I have a B7300 that I bought used and it serves me very well (previously had a B7100 and it did well also). Recently, I've been working on an area where I plan on making a small pond. This is an old creek bed and I'm already removing some sand with my FEL and dump cart because I want to build up some areas around my camphouse. I'm also pulling down some trees to make room for the pond work. First I use my sub-soiler to break as many feeder roots as possible. Then I use a ladder and get pretty high up on the trunk (depending on the size of the tree) to attach a cinch chain to which I then hook my pull chains. To give the tractor and chains some buffer I run the tractor at about 66% to 75% of max RPM. I have stalled the tractor a few times and that got me wondering. Am I doing the engine/transmission any damage by stalling it instead of running at max RPM and getting the extra torque? Would it be better on the engine and tranny to run the engine close to max RPM when pulling?
Stalling the engine under load?
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beenthere
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Be better to not stall the engine. 
Gear or HST tranny?
Gear or HST tranny?
RoyJackson
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I'd run it at a higher RPM...but if it does stall, start it right back up to keep the coolant flowing...
It's HST and I'm using low range to work so I'm not using throttle to control speed. In the last 8 hours run time I've stalled 3 or 4 times so it doesn't happen that often. I was just trying to reduce the load on everything but it seems the concensus is 'm doing more harm than good? Guess I'll give it full throttle.
dex3361
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I would not stall the engine if at all possible. You are lugging the engine and that will beat the bearings out of the engine. As your RPMs drop below a certain point your oil pressure and flow is dropping very low, this is not good.
The HST relies on hydraulic pressure maintain a oil film between the piston glides and the swash plate and I would think this might allow metal to metal wear. I could be wrong but I wouldn't chance it.
The HST relies on hydraulic pressure maintain a oil film between the piston glides and the swash plate and I would think this might allow metal to metal wear. I could be wrong but I wouldn't chance it.
beenthere
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Sounds like the OP is not familiar with the HST operation.
Think of HST and the forward pedal as going from a lower to higher gear when pressing the forward pedal. Pushing harder on the pedal reduces the engine power and when you encounter higher/more load (filling the bucket with dirt for example), let off on the forward pedal to drop into lower gear (so to speak). That will avoid killing the engine.
Think of HST and the forward pedal as going from a lower to higher gear when pressing the forward pedal. Pushing harder on the pedal reduces the engine power and when you encounter higher/more load (filling the bucket with dirt for example), let off on the forward pedal to drop into lower gear (so to speak). That will avoid killing the engine.
Well said. It is a hydro!
TripleR
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Yep, more RPM and less pedal.
On our HST and geared units both, I use enough RPM's and gearing to spin the tires without stalling. Working a tractor hard won't hurt it.
On our HST and geared units both, I use enough RPM's and gearing to spin the tires without stalling. Working a tractor hard won't hurt it.
Yes, I understand about more peddle feed means a "higher ratio" and usually it does spin the tires when I encounter some harder work. That is not what caused the few stalls. I stalled the engine when I hit something unsuspected. I remember one instance, I was ripping a small root with the sub-soiler when I caught another larger root and the tractor pretty much immediately stopped as I reacted and released the peddle. I also think the peddle return damper might be getting more stiff (yes I keep everything lubed) causing the drive to keep pulling longer than I want at times like that. I plan on checking that out also. I do all this type of work slow and easy and that is why I thought that I might avoid trouble by not running the engine at max RPM. I was trying to give myself and the equipment an extra "safety margin". From what you guys say, it turns out I was just trying to save an inexpensive link by possibly hurting the major parts (like the engine). From now on, it's just under max RPM, low range and slow, slow, slow.