SkidSteer Operation, How to.

[BigJohn]

Should skidsteer be operated at full trottle all the time when operating. Even at winter time?

 

[OldMachinist]

Bobcat says to operate at full throttle. I operate anywhere from 2/3's to full throttle depending on what I'm doing.

 

[BigJohn]

Thank you Sir.

 

[RodNH]

Thank you Sir.

@OldMachinist
My S650 operator's manual has the same wording as the page you posted..."operate with engine at full speed for maximum horsepower". Seems like common sense - if you want maximum horsepower. However, what if you don't want or need that much power? For example, when I use my snowblower, that's when I want maximum HP and that's when I run at full throttle and hi-flow. However, when I use my backhoe, I see no need to run at full throttle. The backhoe works just fine at idle speed and standard flow, which, by the way, happens to be 1/2 full throttle engine rpm. The exact same situation exists with my logsplitter, my snowplow and my York rake. It just seems to be wasteful of fuel to run the engine at any throttle greater than idle when using these attachments. What, if any advantage is there in burning more fuel than one needs to in order to accomplish the particular job at hand? Is there any positive cost benefit for engine longevity/maintenance in burning more fuel than needed?
I've read that diesel engines do best and last longer when run at full throttle under full load. I have no doubt that's true, but my normal use doesn't get to anywhere near full load for the majority of operating hours. I'm not in construction and heavy use as a loader is not the prime function. My skid is used only around my own acreage for miscellaneous purposes that are relatively short in duration (usually no more than an hour or two at a time) and intermittent in nature. What do you think I'm missing by running at idle the majority of time and not at full or even part throttle?

 

[OldMachinist]

@OldMachinist
My S650 operator's manual has the same wording as the page you posted..."operate with engine at full speed for maximum horsepower". Seems like common sense - if you want maximum horsepower. However, what if you don't want or need that much power? For example, when I use my snowblower, that's when I want maximum HP and that's when I run at full throttle and hi-flow. However, when I use my backhoe, I see no need to run at full throttle. The backhoe works just fine at idle speed and standard flow, which, by the way, happens to be 1/2 full throttle engine rpm. The exact same situation exists with my logsplitter, my snowplow and my York rake. It just seems to be wasteful of fuel to run the engine at any throttle greater than idle when using these attachments. What, if any advantage is there in burning more fuel than one needs to in order to accomplish the particular job at hand? Is there any positive cost benefit for engine longevity/maintenance in burning more fuel than needed?
I've read that diesel engines do best and last longer when run at full throttle under full load. I have no doubt that's true, but my normal use doesn't get to anywhere near full load for the majority of operating hours. I'm not in construction and heavy use as a loader is not the prime function. My skid is used only around my own acreage for miscellaneous purposes that are relatively short in duration (usually no more than an hour or two at a time) and intermittent in nature. What do you think I'm missing by running at idle the majority of time and not at full or even part throttle?

As long you're running enough rpm's that the fan is pushing plenty of air over the oil cooler so the oil doesn't overheat I don't anything wrong with what you're doing.

 

[jerry]

@OldMachinist
My S650 operator's manual has the same wording as the page you posted..."operate with engine at full speed for maximum horsepower". Seems like common sense - if you want maximum horsepower. However, what if you don't want or need that much power? For example, when I use my snowblower, that's when I want maximum HP and that's when I run at full throttle and hi-flow. However, when I use my backhoe, I see no need to run at full throttle. The backhoe works just fine at idle speed and standard flow, which, by the way, happens to be 1/2 full throttle engine rpm. The exact same situation exists with my logsplitter, my snowplow and my York rake. It just seems to be wasteful of fuel to run the engine at any throttle greater than idle when using these attachments. What, if any advantage is there in burning more fuel than one needs to in order to accomplish the particular job at hand? Is there any positive cost benefit for engine longevity/maintenance in burning more fuel than needed?
I've read that diesel engines do best and last longer when run at full throttle under full load. I have no doubt that's true, but my normal use doesn't get to anywhere near full load for the majority of operating hours. I'm not in construction and heavy use as a loader is not the prime function. My skid is used only around my own acreage for miscellaneous purposes that are relatively short in duration (usually no more than an hour or two at a time) and intermittent in nature. What do you think I'm missing by running at idle the majority of time and not at full or even part throttle?

I agree with Rod on that, if you run it 500 rpm less it is 30000 revolutions per hour that the engine does not have to make. Whether diesel or gas the operator should be able to judge what rpm is best for the job.

 

[RodNH]

I agree with Rod on that, if you run it 500 rpm less it is 30000 revolutions per hour that the engine does not have to make. Whether diesel or gas the operator should be able to judge what rpm is best for the job.

@ OldMachinist:
Thanks. The cooling fan is run by a variable speed hydraulic motor, the speed of which is determined by temperature signals from both the engine coolant and the hydraulic oil. If everything is working the way it should, I wouldn't expect any overheating of the hydraulic oil during engine operation at idle.
@ jerry:
That's interesting. I hadn't thought of the actual differences in revolutions over time. My S650 idles at 1350 rpm (spec is 1250-1450) and has a full throttle speed of 2600 rpm (spec is 2525-2650). That's a 1250 rpm difference that results in 75,000 less revolutions in every hour operating at idle, compared with operating at full throttle.
What I don't know at this time is if the engine ever really gets up to normal operating temperature while operating at idle with only light loads. I've only got about 170 hours on the skid so far and have not really noticed what the temperature gauge says during extended idle - for example splitting wood for an hour. I'll have to check that out because I think repeatedly not getting up to normal operating temperature in a reasonable time is probably not good for the engine.