Buying Advice Yet another - what should I get?

[woodlandfarms]

That said, I would start with the brush clearing. Bunch of reasons but the main one is that it the PT is not like any other machine. Brush clearing isn't very detailed (Shelf for Deck) so you can get used to how the beast steers, Stumps are boring (at least in terms of getting to know the machine). Food Plot work can come after you have moved debris (it doesn't matter if your food plot is on the other corner of the property, if you do it first some how or other you will have to drive over it and boy will you be chapped). Logs are also fun but clear the land first.

 

[v11m]

That said, I would start with the brush clearing. Bunch of reasons but the main one is that it the PT is not like any other machine. Brush clearing isn't very detailed (Shelf for Deck) so you can get used to how the beast steers, Stumps are boring (at least in terms of getting to know the machine). Food Plot work can come after you have moved debris (it doesn't matter if your food plot is on the other corner of the property, if you do it first some how or other you will have to drive over it and boy will you be chapped). Logs are also fun but clear the land first.

Thanks - 2 hours in and I've pulled out some buck thorns with the mini-hoe and moved some brush with the grapple - I will say that my reverse is quite jerky and if I bang the forks on the garage floor or forget that I left the parking break on then something is going to break - but that's the fun.

 

[MossRoad]

Thanks - 2 hours in and I've pulled out some buck thorns with the mini-hoe and moved some brush with the grapple - I will say that my reverse is quite jerky and if I bang the forks on the garage floor or forget that I left the parking break on then something is going to break - but that's the fun.

View attachment 604729

See if there are springs under your treadle. The old machines like mine were cable operated treadles and quite smooth. The newer machines are hydraulic treadles and when they first came out were quite jerky. PT came out with a spring kit to install under the treadle to make it smoother and less jerky. See if your springs are under there.

 

[v11m]

So I am 15 hours in and thought I would share some observations and thoughts -
- Overall the PT is built like a tank and I am satisfied with the purchase. My property is hilly and woody and I have yet to get it stuck yet or question its abilities. I didn't get a chance to drive before the purchase (not really what I wanted), but my needs were better suited for a 'hybrid' machine rather than a typical tractor and the PT meets expectations along those lines.
- The treadle operation still needs work as I am still quite jerky - especially when I would require muscle memory (e.g. when I am tired or in a last-second reaction). I imagine time will assist here. I keep both feet on at the same time - I wonder if this is typical (I assume it is).
- Same goes for the arm controls (e.g. jerky). Would love it if the joystick had a thumb switch instead of the auxiliary being underneath.
- The parking break is terrible and I am waiting for it to snap (this seems to fit along with other threads). As I am constantly on an incline, I was engaging it when I needed to get off the tractor momentarily to prevent the slow roll (yes, it rolls slowly though I'm not sure it should). I never remember to take it back off and then I almost need a mallet to disengage it. Now I just prefer the slow roll.
- I often get an 'afterfire' - learning that I need to idle 20-30 seconds on the Kohler before I power down. Makes sense.
- What's the recommended lube intervals - I see that MossRoad has an 8 hour on his site - looks like I need to get my grease gun out already.
- Wasn't obvious to me (I am new to hydraulics so let the razzing begin) - but the cylinders should be disengaged (not extended) when switching out the hoses - otherwise they are hard to swap.
- For the mini-hoe, it is my most used attachment. Like most folks, I was on the fence here, but it has saved me a lot of time. Someone mentioned in the forum that if you use a hand shovel often, get the mini-hoe - that is what convinced me. I have pulled out all sorts of shrubs, stumps and rocks with it.
- Took awhile to get use to the grapple (I was trying to do too much), but this has been extremely helpful moving loads of brush to the burn pile as well as ripping out old fence.
- For the forks, I already bent one of them trying to dispose of a slab of concrete. Any idea how I bend it back? Heat and a BFH?
- The mowing deck will take some time to get used to (or I may need to figure something else out). I have a lot of medium patches of grass intermixed with trees. Adding the incline to the equation and a few off-camber spots, it makes for a very adventurous mowing experience where I am constantly raising and lowering the deck and causing a lot of damage to the grass with the front wheels. Straight lines are fine.
- Light material bucket is fine (but need some teeth for it) and so is the rake. Haven't used the thumb for the mini hoe or the potato digger yet.

