Looking at used 1850's - its Charlie's fault!

[wasabi]

It all started many, many moons ago with "Best Mountain Tractor?" thread ...Now iffy ideas are getting worse. It truly is Charlie's fault. He, Moss and others introduced and encouraged me to consider Power Tracs, but Charlie was the one who suggested I consider entering fleet mode. (he clearly just wanted company in his twisted toy chase). I couldnt scare up the cash to do it his way so I opted for older equipment and a steep learning curve of morphing into a back woods mechanic. He should apologize or at least offer to pay for my therapy

My 2445 is currently still down yet I'm seriously chasing down used 1850's. I've had enough really quality seat time to rationalize the days of being shoulder deep in hydraulic hoses AGAIN looking for which hose to replace. As a PT fool I accept that repairs and maintenance are kind of like computer issues. I'd rather learn what I need to handle it

Why an 1850? Did I mention most of our 75 acres are steep? Primary purpose will be slope mowing, but we have projects like fencing that my 2445 can't handle but the 1850 could. I'm convinced the 45 HP isn't enough and I like the idea of extra power. I already own a gaggle of attachments that would fit. I'm tired of contracting out the mowing. Very few want to tackle it. Last guys did a great job but are out of the business. Now it's overgrown. We need our own gear. The idea of brakes really appeals to me. The idea of chasing wild turkeys whilst eating chaff is oddly appealing. Cigars and diesel smoke go together. I've heard the odd shifting seat reduces belly fat...I could go on

Having followed breadcrumbs kindly left by MChalkley, Charlie, Sedge, JJ and others, I would also undertake alterations to respiratory and circulatory and electrical systems, add tool boxes, etc. Irrespective of what or where we buy, I'm compiling a list of questions - from the rubber up, to become as aware as possible of what we're getting into. I'm aware of the two listed at PT site. The old one has been used as a skidder the 2005 package is sweet 'bout perfect, but? (insert "if I were a rich man" music from fiddler on the roof here)

Input is hereby solicited

 

[woodlandfarms]

It has been 9 months since I have sat on my PT 1850. I am having major withdrawals. I doubt i would buy an 1845, given the HP difference. That 65HP appears to make this tractor a real billygoat.

Order lots of spare tires. Enjoy the big black bar blocking your view as your neighbors stare at you going how in the heck does he do that...

As a side note though, I am not sure how far your slopes go, but what about a track hoe wtih a cutter? The city has one and it does the sever roadside slopes with it... I say this not to talk you out of the 1850 which is great, it is just that you have a PT allready, maybe a track hoe would add to your companies value more...

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

He should apologize or at least offer to pay for my therapy

In time, you will come to the realization that the Power Tracs are your therapy. The only remaining task will then be to diagnose your illness.

Saturday morning, we drove four posts with the post driver on the 1845, in ten minutes, to replace the fence I'd ripped out with the 1845 in order to get tow chains and straps to the Z71 pickup truck and the 2240 John Deere which were head down-tail up over a 40 degree bank. The 1845 and my pickup pulled the stranded vehicles up and out, and no one was hurt.
If I'd had an 1850, I probably could have pulled them without the truck hooked to the front of the PT.
Slope mowing with the 1850 will do your job, but with the front mower you may want to poke a hole in your dust mask for the cigar.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Charlie...

What is this about a tractor in the ditch? You have to have pictures to share....

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Sorry. No pictures. Probably four cell phone cameras on the scene and no one thought to take them out of pockets.
Mostly, it was old guys like me who forget the camera's even there. The only young one had an IPhone, but since he had deposited both vehicles over the bank, I doubt he wanted to preserve the scene.

 

[MossRoad]

... The only young one had an IPhone, but since he had deposited both vehicles over the bank, I doubt he wanted to preserve the scene.

Ha!

