TC 33 R.P.M.

Mansker · Oct 14, 2004

Hello all TBN members:
I was wondering what RPM do you use when working with your FEL? I have a TC 33D and I run it at 2500 RPM when I'm digging or loading. Is their a minimun and maxiam RPM for working a diesel engine? I don't want to lug the motor, but I also don't want to run it wide open either! This is my first Diesel tractor and I don't want to mess it up, Is sure is a beautiful machine! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

jinman · Oct 14, 2004

Mansker, I'd suggest at least 2000 rpm for loader work, especially with an HST transmission. The HST works most efficiently above 2000 rpm in my experience. How much rpm above 2000 you go will be determined by the type of loader work. You might need to kick it up to 2700 rpm if you need the power and then drop back for more better fuel efficiency during operation. As long as you are not lugging the engine down to the low 1000s too often, I'd expect it to be fine. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

John_Mc · Oct 14, 2004

I generally run 1800 RPM with my 33D when doing "easy" loader work. If I need more "oomph" to dig into some tougher stuff, I'll go up to 2000 or 2200 or occasionally more.

John Mc

tc33brad · Oct 15, 2004

I was just using my 33D the other day to dig out tree stumps and I was in the 2000 to 2600 range. When doing less demanding work I'll throttle accordingly but not much lower than 1700 - 1800.

have_blue · Oct 15, 2004

I've never found RPM to be a lot related to FEL performance.

With my former TC29 and my TC35, the FEL's worked the same whether running at 1500 RPM or 2500 RPM. I didn't notice any significant power or speed difference, so have always used 1500.

I run the RPM according to the terrain and the tractor speed I need. Excessive RPM doing FEL work seems to be rough on a manual clutch and is definitely rough in the driver. I would think HST deals with high RPM better.

Mansker · Oct 15, 2004

Thanks Guy's, I knew I could count on the TBN members! I've been loading a lot of sand out of a creek bed into a little dump truck and the FEL sometimes won't lift the load high enough to dump it, will increasing the RPM increase the lifting power and speed or is it the same? It seeams like it the more I work the less power the loader has. Does the hydraulic fluid loose power has it heats up ?

jinman · Oct 15, 2004

( It seeams like it the more I work the less power the loader has. Does the hydraulic fluid loose power has it heats up ? )

Did you ever go down the road thinking you're driving 70 mph and then look down to discover you are really doing 90? I think you are getting used to your loader and when you fill it with sand,. It's very near it's maximum capacity. In other words, I think you are becoming more experienced. RPMs are more related to speed than to overall power. If you are above 1500 rpm, you probably have reached the maximum lift capacity of your loader. Too bad you don't have scales to check out how much weight is in the bucket. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Mansker · Oct 15, 2004

thanks jinman:
I load the bucket up against a bank so I get it almost full everytime, the dry sand it will load, but if I get any wet sand in with it, it won't lift it over the side, so I'm most likely at the load limit. Thanks again for the help! It's sure nice to be able to ask a few questions and have quick, precise, intelligent replys. TBN rules!!!!

jinman · Oct 16, 2004

( I load the bucket up against a bank so I get it almost full everytime, the dry sand it will load, but if I get any wet sand in with it, it won't lift it over the side, so I'm most likely at the load limit. )

That's exactly the way my loader works too. I can lift a heaped wet sand load up to about 3' - 5', but the loader's hydraulics will stall if I try to go higher. I've been thinking of checking my pressure, but I know a half yard of wet sand weighs near the limit of my loader, so I'm not all that concerned. If your loader is stalling with less than a heaping load, it might be a good thing to have your pressure checked the next time you have your tractor serviced.

I really didn't answer your question about the difference between warm and cool hydraulic fluid. On a positive displacement pump where there is no leakage, there should be very little difference between cool and hot fluid related to maximum pressure. There is a difference related to flow rate. The lower viscosity warm fluid will flow at a higher rate than the thicker cool fluid. If you have a pressure relief valve set at 2000 psi, it will take 2000 psi in either hot or cool fluid to lift the relief valve. The difference is how fast the fluid will flow through the valve once it opens. The hotter the fluid, the more will flow.

Having said that, I think a piston type hydraulic pump is more effecient than a vane type pump because I believe all vane pumps do have some leakage and the viscosity of the fluid would effect that. With either pump, it's advertised pressure and flow will be within a specific operating range of temperatures and rpm. Once you are in that range, the characteristics should be stable. So, from cool to warmup, you might experience some change. Winter operation would probably be the most dramatic.

Having said that, I often feel like by the end of the day that my tractor isn't doing things quite fast enough. But that's probably because I'm tired and hungry and want to get done. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Here's a photo of a creek on my property that I cleaned out last year. In this photo you would be hard-pressed to see where any creek/ditch is because it has completely silted-in with sand. My property is on the left and my neighbor's property is on the right. The creek is the dividing line. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

jinman · Oct 16, 2004

The swamp dried up last year and I cleaned out the creek so it drains into our soil conservation lake. Here is a photo when I was almost done. I now have yards and yards of sand in a pile. I made lot's of trips in and out of the creek over two weekends to get this done. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif