425 Lackender Hoe-Again
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OP
Carpenter
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Charlie_Iliff
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Eric:
Glad to see it arrived and mounts up. Now you'll have to invent some reasons to dig holes. I still haven't used mine very much, but when I have, it has done fine. I wouldn't have bought it just for such mundane jobs as stirring a couple of horse manure compost piles, but it certainly makes that job easy.
Did you get the thumb?
Glad to see it arrived and mounts up. Now you'll have to invent some reasons to dig holes. I still haven't used mine very much, but when I have, it has done fine. I wouldn't have bought it just for such mundane jobs as stirring a couple of horse manure compost piles, but it certainly makes that job easy.
Did you get the thumb?
MossRoad
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Way too cool!
Now go out and dig us a hole as deep as you can. Measure it, time it and tell us the soil conditions, moisture content, etc... /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif.
(I'm jealous) /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif
Now go out and dig us a hole as deep as you can. Measure it, time it and tell us the soil conditions, moisture content, etc... /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif.
(I'm jealous) /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif
deadstick
Silver Member
That looks cool. Can I ask what kind of price we are looking at?
Did they just weld the quick attach plate on or was there some hydralic stuff that needed to be modified as well?
Did they just weld the quick attach plate on or was there some hydralic stuff that needed to be modified as well?
OP
Carpenter
Silver Member
Charlie, I didn't get the thumb, but I probably should have. What have you done about your curl control? I made a temporary extension handle for the "quick attach" lever; it makes it a lot handier, but I think the best place would be on the left side.
I quess I can't use my bad back as an excuse, not to plant those trees my wife wants, now. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif
I quess I can't use my bad back as an excuse, not to plant those trees my wife wants, now. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif
OP
Carpenter
Silver Member
Chris, The price is $995 with 12" bucket with teeth, curl cylinder and hoses. All you have to add are the quick couplers for the hydraulics. The quick attach plate is fabricated on the hoe. The hoses attach to the auxillary hydraulics(quick attach).
MossRoad
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So did that price include the female quick attach plate, or did you have to order it from Power Trac and have it sent to Lackender?
And did you get the hydraulic couplers from Power Trac as well and, if I may ask, how much were they?
Thanks.
And did you get the hydraulic couplers from Power Trac as well and, if I may ask, how much were they?
Thanks.
Charlie_Iliff
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<font color=red>What have you done about your curl control?</font color=red>
So far, I've done nothing at all about the curl control. As I've practiced a little with the 4 n 1 bucket and the hoe, I've found I can do most things I've tried, although none well. The problem hasn't been the controls, but my inexperience with the way the tools work best.
My plan is to plumb an electrically activated diverter valve into the PT's curl circuit, with a button on the joystick. That way, when I push the joystick to the side, it will curl the dipper (PT curl) but when the button is pressed it will curl the hoe. The system has been used successfully for 4 n 1 buckets on standard tractors, so should work fine. Leaving it as is, however, isn't as bad as I initially thought, so other projects and grass mowing have taken precedence.
So far, I've done nothing at all about the curl control. As I've practiced a little with the 4 n 1 bucket and the hoe, I've found I can do most things I've tried, although none well. The problem hasn't been the controls, but my inexperience with the way the tools work best.
My plan is to plumb an electrically activated diverter valve into the PT's curl circuit, with a button on the joystick. That way, when I push the joystick to the side, it will curl the dipper (PT curl) but when the button is pressed it will curl the hoe. The system has been used successfully for 4 n 1 buckets on standard tractors, so should work fine. Leaving it as is, however, isn't as bad as I initially thought, so other projects and grass mowing have taken precedence.
OP
Carpenter
Silver Member
MR, The female "quick attach" plate was fabricated as part of the hoe; the large square plate that the boom attaches to is the back, with pieces welded on to form top, sides and bottom.
The couplers would be the only thing extra to buy; I'm not sure what they cost since I robbed the ones off my snow plow for now. I think ,however, they are under $10 each.
BTW, What's the best way to compress a pic to post here. I posted larger pics before, but can't remember how I did it. I must be getting old; I have a great memory, it's just short!/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
The couplers would be the only thing extra to buy; I'm not sure what they cost since I robbed the ones off my snow plow for now. I think ,however, they are under $10 each.
BTW, What's the best way to compress a pic to post here. I posted larger pics before, but can't remember how I did it. I must be getting old; I have a great memory, it's just short!/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
MossRoad
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So Lackender built the female part of the quick attach themselves. Great! That works out well.
I use a program called Paint Shop Pro version7. I just decrease the size of the photo by 10% a few times until it is under 150K and post it as an attachment. However, most of my photos are under 100K right out of the camera, so I don't have to do anything. What photo editing software do you use?
