422 will not stay in float

[kmaz]

My PT425 started having weirdness with joystick operation and float a couple of days ago. On inspection, the housing that the float detent is in had broken off. It's held on by screws through two ears, both of which had broken off. I performed a "field expedient" repair today and got it working again. It'll be interesting finding out on Monday whether the part is still available and how much it costs. Danfoss sold that division to Dukes, and I couldn't find a part number. It's not clear whether they sell repair parts.

If the part isn't available or is insanely expensive, I'm pretty sure I can make one. It's not a precision part.

Photos of field expedient repair attached in random order after I trimmed them down. Sorry for the blurry shots. My hands shake a fair bit these days.

Nice repair! That’s what I call some good old fashioned barnyard ingenuity!
Kris

 

[Gravy]

Nice repair! That’s what I call some good old fashioned barnyard ingenuity!
Kris

Thanks! I don't think it's quite centered. There's some drag that keeps the spool from snapping back to the neutral position. I'll have to see if I can adjust that out. But I was able to do my mowing before the rain chances increase this afternoon, which would have been a problem without working float.

 

[Gravy]

My PT425 started having weirdness with joystick operation and float a couple of days ago. On inspection, the housing that the float detent is in had broken off. It's held on by screws through two ears, both of which had broken off. I performed a "field expedient" repair today and got it working again. It'll be interesting finding out on Monday whether the part is still available and how much it costs. Danfoss sold that division to Dukes, and I couldn't find a part number. It's not clear whether they sell repair parts.

If the part isn't available or is insanely expensive, I'm pretty sure I can make one. It's not a precision part.

Photos of field expedient repair attached in random order after I trimmed them down. Sorry for the blurry shots. My hands shake a fair bit these days.

I called PT for the replacement part. $275. No, not $2.75. Yeeeoow! Keith was unsurprised when I didn't buy it.

There's still some drag interfering with the spool returning to center, so I have more work to do. I may try to make a new piece. It's not terribly complicated, I've got a lathe, a mill-drill, and several welders, and I'm expecting several rainy days this week.

 

[ponytug]

I called PT for the replacement part. $275. No, not $2.75. Yeeeoow! Keith was unsurprised when I didn't buy it.

There's still some drag interfering with the spool returning to center, so I have more work to do. I may try to make a new piece. It's not terribly complicated, I've got a lathe, a mill-drill, and several welders, and I'm expecting several rainy days this week.

Good luck on the build! If you do it, I would love to see photos.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Gravy]

Good luck on the build! If you do it, I would love to see photos.

All the best,

Peter

I have a chunk of steel that is way too big, a chunk of some kind of brass that is a bit less too big, a Southbend Heavy 10 with banana shaped ways and a spindle that chatters, a completely unidentifiable Rong Fu RF-something clone mill drill that is also wore slap out, and very nearly zero machining knowledge or skill.

What could possibly go wrong?

 

[ponytug]

I'm sure you know the idiosyncrasies of your equipment well.

A pair of the sharpest knives that I own were made by a guy sitting on the dirt with a hammer, a pair of tongs and a rock with a piece of metal on top.

Having seen the emergency repair above, I have faith in your talents.

I'm sure you are "one of those guys"...,
"you know those guys with skills"...,
"You send them into the wilderness with a pocket knife and a Q-tip and they build you a shopping mall.”-Anne Heche to Harrison Ford in "Six Days, Seven Nights"

Seriously, I liked your original fix, and at $275 for the original part, I'm sure you have incentive for inspiration, and I feel pretty confident that you can do better than pot metal.

All the best,

Peter

 

[MossRoad]

I have a chunk of steel that is way too big, a chunk of some kind of brass that is a bit less too big, a Southbend Heavy 10 with banana shaped ways and a spindle that chatters, a completely unidentifiable Rong Fu RF-something clone mill drill that is also wore slap out, and very nearly zero machining knowledge or skill.

What could possibly go wrong?

South Bend!!!! WOOO WOOO WOOO!!!

 

[MossRoad]

I'm sure you know the idiosyncrasies of your equipment well.

A pair of the sharpest knives that I own were made by a guy sitting on the dirt with a hammer, a pair of tongs and a rock with a piece of metal on top.

Having seen the emergency repair above, I have faith in your talents.

I'm sure you are "one of those guys"...,
"you know those guys with skills"...,
"You send them into the wilderness with a pocket knife and a Q-tip and they build you a shopping mall.”-Anne Heche to Harrison Ford in "Six Days, Seven Nights"

Seriously, I liked your original fix, and at $275 for the original part, I'm sure you have incentive for inspiration, and I feel pretty confident that you can do better than pot metal.

All the best,

Peter

Hey, he roasted a peacock with maraschino cherry juice glaze! What more could you want?