422 vrs 425

[DHS]

Barry,

I have a 422 with ROPS and I am very happy with it. If it were time to replace it I would go with the 425 if it was the same price as the 422. Since the 425 is a couple of grand more and my 422 does everything I need my choice is easy. I would replace my 422 with another 422. Everyone has different needs and wants. Yours are what matter.

Dale

 

[RegL]

Ha ! Ha ! Bob you obviously don't know me. I always do what I want when I want, no one can sway me but, I'm not stupid either. It could be, you're just making really good sense. I'll be thinking it over. I have plenty of time. Thanks for all of your input and advice that's exactly what I was looking for. And of course everyone else has been very helpful

Barry, What ever you get, are you going to build another one of those nice cabs for it? Each year about this time, I think I should try to build one for the Winter.

 

[Barryh]

Barry,

I have a 422 with ROPS and I am very happy with it. If it were time to replace it I would go with the 425 if it was the same price as the 422. Since the 425 is a couple of grand more and my 422 does everything I need my choice is easy. I would replace my 422 with another 422. Everyone has different needs and wants. Yours are what matter.

Dale

I may still go with a 422 it's probably plenty of machine for my needs, like you said that's all that counts. I have all winter to think about it though. Nice to hear you're happy with yours. I am a little surprised more 422 owners aren't chiming in.

 

[Barryh]

Barry, What ever you get, are you going to build another one of those nice cabs for it? Each year about this time, I think I should try to build one for the Winter.

Yah that thought has crossed my mind. My neighbor made sure I was leaving the cab on it. I think he liked it also.

I may go with a soft cab setup this time around not sure just yet. I will have a cab though. It's great to have when the snow flies. Put a hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate in the holder, drive out of the garage and go play in winter wonder land.

This year I'll be back on the Craftsman with a plow and chains, no cab and no 4x4. I'll just have to make up for it next year with the new machine. You should build one for your 1430? It's not that hard just a little time consuming.

 

[Marks481]

the 422 & 425 have a elec. pto...so every time you engage an attachment you get the slam-bang effect!!, it's not a manual adj. soft start PTO like the 180 has

I wouldn't describe the 422 pto as "slam bang". It takes a finite amount of time for the electric spool to shift, and it doesn't really seem to put any stress on the system. I have used it with both the auger and the mower, and never feel any hesitation to turn it on or off when I need to, or any need to reduce engine rpm's when engaging the mower. This is a non-issue from my viewpoint.

When I had to make the decision of 425 vs 422, I did not see any advantages of the 425 that I had to have, and the extra money meant I could buy an extra attachment (like the 4n1) and come out ahead of the game.

re: reinforcement of the steering cylinder. The real answer is that the 1.5" diameter drain hole which is right next to the hydraulic cylinder fork should be patched. Welding is the only real answer. It should be pretty cheap ($50) if you can't diy, since it would only take a welder about 15 minute to prep and weld something this small. That being said, I haven't patched mine, but I will probably get around to it someday. I have the material, the TIG welder, but it has never reached priority status yet.

Remember the 422 advantage: single wheel cylinder means alot better steering, less then a turn of the steering wheel lock-to-lock, so to say.

The 422/425 series also has the hydraulic quick-attach plate, which is definitely beyond the retrofit skills of most DIY. While the PT422 does have an extra hdraulic circuit, it IS the quick-attach hydraulic circuit, and you will have to diconnect/reattach the quick disconnects every time you add an attachment that need that circuit (mini hoe, 4n1 bucket). Since the operating lever is in an awkward place (what was PT thinking), many have relocated it or added another hydraulic circuit anyhow. I know in my future there will be another circuit with a joystick on the other side of the steering wheel.

 

[Barryh]

Barry,
Here's a few more things to help confuse you in your decision between the 422 & 425. I bought the 22 Hp. carburetor & gov. spring from Robin and installed it on my old 180 ( less than $300.00 ) and BANG I have a 22 Hp. engine !!. I bought the 3-spool valve ( less than $300.00 ) and BANG I have a AUX. hydraulic circuit. The 422's have one steering cyl. same as the 180. The 180 has a 50" lift HT. & the 422 has a 52" lift HT.... not a big difference. The 422 lift cap is 800# compared to 600# on the 180, but the same engine is powering the hydraulics for that extra cap. The 422 has an oil cooler & the 180 does not....again basically the same engine (15 amp charging system). The other thing to consider is the Main PTO...the 422 & 425 have a elec. pto...so every time you engage an attachment you get the slam-bang effect!!, it's not a manual adj. soft start PTO like the 180 has.

IMO. I would go the extra mile ( $$$$) and buy the 425...the 422 and 180 are just to close in spec's and performance to make any difference. If you had bought the 422 to begin with then you would upgrade to the 425. I think you would be making a mistake going with the 422 where it is so close to the 180 ( with regards to the engine, single steering cyl., and probably the same pumps).Bite the bullet...and go for the 425.

