Increasing the HP... good or bad ?

[Scrambler82]

Tractor: MAX 28 HST

Sometimes when pushing in to a pile on road base (crushed cement and recycled black top), I find the MAX seems to run out of steam.
Is there a way to increase the HP ?
How much increase in HP is worth it ?
Will I overload the pumps ?

Thanks a head of time, just thinking out loud,
ltr

 

[SPYDERLK]

It wont push hard enuf to lose traction?? Are you in lo range?

 

[buickanddeere]

Running out of engine power or stalling the transmission? Are you operating the hydraulics when it runs out of steam.

 

[Sysop]

Remember to ease off the HST go-pedal as you're pushing into piles. The less you are pushing, the more torque it makes.

 

[Scrambler82]

Running out of engine power or stalling the transmission? Are you operating the hydraulics when it runs out of steam.

No, I lower the FEL, flatten, then push in, in low range.
Thinking on it, it might be the fact that the loader is running out of pickup power.
Maybe I am asking for the wrong thing.
I just read a posting on FEL Operating Pressure, is that what I should be looking at ?

Remember to ease off the HST go-pedal as you're pushing into piles. The less you are pushing, the more torque it makes.

Not sure if you were the first to mention that to me or not but yes I use the HST Pedal with little pressure.

Thks for the thoughts.

 

[SPYDERLK]

It wont push hard enuf to lose traction??

Ditto

 

[Sysop]

You'd want to purchase a hydraulic pressure gauge and install in the lines before making any adjustments. You need to know the current pressures to know if it needs adjusted or by how much.

As for the original question and altering the HP output, once they calibrate the pump and other settings they generally put tamper seals on the adjustments for warranty purposes. Any tampering voids the warranty. That said, lots of folk do it on other units and just fork out the cash if something related to their changes goes wrong...

 

[buickanddeere]

The tractor has lots of traction on bare dry ground in 4x4 with weight on the loader . The transmission pressure is set to limit torque and prevent driveline damage.
You are just overloading your tractor. It's a 22pto HP lawn tractor that weighs less than a ton, it's not a D8 Cat.

 

[JerryK]

When you are pushing into the pile, you should be letting up on the GO pedal before you normally think you have to. There is a slight delay, lifting your foot slows the tractor quickly... but there is a slight ramping down effect that takes time. If you are trying to fill the bucket, your bucket should be making a scooping motion just as you enter the pile, filling and lifting. Even if you had double the power, you are not going to push around and man handle multiple tons of heavy material in a big pile. The process takes practice with your timing... try to keep wheel spin at a minimum. Most new operators think they just jam the bucket into the pile and try to lift the FEL to fill the bucket. When you do this, you are trying to pick up several bucket loads of material at once. Ain't gonna happen......

 

[cartod]

Try going up higher on the pile and tilting your bucket down and as you move forward scoop your bucket up. By not plowing straight into the pile you will be only removing the outside portion of the pile. It takes a little practice but is much easier on the machine.

Another method is to go in with a low straight bucket until you feel pressure, back up just a hair (allowing product to fall) while raising your bucket then go back in and scoop.

Like has been said you have a tractor not a dozer, a little finesse makes it much easier on the machine and saves time all while allowing you to get the maximum load in your bucket.