Abstract: A fluid pressure machine such as a motor or pump has an orbiting cylinder block (9) housing a number of radial pistons (11) sliding within respective cylinders (10). Each piston has a cylindrical coaxial bore in which a fluid displacing member (13) fixed to the cylinder block is located so as to define within the cylinder an annular outer chamber (14) and an inner chamber (15). A selectively operable spool valve (36) is arranged for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to the inner and/or the outer chamber and thereby control the operating speed of the machine.