Members home made attachments / improvements

[Beechwood]

PT180 BRUSH MOWER MODIFICATIONS

After dealing with the crappy OEM fixed plastic rear mower deck wheels...I decided to install a Caroni Caster Wheel attachment kit. I did have to install smaller tires after I bought the kit to increase the clearance between the PT tires and the mower deck caster wheels, But it was a huge improvement overall. Picture # 4 is the OEM setup.

 

[IslandTractor]

PT180 BRUSH MOWER MODIFICATIONS

After dealing with the crappy OEM fixed plastic rear mower deck wheels...I decided to install a Caroni Caster Wheel attachment kit. I did have to install smaller tires after I bought the kit to increase the clearance between the PT tires and the mower deck caster wheels, But it was a huge improvement overall. Picture # 4 is the OEM setup.

Nice. Looks like a factory job.

 

[MuncyBob]

Can you share where you obtained the Caroni attachment kit? I was thinking of just replacing the rear wheels with casters somehow. Didn't somebody do just that?

 

[IslandTractor]

Can you share where you obtained the Caroni attachment kit? I was thinking of just replacing the rear wheels with casters somehow. Didn't somebody do just that?

I've seen the Caroni caster kit for sale in the AgriSupply catalog.

 

[Beechwood]

Can you share where you obtained the Caroni attachment kit? I was thinking of just replacing the rear wheels with casters somehow. Didn't somebody do just that?

I purchased the kit through AgriSupply. They had 2 or 3 different length kits. You will need to measure for the mounting area on your brush mower deck because the kit I used on the PT180 mower will not work on the larger 422 & 425 deck. I also had to order smaller Caroni solid wheel/tires after I bought the kit because the tires that were included with the kit did not give me much clearance between the PT tires and the deck casters. You will also need to move the quick attach assembly on the deck back to allow for more clearance.

 

[Roswelloperations]

Hey guys,

Here are a few pictures of a leaf grapple that I had a welder make for my pt425. We have miles of street side areas that we clean in the fall for a mobile home community, as well as a couple hundred of their small lots to clean and maintain. I replaced my Billy Goat 25hp leaf vacuum with this grapple setup this past fall and I find it to be a better solution. As opposed to the leaf vacuum, the grapple doesn't care if the leaves are wet, or if the leaves have sand, stones, and sticks mixed in. Also the PT425 allows us to pick up debris in people's back yards without tarping. We used basically the same hydraulic setup as power trac's tree hugger attachment. As for the mesh it is just chain link fencing. I have posted a few videos on you tube of it in action. Just search for "PT425 Leaf Grapple"

 

[MossRoad]

That is too cool! :thumbsup:

 

[3238dpw]

Do you have any more pictures of the attachment. How is the chain link attached to the frame?

Reminds me of the Tink Claw
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKZj71Qq2dE&NR=1&feature=endscreen]MODERN LEAF REMOVAL IN BIRMINGHAM, MICHIGAN - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Roswelloperations]

I will take a few more pictures when i get a chance, I have tried using heavy duty zip ties, wire ties, and also hose clamps to attach the fencing to the frame. However with wear and use all of these have broken off over time. It is something I have had to keep an eye on and replace when needed. I am open to suggestions on a more durable way to attach this.

 

[bcp]

How about using chain link hardware to attach it? A tension bar through the last mesh, then a bolted strap to hold the bar to the frame.

Bruce