Another operational tip.
If power is the limiting factor run in first, assuming you are pushing a full blade and using full power. (if power shift, a hydrostat machine would be different).
If traction is the limiting factor often second gear will get more done. The reason is tracks kind of go from about 3-4% slip to 90% slip almost instantaneously. Rubber tire tractive efficiency is good up to about 15% slip. Tracks are more like 6% max. Imagine a train running on train tracks. A track machine is similar except it picks up its rail and ties and carries them with it. As long as the grousers are attached to the ground full engine power can be used. As soon as they break loose, they tend to loose traction quickly.
What running in a higher gear in traction limiting conditions does is essentially reducing the power to the tracks (you can use the decelerator to slow down if 2nd is too fast ground speed). By gearing up and reducing power to the tracks the torque converter does the slipping rather than the tracks. This keeps the tracks pulling better rather than breaking loose and loosing traction.
I have not ran a hydrostat dozer (lots of other hydrostats, just not a dozer) but to apply the same logic would be to reduce engine speed with the throttle (if the machine allows) and use the hydro handle to adjust speed.
snrub
Last edited by snrub; 10/27/13 08:17 PM.