 

[MossRoad]

Sounds like you're getting used to things.

I'd still check your treadle to see if there are springs under the pedals. If not, they should be there. If so, see if you can find some stiffer springs. Ask Terry at PT about that if you have to.

You could add an electric selector valve to the QA circuit and put the button on the joystick handle. There's a few thread on here about that.

YES. The parking brake handle operation IS terrible. I always engage it each time I get off the machine. If I don't see the pins move in, I'll tap the pedals forward of backward until they pop in. Then, as you've found, it's hard to take them off. I rock the pedals while pulling the lever and it usually comes off during that operation.

Most of us were told to grease all fittings and lube all ball joints every 8 hours. Also, tighten the large nut under the bottom center joint fairly often for the first couple years. That's something that a lot of people don't know about or weren't told, or just forget.

If you don't know where all the grease fitting are, just ask. Mine had some in the manual that PT stopped installing, and there were a couple more that weren't in the manual.

I bent my forks several times. I used a large rosebud head on an acetylene torch to heat it up and bend it back with a large hammer. They aren't meant for prying, but I pry away anyway! Makes quick work of small shrubs and buried rocks. Your mini hoe would be better for those tasks.

Do you put the mowing deck into float?

 

[BobRip]

So I am 15 hours in and thought I would share some observations and thoughts -
- Overall the PT is built like a tank and I am satisfied with the purchase. My property is hilly and woody and I have yet to get it stuck yet or question its abilities. I didn't get a chance to drive before the purchase (not really what I wanted), but my needs were better suited for a 'hybrid' machine rather than a typical tractor and the PT meets expectations along those lines.
- The treadle operation still needs work as I am still quite jerky - especially when I would require muscle memory (e.g. when I am tired or in a last-second reaction). I imagine time will assist here. I keep both feet on at the same time - I wonder if this is typical (I assume it is).
- Same goes for the arm controls (e.g. jerky). Would love it if the joystick had a thumb switch instead of the auxiliary being underneath.
- The parking break is terrible and I am waiting for it to snap (this seems to fit along with other threads). As I am constantly on an incline, I was engaging it when I needed to get off the tractor momentarily to prevent the slow roll (yes, it rolls slowly though I'm not sure it should). I never remember to take it back off and then I almost need a mallet to disengage it. Now I just prefer the slow roll.
- I often get an 'afterfire' - learning that I need to idle 20-30 seconds on the Kohler before I power down. Makes sense.
- What's the recommended lube intervals - I see that MossRoad has an 8 hour on his site - looks like I need to get my grease gun out already.
- Wasn't obvious to me (I am new to hydraulics so let the razzing begin) - but the cylinders should be disengaged (not extended) when switching out the hoses - otherwise they are hard to swap.
- For the mini-hoe, it is my most used attachment. Like most folks, I was on the fence here, but it has saved me a lot of time. Someone mentioned in the forum that if you use a hand shovel often, get the mini-hoe - that is what convinced me. I have pulled out all sorts of shrubs, stumps and rocks with it.
- Took awhile to get use to the grapple (I was trying to do too much), but this has been extremely helpful moving loads of brush to the burn pile as well as ripping out old fence.
- For the forks, I already bent one of them trying to dispose of a slab of concrete. Any idea how I bend it back? Heat and a BFH?
- The mowing deck will take some time to get used to (or I may need to figure something else out). I have a lot of medium patches of grass intermixed with trees. Adding the incline to the equation and a few off-camber spots, it makes for a very adventurous mowing experience where I am constantly raising and lowering the deck and causing a lot of damage to the grass with the front wheels. Straight lines are fine.
- Light material bucket is fine (but need some teeth for it) and so is the rake. Haven't used the thumb for the mini hoe or the potato digger yet.

On the parking brake, without steering move the tractor uphill while pushing down on the parking brake handle. This releases the pressure and it is easy to operate. If you steered since setting it then do the same, but steer a little left and right.

 

[agjones]

Check the pins on the brake for wear, bite marks from being engaged and trying to drive. I found one of mine had a groove on the pin making it hard to release. A quick flapper wheel session was all it took