8
PSA: I keep seeing guys run their cutterhead at max RPM in silt. It's a waste of fuel.
In my experience on the Columbia River, backing off to about 75% gets the same material moved without burning extra diesel. Anyone else adjust their pump speed based on bottom composition?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
nelson.wesley2mo ago
Have you ever actually measured the production difference? Running max RPM in silt keeps the material in suspension better, so you're moving more yardage per hour. Saving a little fuel doesn't matter if the job takes longer.
2
uma4092mo ago
Ever clock the actual wear and tear difference on the pump when you run it maxed out like that all day in silt? I've seen impellers get chewed up way faster when you're just hammering it non-stop. That downtime for repairs or swapping parts has to eat into any yardage gain you're talking about.
6
oscarb772mo ago
Ever seen a pump that looked like it tried to eat gravel?
2