Do you run your mini-x at full throttle?

The function of a hydraulic motor is nothing like the way a hydraulic ram functions .

Sort of like the truck driver saying if I go 95 mph I could get there sooner . . .

insleyboy said:

in the end we all try to help each other out, minus me and my over-the-top attitude sometimes!!!

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That adds to the entertainment factor though..

I spent a little time on the machine this weekend. Ran it at 3/4 throttle. Everything of course was slower and it was weak. I ran it like that for an hour or so. Just to try and get used to it. I was doing my normal, digging out smaller trees, piling and then walking them to the burn pile.

After an hour I pushed it up to full throttle and it was like a new machine, fast and strong again. Maybe it just me or my particular machine, but 3/4 throttle is just too weak and slow. At most, I'm only putting 30 hours a month on the machine. So if full throttle does put more wear on it, I still should be ok with my limited use.... I was more worried about fuel consumption though. Mine just seems to burn a lot of fuel compared to what others have said....

I'll try running it at 3/4 again when I have some fine grading to do and see how that works.

Experimentation is the key and as you say no one speed is adequate for every task so you have just got to play around a bit!!

IdleUp said:

I don't think this thread was meant to only apply to mini machines, it's all heavy equipment in general.

In addition, it really has nothing to do with the users skill level or being able to handle the equipment as it does the fact that most all diesels reach their max torque power at considerable lower rpm that WOT. Therefore running the engine wide open just serves to add wear & tear on the engine and pumps and burn extra fuel - this is a proven fact.

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The thread is in the mini excavator forum. So, i figured that was what the question was about too.

Mine are wot for digging. If not, they tend to heat up a little. I do slow them down for diggin in tight areas. But, without wot, the speed of the stick, bucket digging, boom, and slew, are all noticeably slower at 70%.

At least on a mini

full throttle all the time, doesnt matter if im stripping some topsoil or searching for other utilities or fine grading. i'll controll the speed with my joysticks, cause after the 3 seconds of delicate work i want to be WOT to dump my spoils and returning for another pass. like others have said i want the most i can get from a machine and 60-70% throttle is no where near as fast as 100%

tylermckee said:

full throttle all the time, doesnt matter if im stripping some topsoil or searching for other utilities or fine grading. i'll controll the speed with my joysticks, cause after the 3 seconds of delicate work i want to be WOT to dump my spoils and returning for another pass. like others have said i want the most i can get from a machine and 60-70% throttle is no where near as fast as 100%

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Yeah, that's pretty much what I'm finding. Anything less than 95-100% WOT is too slow and under powered.

As the OP on this thread, it was meant only for mini-x's. It would be dumb to lump all equipment together and ask the same question.

Most of the time I run the mini-ex at about 70% throttle. But occasioannly when you need more power like getting out of a ditch or moving from on eplace to another, I go 100%. So it's really up to the job you are doing.

Hi all,
New memeber from Adelaide, South Australia. I run a Cat 301.8C and run the throttle to suit the conditions. Around pipes or areas where pipes could be I back it off for more "feel" but when the going gets tough I crank it up to full for max. power.
Bruce

Welcome to Heavy Equipment Forums Croweater. You croweaters will soon out number the Sandgropers here.

Squizzy246B said:

Welcome to Heavy Equipment Forums Croweater. You croweaters will soon out number the Sandgropers here.

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Then we will send some of this weather back to you, at full throttle!!!!

Welcome croweater, it's good to see another one on the forum.

Rn'R.

Thanks for the welcome!! I am making small talk now to lose my probationary members status.

WTO, is the way to go, imo, until you get to the stuff you want to "feel" before you rip it up...I usually back off the throttle a little. Nothing can ruin your day faster than sending out the utlity company to charge you for repair on a marked line.

I say giver her you know what!

Burn up the machine, make money, and when one machine is stuffed, throw it out and buy a brand spanking new one. No one I know pays me to go slow.

And I'm an owner operator.

Pete

Straight from a manufacturers mouth . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI_2us0bG4k&feature=PlayList&p=ADEFE42B7EADB9BB&index=7

Like a lot of others here I vary the rpm's to suit the job.
I do not see the point of revving the guts out of the machine if I am doing 'fiddly' work and by the same token when I need extra working speed and a bit more digging power the throttle is flat out. I guess it depends, if an ex is working at maximum capacity it should have max rpm and if you are gently uncovering pipes or something the machine should be backed off.
On my machine (Kobelco SK005) I do find that it's speed and power output varies with engine rpm.
However mostly I run the baby ex at just under WOT.
I also think that this poll should have a C answer of sometimes.
On a related note, out on the farm harvesters are ALWAYS run flat out because that is how they are designed to operate, whilst usually a farmer will buy a tractor that is slightly bigger than the job it needs to do and then backs off the revs a bit. We used to run the tractors at about 1800-1900 rpm, whilst WOT is 2200-2400 rpm. This reduces engine wear, cabin noise and fuel consumption. Doing the maths this means the engine turns 24000 times an hour more at WOT and every stroke is wear and uses Diesel. In a 24 hour day that is 576000 revs. This also has the advantage of when you need a bit of extra power to get through a tough spot or up a hill, you have reserve. However these days with torque rise engines that is not such a drama.
This will also apply to OTR trucks, which are geared so that at the highway speed limit (100kmh in Oz unless it is a road train) the engine ticks over at about 1800-1900 rpm. I reckon if someone brought out a truck that needs to be at WOT to maintain 100kmh, no one would buy it.
Sorry for going slightly off topic.

I guess i swing both ways.
When i ran the bosses equipment, we had to control the speed with the controls.
Even fiddle work. One day i was idled down looking for a utility.
The boss comes over and says:
"You see that man over there"
Yes
"He is paying to hear this machine run".
Ok boss.
Now i own my own equipment, doing mostly what I want to do.
Most of the time i control speed with the throttle.
It just seems easier on me and the machine.
But i guess the Boss was right. Because when you open the owner’s manual of about any Backhoe first thing it says. "Operate Machine at full throttle".

So I guess if you are making good money and keeping customers happy.
Full throttle! Buy a new machine every few years and live large.

When you have what you have, and want it to last as long as possible.
Maybe turn it down a notch or two and try to go the distance?

redneckpete said:

I say giver her you know what!

Burn up the machine, make money, and when one machine is stuffed, throw it out and buy a brand spanking new one. No one I know pays me to go slow.

And I'm an owner operator.

Pete

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That's why we don't hire rednecks! :drinkup

I will make no bones about it, I agree with redneck pete!!!!

The throttle should be like on my combine.

Just a toggle switch.

Its all or nothing