An Introduction and Thank You!

[Incline]

Hi - I wanted to introduce myself to this group after about a month of reading the forum.

I feel as though I know some of you already! From Moss Road's suggestions, humor, and homepage, to JJ's succinct and focused comments, FOURTEEN's dare to be different, Peter's (ponytug) willingness to talk me through a couple of questions on the phone (we're local) - and the clincher was reading one member (Frank I believe) being "walked through" an entire engine swap out by lot's of members on here. Pretty reassuring given the lack of local dealer support.

So thank you.

It was partially due to the collective wisdom and helpfulness of this forum that I chose to purchase a PT-425 .... and took delivery today. What a perfect fit for my needs. I have 2 1/2 acres and about 20 sq. ft of that is flat. This machine can turn around in an amazingly tight area and holds a hill well.

Seems many like to see the most recent versions coming out of PowerTrac so I'm attempting to attache some pics here (but I'm not sure I've done it correctly).

The 425 came with a Kohler Command Pro CH730-3205 - it is now rated for 23.5 HP though it was rated at 25. Same 725 cc engine so I'm not sure if they actually tuned it down or the regulators enforced some kind of "keep it honest" policy.

I got the LMB, 4:1, post hole auger, forks, boom, 2 plates, backhoe w/thumb. brush mower (I presume I need to flip the front wheels around?? Nothing noted about that). The only complaint I could make has been commented on by this group repeatedly - the parking brake is a pain. I'm going to have to re-review some of your posts for a corrective solution.

Anyway, lots of words but thanks again for each of your contributions!!

Andy

 

[MossRoad]

Welcome to TBN! :thumbsup:

Nice looking package, and yes, you'll have to turn those wheel mounts around and slip the shafts up through the bottom. Mine didn't come that way 17 years ago.... and, man, you've been reading a lot! :laughing:

A note on the brush cutter.... don't flip the PTO switch with the engine running much past an idle. It'll shake and shudder a bit and smooth out nicely in a few seconds once the blades seek their natural positions. Then run up the throttle to full and off you go. But be sure and keep everyone/pets away. It can fling rocks a hundred + feet no problem. I'm sure you've read about it, but be prepared. Also, plan your paths so you aren't cutting towards houses, cars, etc... if possible. It's the most dangerous tool I own, maybe just slightly more dangerous than the chainsaws.

 

[Incline]

Welcome to TBN! :thumbsup:

Nice looking package, and yes, you'll have to turn those wheel mounts around and slip the shafts up through the bottom. Mine didn't come that way 17 years ago.... and, man, you've been reading a lot! :laughing:

A note on the brush cutter.... don't flip the PTO switch with the engine running much past an idle. It'll shake and shudder a bit and smooth out nicely in a few seconds once the blades seek their natural positions. Then run up the throttle to full and off you go. But be sure and keep everyone/pets away. It can fling rocks a hundred + feet no problem. I'm sure you've read about it, but be prepared. Also, plan your paths so you aren't cutting towards houses, cars, etc... if possible. It's the most dangerous tool I own, maybe just slightly more dangerous than the chainsaws.

Thanks for the PTO/idle tip, I wouldn't have known that and also for confirming I'll need to flip the wheel mounts. Duly noted on the danger of that implement. I used to juggle chainsaws and now I drive one handed so point well made! (just kidding, but still, point well made)

Is there a way to reply to posts without the "Quote" function?

 

[Incline]

Never mind.....how about just hitting the "Reply to Thread" button. I'll be better in the morning.

 

[MossRoad]

yeah, my browser view on the ipad have a Reply button and a Reply With Quote button.

I took mine out last weekend in about 95 degree weather and cut brush for about 3.5-4 hours. It is truly a beast. Some more things to watch out for...

When you get a chance, lift the brush cutter up to full height and curl the joystick all the way so you can look under the cutter without getting under it. You'll see how the blades are attached by just a bolt. There's a hole in the blade. There's a bushing in the hole. The bolt goes through the bushing.

You can see that the lowest point on the cutter is the bolt head. Therefore, those bolt heads get damaged easily on rocks, or, sometimes, the blade will swing past the stop bolts, or knock the stop bolts off, and then the blade will hit the other blade's mount bolt.... you'll get the picture when you look under there.

If the bolt head gets knocked off, the blade flies off. Usually doesn't go too far, but who knows if it bounces off of something. So get into the habit of checking those bolts before each use, anytime you hit something really hard, and even every hour or two of operation. I can't count the number of times I've checked them and found damage. Then I've replaced them before I've tossed a blade. They are not easy to get off once they are broken. You'll have to dismount the motor, remove 5 lug bolts and drop the entire hub assembly down and slide it out from underneath.

There's several threads in the forum about this. Some of us have devised easier ways of removing the broken bolts. And some of us have drilled a hole in the top of the deck to access the backside from the top without dropping the hub.

You'll also find that after hours of use, those bushings will start to wear. If the blade starts to wobble a lot on the bushing, it's time to replace it. I never used to lubricate those bushings until last year after reading about lubing them. So now I spray them with the same spray grease that I use on all of the ball joints, and it has really made a difference.

So, with that long-winded intro to the brush cutter, I'd suggest getting half a dozen spare bolts, and at least that many spare bushings. I made my own bushings from DOM tubing and a bandsaw. Others have used black iron pipe.

If you own an air compressor and an impact wrench and impact sockets, that's a plus. It's not necessary, but it sure helps. :thumbsup:

have a good weekend and enjoy getting to know the new machine.