 

[ToolcatWonka5610]

It all started many, many moons ago with "Best Mountain Tractor?" thread ...Now iffy ideas are getting worse. It truly is Charlie's fault. He, Moss and others introduced and encouraged me to consider Power Tracs, but Charlie was the one who suggested I consider entering fleet mode. (he clearly just wanted company in his twisted toy chase). I couldnt scare up the cash to do it his way so I opted for older equipment and a steep learning curve of morphing into a back woods mechanic. He should apologize or at least offer to pay for my therapy

My 2445 is currently still down yet I'm seriously chasing down used 1850's. I've had enough really quality seat time to rationalize the days of being shoulder deep in hydraulic hoses AGAIN looking for which hose to replace. As a PT fool I accept that repairs and maintenance are kind of like computer issues. I'd rather learn what I need to handle it

Why an 1850? Did I mention most of our 75 acres are steep? Primary purpose will be slope mowing, but we have projects like fencing that my 2445 can't handle but the 1850 could. I'm convinced the 45 HP isn't enough and I like the idea of extra power. I already own a gaggle of attachments that would fit. I'm tired of contracting out the mowing. Very few want to tackle it. Last guys did a great job but are out of the business. Now it's overgrown. We need our own gear. The idea of brakes really appeals to me. The idea of chasing wild turkeys whilst eating chaff is oddly appealing. Cigars and diesel smoke go together. I've heard the odd shifting seat reduces belly fat...I could go on

Having followed breadcrumbs kindly left by MChalkley, Charlie, Sedge, JJ and others, I would also undertake alterations to respiratory and circulatory and electrical systems, add tool boxes, etc. Irrespective of what or where we buy, I'm compiling a list of questions - from the rubber up, to become as aware as possible of what we're getting into. I'm aware of the two listed at PT site. The old one has been used as a skidder the 2005 package is sweet 'bout perfect, but? (insert "if I were a rich man" music from fiddler on the roof here)

Input is hereby solicited

I would also indeed go with the 1850. More horsepower and climbing power.

That used 2005 1850 seems like a good deal for the hours and what you get.
I found that other 1850 on another site, that thing must be rough. Over 12,000 hours on it!

I also saw a couple months back a 1997 1850 with around 800 hours that went for only $2,200 on proxibid.

 

[wasabi]

customizing dust mask may be easy...looks like this one comes with a potential cigar port...

 

[wasabi]

If I'd had an 1850, I probably could have pulled them without the truck hooked to the front of the PT.

Aside from retrieving wayward trucks and tractors, have you found power of 1845 wanting?

 

[wasabi]

It has been 9 months since I have sat on my PT 1850. I am having major withdrawals. I doubt i would buy an 1845, given the HP difference. That 65HP appears to make this tractor a real billygoat.

Order lots of spare tires. Enjoy the big black bar blocking your view as your neighbors stare at you going how in the heck does he do that...

As a side note though, I am not sure how far your slopes go, but what about a track hoe wtih a cutter? The city has one and it does the sever roadside slopes with it... I say this not to talk you out of the 1850 which is great, it is just that you have a PT allready, maybe a track hoe would add to your companies value more...

I'd love to have a hoe and we have many projects where one would come in handy. Mowing six acres with one is not on my want list though. And fortunately, I have a landscaper friend/ neighbor with one just 1.5 miles down the lane...

 

[wasabi]

That used 2005 1850 seems like a good deal for the hours and what you get.
.

1850 package in Vermont has been sold. price not disclosed...

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Aside from retrieving wayward trucks and tractors, have you found power of 1845 wanting?

Quite a number of times I've wished for more pulling power, but that isn't the PT's real function anyway. The 1845 has enough power to handle the steepest hills I have the courage to mow. Going straight up with the mower running must be done very slowly on the steepest parts, and it bogs if it is really steep and the grass heavy. With single tires, it is a tossup whether I run out of power or traction first. It depends on the surface. Turning off the mower, of course, gives me a bit more climbing ability without bogging, and I can mow on the way back down. I've never had to abandon a job because of lack of power. (Except lifting, of course, where I sometimes need a little more that a 1460. ) The rational part of me dictates that I don't need a machine that will go somewhere that the 1845 can't.

