Well...there and back again! I must say I can see why you like the machine. They've got a nice "little" setup there! Currently they have an acre +/- under roof for their sales/manufacturing area plus additional buildings for service, etc. I was told they're going to be expanding this year.
They had 10-15 425's in various stages of construction in their assembly area — they build the machines in batches. So I got to see everything from the ground up. Quite a neat, well-built little machine. Certainly is rugged! I don't think it has any metal on it less than 3/16" thick! The machine's layout is simple (that's in a good way) and clean. They make most of the hydraulic cylinders and use name brand hydraulic motors, etc.
I tested a 422 with the Robin/Subaru engine (22 HP). The only drawback I see in this layout might be removing the battery since you have to remove the muffler, but that shouldn't be too difficult to do — plus it should only need done every 3 or 4 years or so.
I'm happy to say the Power-Trac works as advertised. We played around a little in the dirt with the smaller digging bucket. Plenty of power and you gotta love the hookup of implements. Talk about simple and easy! I think that's one of the biggest pains in working with a tractor and several different implements. Most tractors take 10-15 minutes of playing around to changeover from one to another. With the Power-trac if it takes more than a minute or two you're loafing! All the controls are like you said — just where they need to be and where you'd expect them — although I think it would take me a little while to get used to the treadle (forward/reverse). Maneuverability is excellent. I tried sitting still (i.e., not moving the tractor forward or reverse) and just turned the steering wheel lock to lock a couple of times while on loose gravel — to test whether the tires would "scuff" the grass when mowing. Didn't disturb the gravel a bit. Seems to work on grass too, though I didn't have a mower mounted. That's one of my major objections when we mow. I think I have about 100 square feet of level ground on the 5 acres we mow. We're always spinning at some point, tearing up the ground. It doesn't look like this would be a problem with the Power-trac.
We toured the entire facility and got to see their current parts and tractor inventory plus all the implements they sell. They have a complete inventory of every implement on their price list that I could see. At the time they probably had 20-30 total tractors in inventory (building up for spring orders). All sizes were represented in the 400 series (418, 422, and 425) plus they had several 1400 series (1430/1460) and at least one 2445. The only one I didn't notice was the 1800 series, but I wasn't looking for it, so it might have been there too! They also had one set of each of their "packages" — the trailer, tractor, and assorted implements. If I were a contractor that's the way I'd go. No muss, no fuss. Everything's there and accessible. There also was at least one of the ATVs plus several of the deep-mining equipment machines. All-in-all, quite a good selection.
If you couldn't tell, we were impressed! The only thing I wish they had was a water-cooled engine. I just like the idea of a more consistently cooled engine.
Anyway, it was a good trip. Anyone consdering the machine and hesitant about the "no-name" manufacturer ought to make the trip. They're good people and they make a good product from what I can see.
Again, thanks for starting this ball rolling!
