Protecting work machine from damage due to locked state

摘要

A work machine comprises an engine, a work unit configured to be driven by the engine, a clutch provided between an output shaft of the engine and a power shaft of the work unit, and configured to transmit or cut off power from the output shaft of the engine to the power shaft, a sensor configured to detect an engine speed of the engine; and a control unit configured to control the engine and the clutch based on the engine speed of the engine. The control unit predicts, based on the engine speed of the engine detected by the sensor, whether or not the work unit will become locked by a load, and control the clutch to switch over from a transmission state to a cut-off state upon predicting that the work unit will become locked.