I hope my input has confused your buying decision even more.

Ok someone edumacate me on pumps.....

Lets look at this upgrade from my prospective.

180 = PTO- 8 GPM @ 2,000 PSI

422= PTO- 8 GPM @ 2,500 PSI

425= PTO- 8 GPM @ 2,500 PSI... same output??

The 422 lifts 800 pounds
The 425 lifts 800 pounds

How are the pumps different ?? and even if they were, same spec's why would one care ?

Differences
180 600 pounds lift
422 800 pounds lift

180 No Oil cooler
422 Oil cooler smaller than the 425 oil cooler? yes but some cooling better than none.

180 20 attachments
422 40 attachments same as 425

180 / 18 HP
422 / 22... 4 more (big jump) and I would guess using your idea, a smart idea at that. I could jump it up to 25 hp same motor right?

180 No quick attach
422 has quick attach

180 no aux valve for a Mini Hoe
422.......................... Mini Hoe option

422 wider tires than 180 / track same as the 425

I'm thinking this is quite a bit of an upgrade from the 180?? And really still can't see where the 425 out shines the 422 by that much, other than the dual steering rams yes stronger but, as noted by Tim, the 422 single cylinder may have a slight advantage in steering this way.

425 more wheel torque which may dig better, but I figure the 422 will do the same. Guessing it might take a little longer to get the job done. I'm not in a big hurry.

Considering it's 2000 more? And if I make my own ROPS 2,500 more. Again I don't have a lot of hills or use mine for mowing the yard... Not trying to be a wise guy, just my way of looking at this.

 

[Barryh]

Still sounds to me like the 180 and 422 are under estimated. I can scrape up the extra money for a 425 if I really want to. I'm still not convinced I need to. I know for the base price of the 180 it is still way out ahead of any large garden tractor and can do amazing things. I feel it is the best bang for the buck at half the price of a 425.

So the 422 should be just about right for my needs with all of the added options. Still I have all winter to ponder. I could change my mind before I take that plunge but, still thnking 422 for now. If I were to listen to MR, he recomends buying the Kioti over any PT series so go figure...

 

[Rivco]

Still sounds to me like the 180 and 422 are under estimated. I can scrape up the extra money for a 425 if I really want to. I'm still not convinced I need to. I know for the base price of the 180 it is still way out ahead of any large garden tractor and can do amazing things. I feel it is the best bang for the buck at half the price of a 425.

So the 422 should be just about right for my needs with all of the added options. Still I have all winter to ponder. I could change my mind before I take that plunge but, still thnking 422 for now. If I were to listen to MR, he recomends buying the Kioti over any PT series so go figure...

Barry, I agree with you that the 180 is very under estimated for it's abilities. When I purchased my 180 back in 9/04, that's what I could afford at the time. It performed better than I ever expected. As time went on I decided to add the extra hyd. circuit and mini hoe. Again the performance never ceased to amaze me. So why did I sell it??. Well...I need a higher lift HT., stronger wheel motors, and a bigger engine. If I decide to buy another Power-Trac it will be the 2425, but the verdict is still out on that. If you feel that the 422 will fulfill all your needs (present & future ) then you have made the right choice.

Where I no longer own a Power-Trac there is not much that I can contribute to this forum anymore, so I think it's time for me to slowly fade off into the sunset.

 

[DHS]

Barry,

I compared the Robin 22 hp to the Robin 25 hp engine. The Robin 22 hp is rated at continuous 17 hp. The Robin 25 hp engine is rated at a continuous 18 hp. Not much of an increase in contiuous HP rating for the cost.

If the higher bucket lift and higher torque wheel motors are needed then go with the 425. I am not sure how much difference the high torque motors improve performance? It would be nice to hear from someone who has used both wheel motors.

Your best solution may be a trip to Tazewell to demo both the 422 and the 425. I wish I lived closer to Tazewell.

Dale

 

[KentT]

I just want to jump in here with a question -- do we know for a fact that there is a different tram pump used on the 422 than the 425? Personally, I'd guess that they use the same tram pump (and other pumps). Just a guess, but I don't think they'd need to change the tram pump to deal with the 3HP difference nor the difference in 12.5ci and 14.3ci wheel motors. The combination of 3HP and the slightly larger wheel motors would explain both the increase in wheelmotor torque and slightly slower speeds of the 425...

One thing to keep in mind is that the 14.3 ci wheelmotors are much heavier duty, with 1.25" shafts instead of 1" shafts, rated for 3000 PSI max, and have tapered roller bearings instead of thrust bearings. Consequently they theoretically can handle MUCH higher stresses, especially sideloads such as caused by a max load in the bucket on a slope... or during a PT pucker event when the weight of the machine (in addition to the load in the bucket) gets transferred to the front wheels...