slowing down, the fluid can still flow more, not slowing the tractor as fast. I'm no hydraulic expert, just IMHO.

 

[ruffdog]

In high range, all the "passages" in the HST are larger to allow greater flow of hydraulic fluid. Hence when slowing down, the fluid can still flow more, not slowing the tractor as fast. I'm no hydraulic expert, just IMHO.

Actually, the peddle changes the oil flow ports. The range changes the gear ratios. Just like in a stick-shift vehicle, the engine will slow the vehicle better in a lower gear. It comes down to the mechanical advantage through gearing.