 

[MossRoad]

Oh yeah, goes without saying, but once you shut off the PTO, the brush cutter will spin for a good 30-60 seconds, so don't get off the seat until you can see the motor has stop spinning. :thumbsup:

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Hi - I wanted to introduce myself to this group after about a month of reading the forum.

I feel as though I know some of you already! From Moss Road's suggestions, humor, and homepage, to JJ's succinct and focused comments, FOURTEEN's dare to be different, Peter's (ponytug) willingness to talk me through a couple of questions on the phone (we're local) - and the clincher was reading one member (Frank I believe) being "walked through" an entire engine swap out by lot's of members on here. Pretty reassuring given the lack of local dealer support.

So thank you.

It was partially due to the collective wisdom and helpfulness of this forum that I chose to purchase a PT-425 .... and took delivery today. What a perfect fit for my needs. I have 2 1/2 acres and about 20 sq. ft of that is flat. This machine can turn around in an amazingly tight area and holds a hill well.

Seems many like to see the most recent versions coming out of PowerTrac so I'm attempting to attache some pics here (but I'm not sure I've done it correctly).

The 425 came with a Kohler Command Pro CH730-3205 - it is now rated for 23.5 HP though it was rated at 25. Same 725 cc engine so I'm not sure if they actually tuned it down or the regulators enforced some kind of "keep it honest" policy.

I got the LMB, 4:1, post hole auger, forks, boom, 2 plates, backhoe w/thumb. brush mower (I presume I need to flip the front wheels around?? Nothing noted about that). The only complaint I could make has been commented on by this group repeatedly - the parking brake is a pain. I'm going to have to re-review some of your posts for a corrective solution.

Anyway, lots of words but thanks again for each of your contributions!!

Andy

View attachment 561568View attachment 561569View attachment 561570View attachment 561571

Welcome and that is an awesome tractor and equipment.

 

[Wagtail]

G'day Mate and welcome to TBN from Downunder.

Enjoy the site.

 

[cqaigy2]

Welcome aboard!

 

[joshlee]

Thats a nice looking machine Incline! And its nice to see how you got it with the Kohler engine! I had a Steiner at one time which had the CH 750 Kohler ,and it was great working machine.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Welcome to the group. One of my very dear friends lives in Novato, just on the edge of the Indian Valley Preserve. Beautiful area. Lucky you.

 

[Red Zebra]

That's a purty machine! Like you, the friendly/helpful Power-Trac forum was a significant factor in my decision to buy a 425 in 2007. Welcome to the addiction!

 

[Incline]

Thanks for the welcomes.

Woodland Farms, I love that part of Novato that your friends live in. I'm in a similarly flavored area but on the other side of town by the bay.

So this may be a breach of thread etiquette but I had a chance to put the machine to work for about 14 hours this weekend. It performed really well. One interesting observation and I'm not sure whether this is normal or not but I was going down my 15-18 deg sloped driveway with a loaded bucket. The driveway had become littered with loose rock from spill-out over the course of the day. When I would slow down (release pressure on both treadle pedals) the left rear tire would stop spinning and just drag. The other three were working fine. I noticed a low rumbling sound as well - almost like the sound of rocks grinding under the bucket (but it wasn't, I had the bucket high enough to clear). Once I returned to level ground and powered up, all was fine - no noise and all wheels powering. Is this normal?

Other than that little observation, the PT performed fantastic and all the pride of ownership expressed on this forum is well deserved.

 

[MossRoad]

First off, are you running at full throttle?

Second, was it the parking brake semi-enngaging?

The sound of gravel grinding in hydraulics can be cavitation in a wheel motor. That's why I asked if you have it at full throttle.

The way the wheel motors are set up, the right front and left rear are connected in series. The left front and right rear are connected in series.

So back to your situation.... you're traveling downhill with weight in the bucket. When you slow down, weight will shift towards the front of the machine, lightening the rear. So it presses weight down on your front tires, taking weight off the rear tires. The hydraulic pressure in your front wheel motors will prevent the rear wheel motors from turning faster than the fronts. Since there's little traction on the rears as your machine tips forward, it wouldn't surprise me of a rear wheel would slide on loose material..... slow down.

As for the gravel noises, if it's coming from the wheel motor, or pump, its cavitation most likely. It's a pressure differential that can suck air out of the fluid. Again, always run at full throttle, and go slower downhill with loads if you already aren't.

 

[Incline]

Yes - full throttle
No - the parking brake wasn't semi-engaging

Your cavitation explanation makes sense and fits with the noise I heard too. I was going really slow as in crawling, and the left rear was locked up and skidding. Not turning slower or faster but just dragging. The weight definitely would have been heaviest on the right front and off the left rear so that fits your comment thanks!

 

[dcdtn]

Congrats to a new fellow PT425 owner! I’ve really enjoyed mine and the support from the factory has been top notch. I’ve had mine almost 2 years and going on 90 hours now.

 

[bol4fun]

Oh yeah, goes without saying, but once you shut off the PTO, the brush cutter will spin for a good 30-60 seconds, so don't get off the seat until you can see the motor has stop spinning.

I haven't used my brush cutter in several years since I bent the blades and bought new ones. When I bolt them back on, do you tighten bolts all the way on the blades or leave them loose a little.

 

[ponytug]

I bolt mine tight, but not so tight the blade is locked in place.

All the best,

Peter

 

[MossRoad]

There's a bushing inside of the blade that is just a tad thicker than the blade. The blade spins on the bushing, not the bolt. So I tighten it all the way down. Lube the heck out of it every 4 hours or more if in sandy conditions.

 

[MossRoad]

Oh, I also ended up buying a piece of DOM tubing of the correct size and started cutting my own bushings. I'm running low, so may have to order one again.