I use a program called Paint Shop Pro version7. I just decrease the size of the photo by 10% a few times until it is under 150K and post it as an attachment. However, most of my photos are under 100K right out of the camera, so I don't have to do anything. What photo editing software do you use?
PTRich
Gold Member
That thing looks awesome, let us know how it works.
OP
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pajoube
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Those pictures are better than a thousand words. Thank you for sharing.
I think most of the PT owners and owners to be will be looking at the Baby Boomer.
PJ
I think most of the PT owners and owners to be will be looking at the Baby Boomer.
PJ
MossRoad
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Now that's a good picture /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Makes me even more jealous /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
FYI,
The very first picture that you posted was small. It was 225 X 225 pixels and was only about 22K in size.
The last picture that you posted(the one that makes me even more jealous) was still only 475 x 480 pixels and about 65K in size, so you could go bigger and still get in under the 150k mark, although that last picture looked great, as is /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Makes me even more jealous /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
FYI,
The very first picture that you posted was small. It was 225 X 225 pixels and was only about 22K in size.
The last picture that you posted(the one that makes me even more jealous) was still only 475 x 480 pixels and about 65K in size, so you could go bigger and still get in under the 150k mark, although that last picture looked great, as is /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Scott_F
Silver Member
Eric,
That looks great. What is the length of the Baby Boomer from the attach plate to the bucket hinge pin? Does it lift up the front of the PT or drag it?
Scott
That looks great. What is the length of the Baby Boomer from the attach plate to the bucket hinge pin? Does it lift up the front of the PT or drag it?
Scott
marrt
Platinum Member
Eric, very cool! I need one of those. I have some ditches to dig but haven’t figured out an easy way to do so with the PT. Did you simply call up Lackender and say you wanted to put that hoe on a PT, and they fabricated everything so it would work?
Also, I think I read somewhere that PT tried this idea but decided not to build it because they felt it pulled the tractor around too much and didn’t dig all that well (or something like that). I’m curious to learn how well it works (Maybe PT just wanted to sell a 24xx instead /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif). Thanks for sharing.
Also, I think I read somewhere that PT tried this idea but decided not to build it because they felt it pulled the tractor around too much and didn’t dig all that well (or something like that). I’m curious to learn how well it works (Maybe PT just wanted to sell a 24xx instead /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif). Thanks for sharing.
davesisk
Platinum Member
Very cool, dude! I'd be very curious if when digging, it lifts the back end of the machine. (Of course, I guess that depends on exactly what digging technique you use...) Post and let us know how it works!
Dave
Dave
OP
Carpenter
Silver Member
So many questions! It'll take some time before I can intelligently answer them. Here's the story so far:
I called Lackender Fabrications and asked about a hoe to fit the 425; they wanted to try one out on the PT 400's also, so this is the prototype. No, they didn't give it to me; I bought it.
First off, this is a well built piece of equipment; built just like PT's, with heavy steel and good welds. It's currently set up with a 12" bucket with teeth, and a 3" curl cylinder. If you take a big bite, it can either lift the rear end or drag the 425; no outriggers and very little weight. The 3" cylinder moves slow; but that may be a blessing with a light little machine like the 425. A different size bucket or cylinder may work better; time and use will tell.
I think the one thing we all have to remember is, that this is a lightweight utility tractor. It's not a fire breathing, earth mover, that we can coax into doing things it wasn't designed to do. I think this "lil' digger" will be an additional tool, in my arsenal of implements, that will allow me to do the small jobs around my property.
I'll keep everyone posted, on my impressions, as I get some hours on the Baby Boomer. My ability to operate this hoe is certainlly a limiting factor at the moment. I can walk and chew gum at the same time;but I'm not sure if I can walk, chew gum, skip rope and juggle, all at once. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
Scott, 45" from plate to center of hinge pin.
I called Lackender Fabrications and asked about a hoe to fit the 425; they wanted to try one out on the PT 400's also, so this is the prototype. No, they didn't give it to me; I bought it.
First off, this is a well built piece of equipment; built just like PT's, with heavy steel and good welds. It's currently set up with a 12" bucket with teeth, and a 3" curl cylinder. If you take a big bite, it can either lift the rear end or drag the 425; no outriggers and very little weight. The 3" cylinder moves slow; but that may be a blessing with a light little machine like the 425. A different size bucket or cylinder may work better; time and use will tell.
I think the one thing we all have to remember is, that this is a lightweight utility tractor. It's not a fire breathing, earth mover, that we can coax into doing things it wasn't designed to do. I think this "lil' digger" will be an additional tool, in my arsenal of implements, that will allow me to do the small jobs around my property.
I'll keep everyone posted, on my impressions, as I get some hours on the Baby Boomer. My ability to operate this hoe is certainlly a limiting factor at the moment. I can walk and chew gum at the same time;but I'm not sure if I can walk, chew gum, skip rope and juggle, all at once. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
Scott, 45" from plate to center of hinge pin.