That being said, I'd prefer an 1850. Around my place, I'd probably find a lot of functions where the bigger machine would be clumsier, but I'd adapt. I drove to Tazewell to buy a 1430. Terry just stood and watched as I rationalized the step up to the 1845. Had I realized that it really was too big for my lawn and I needed to buy a separate lawnmower, I would probably still not have bought the 1850 because of the higher price. But for mowing pastures it certainly would be better. If my 1845 were beyond repair, I'd look for an 1850, particularly since my collection of attachments would fit.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I do love my 1850... But I wonder, with all the hydraulic loss, what is the true difference between the 45 and 50 when you break it down (JJ?). I guess even broken down it might be a 12 HP difference so justifiable.

The only thing that gets me about the 1850 is that the engine is probably too strong for the front lift. I do a lot of digging, and pushing, and I tend to be hard on the gear. The top link on my 1850 fails regularly and I am looking to upgrade it when I get home. Eventually, when the arms fail, I will re-jigger them into something more custom... A little more stout, a bit higher lifting weight, and a longer arm for higher lift.

Carl

 

[J_J]

Carl.

The 20 HP difference might be the difference in climbing ability. It also means you can run a bigger hyd motor. More hyd pump/GPM mean faster cylinder activation. Increase torque, depends on how flat the torque curve is.

As far as that top link extension, that is a bad design. Need thicker steel, and better geometry in the roll over/tilt. As far as the power, you should only use what you need. If what ever you lift, causes the back end to go up, there is your safe limit, but you could cheat by putting some weight on the back. Those cylinders can probably lift about 4 times what you load limit is.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I need to hear from other 1850 owners, but I can only attain very minor PT Pucker, actually seldom if ever.... One day I am going to do your barrel of water trick... See what I my PT can lift...

 

[Bob999]

My recollection is that Charlie has larger diameter tires (26" vs 23" on the dual wheel 1845) and I suspect that is a primary factor in the hill climbing capability he reports.

My reasoning is that the difference in slope capability between the 1845 and 1850 (40 vs 45 degrees) is a rating about cross slope capability--not the ability to climb up a 40 or 45 degree slope. I think the 1850 gets the greater slope capability because it is much wider (90" vs 72") and basically the same height. Put another way I think the difference in slope ratings has to do with tipping--not straight up climbing.

The mower on the 1850 is 90" compared to 72" on the 1845. The 1850 weighs more that the 1845. I think the extra 20 hp on the 1850 is needed to move the greater weight straight up a 45 degree slope while also powering the 90" mower under load.

For my situation the 72" width of the 1845 works much better than the 90" width of the 1850. Even with a 72" deck I found I needed to go an articulated deck to avoid scalping in some of the areas I mow.

 

[wasabi]

that's the tail wagging the dog.

 

[wasabi]

I do love my 1850... But I wonder, with all the hydraulic loss, what is the true difference between the 45 and 50 when you break it down (JJ?). I guess even broken down it might be a 12 HP difference so justifiable.

The only thing that gets me about the 1850 is that the engine is probably too strong for the front lift. I do a lot of digging, and pushing, and I tend to be hard on the gear. The top link on my 1850 fails regularly and I am looking to upgrade it when I get home. Eventually, when the arms fail, I will re-jigger them into something more custom... A little more stout, a bit higher lifting weight, and a longer arm for higher lift.

Carl

real time, real value experience at work. A defining comment. Danke!

 

[wasabi]

Even with a 72" deck I found I needed to go an articulated deck to avoid scalping in some of the areas I mow.

sounds logical but can you elaborate?

 

[woodlandfarms]

sounds logical but can you elaborate?

I do only rough cutting with the 90" deck so I have no scalping issues. It is a wide deck for fine cutting without some center articulation like a landscape mower that Bob mentioned...