Poorman1234
New member
Guys:
Just a word - Do not be afraid to tackle this one. There is help out there.
After about 2800 hours, my 2000 PT422 was beginning to suffer the ravages of time in the drive system hydraulics. It was slipping going down hill and needed a lot of treadle to make forward progress going up hill.
A quick call to the guys in VA suggested that in all likelihood it was the tram pump, not the wheel motors. Thus, I was offered the following options:
1) Do nothing and live with it
2) Remove the pump and send it to VA for a rebuild (worst case $1000, plus shipping with 2-day turn, including full testing)
3) Have it rebuilt locally ($500 plus parts which could total as much as $1250 - Thus telling me that PT is very fair with their pricing)
4) Attempt rebuild myself (tough to do since I could not find enough identifying characteristics on the pump to get to manufacturer and model number off the pump)
I went with #4, only because the shop that charges $500 does not actually want the work. All pumps at his shop leave fully tested and certified....a feature I did not require and thus did not wish to pay for. I was told that with practice, the rebuild takes less than an hour, but the testing ties up his machines keeping him from testing "much more valuable" and larger pumps.
The parts guy there told me to pull the pump and bring it partially disassembled to Nova Hydraulics on the north side of Indianapolis. Upon arrival I took it to the back where a technician, Rick, examined the pump components and recommended which deserve replacement. Doing this is like asking a barber, "Do I need a haircut?", I know, but they were very candid. He factored my desire for life, performance, quality vs. part cost into his recommendation. He also told me how to recondition parts I had, rather than replace.
The recommendation included lapping the rotating cylinder (holds 9 pistons) and the brass face sealed parts.....to which I asked if it could be done on site before I left. $57 for this service making these parts good as new! Payment and out the door, but not before I was given a few key recommendations on dis-assembly and re-assembly procedures. They even sent e-mailed documentation as to the whole procedure. Instructions included: "Don't lose or forget to install the little ball baring on the end of the shaft." Grease this and that...here and there, etc.
I left with about $300 in parts and $57 labor charges which included all new seals, new pistons replacing mine which were well worn, and most importantly a new spring-ring that holds the pistons and tensions the mating rotating parts, as well as the lapping completed.
Pump dis-assembly , new seals, and re-assembly took about two hours for me, the novice. It will probably take about 1/2 hour for an expert...me the next time in 15 years or so.
I put the pump back in the machine keeping everything clean and then refilled the pump.
Tested two days ago with the new tires Kenda Terra-Trac tires I had just put on (see recent tire post) and wow...LIKE NEW. I can idle up the steepest hills using a little treadle. The wear was indeed in the pump and not the wheel motors. (Thank you Tazewell for the point in the right direction)
Hope someone out there finds this useful and inspiring.
Rick
2000 PT-422
Starting the next 2800 hours with "new" pump and new tires
Just a word - Do not be afraid to tackle this one. There is help out there.
After about 2800 hours, my 2000 PT422 was beginning to suffer the ravages of time in the drive system hydraulics. It was slipping going down hill and needed a lot of treadle to make forward progress going up hill.
A quick call to the guys in VA suggested that in all likelihood it was the tram pump, not the wheel motors. Thus, I was offered the following options:
1) Do nothing and live with it
2) Remove the pump and send it to VA for a rebuild (worst case $1000, plus shipping with 2-day turn, including full testing)
3) Have it rebuilt locally ($500 plus parts which could total as much as $1250 - Thus telling me that PT is very fair with their pricing)
4) Attempt rebuild myself (tough to do since I could not find enough identifying characteristics on the pump to get to manufacturer and model number off the pump)
I went with #4, only because the shop that charges $500 does not actually want the work. All pumps at his shop leave fully tested and certified....a feature I did not require and thus did not wish to pay for. I was told that with practice, the rebuild takes less than an hour, but the testing ties up his machines keeping him from testing "much more valuable" and larger pumps.
The parts guy there told me to pull the pump and bring it partially disassembled to Nova Hydraulics on the north side of Indianapolis. Upon arrival I took it to the back where a technician, Rick, examined the pump components and recommended which deserve replacement. Doing this is like asking a barber, "Do I need a haircut?", I know, but they were very candid. He factored my desire for life, performance, quality vs. part cost into his recommendation. He also told me how to recondition parts I had, rather than replace.
The recommendation included lapping the rotating cylinder (holds 9 pistons) and the brass face sealed parts.....to which I asked if it could be done on site before I left. $57 for this service making these parts good as new! Payment and out the door, but not before I was given a few key recommendations on dis-assembly and re-assembly procedures. They even sent e-mailed documentation as to the whole procedure. Instructions included: "Don't lose or forget to install the little ball baring on the end of the shaft." Grease this and that...here and there, etc.
I left with about $300 in parts and $57 labor charges which included all new seals, new pistons replacing mine which were well worn, and most importantly a new spring-ring that holds the pistons and tensions the mating rotating parts, as well as the lapping completed.
Pump dis-assembly , new seals, and re-assembly took about two hours for me, the novice. It will probably take about 1/2 hour for an expert...me the next time in 15 years or so.
I put the pump back in the machine keeping everything clean and then refilled the pump.
Tested two days ago with the new tires Kenda Terra-Trac tires I had just put on (see recent tire post) and wow...LIKE NEW. I can idle up the steepest hills using a little treadle. The wear was indeed in the pump and not the wheel motors. (Thank you Tazewell for the point in the right direction)
Hope someone out there finds this useful and inspiring.
Rick
2000 PT-422
Starting the next 2800 hours with "new" pump and new tires
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