A hydraulic control device for protecting a drive from excess loading conditions includes at least one pump having adjustable members for controlling the quantity of fluid transported by the pump. A pressure-responsive control slide is mounted for movement relative to a housing and is moved towards respective positions, each of which corresponds to a normally loaded condition of the drive by a control pump which generates a pressure force which is indicative of the rpm of the drive at normally loaded conditions. The device further includes an arrangement for securing the control slide when the drive is subjected to loads in excess of the respective normally loaded conditions so that a valve member is permitted to move in response to excess loads relative to the control slide after the latter has been secured in said respective positions by the securing arrangement between switching positions in which the adjustable members are operative to adjust the quantity of fluid being transported by the pump.