Bob999
Platinum Member
<font color="red"> Anyone know if the 1430's 12gpm PTO is sufficient for the 72" mower </font>
In order to get good cut quality a high blade tip speed is necessary. The PT 72" mower hydraulic motor and belt pulley sizes are picked to provide that speed with the 15 gal/min hydraulic supply. If that mower/motor was used with 12 gal/min the speed would be only about 80% of the desired speed. If you changed out the motor for a smaller displacement one you might be able to restore the speed but you would not have the power for tough cutting situations.
<font color="red"> How much bigger is the 1845 </font>
PT is selling the 1845 as a dual wheel machine only (this was true in May when I purchased) which brings the width up to 70". In May they had one left over machine from 2002 that was available with single tires. The 1845 is longer that the 1430--some old literature I have shows the wheelbase is 6" longer (71" rather than the 66" Sedgewood reports) and the photo's show that there is additional length behind the rear wheels.
I mow about 3 acres with a good number of trees very comfortably with the 1845. I agree with Sedgewood's assessment that the feel is not that much bigger.
In order to get good cut quality a high blade tip speed is necessary. The PT 72" mower hydraulic motor and belt pulley sizes are picked to provide that speed with the 15 gal/min hydraulic supply. If that mower/motor was used with 12 gal/min the speed would be only about 80% of the desired speed. If you changed out the motor for a smaller displacement one you might be able to restore the speed but you would not have the power for tough cutting situations.
<font color="red"> How much bigger is the 1845 </font>
PT is selling the 1845 as a dual wheel machine only (this was true in May when I purchased) which brings the width up to 70". In May they had one left over machine from 2002 that was available with single tires. The 1845 is longer that the 1430--some old literature I have shows the wheelbase is 6" longer (71" rather than the 66" Sedgewood reports) and the photo's show that there is additional length behind the rear wheels.
I mow about 3 acres with a good number of trees very comfortably with the 1845. I agree with Sedgewood's assessment that the feel is not that much bigger.