OP
Hawksledge
New member
Thanks for all the discussion ... nice to have all that internet accessible experience out there! So to answer some of the additional questions raised and background information requested ....
1) I purchased my PT1430 used along with the trailer and a few implements in November 2011. (It started its life in North Carolina with a landscaping company I believe). It arrived with the turf tires. In December 2011, it made a return trip back down to Tazwell VA for a full factory going over and to address some clear maintenance problems. It got a main pump rebuild while there among some smaller repairs and a good check-up from Terry and the crew. Same sort of hill traction issues were present with the turf tires - so decided to try new tires....
2) The current lug tires were a new purchase and installed spring of 2012. Local tire service place had them at close to the rated 20psi pressure. Although traction improved in general vs. the turf tires, the slope issue remained. Tried adjusting the pressure down a good bit - using the advice of sitting on flat concrete surface to achieve maximum contact across the lug tread on the flat hard surface. If my memory holds I think that seemed to be around 8psi. But did not "fix" the slope break-free spinning when hot condition.
3) In 2013 (spring/summer) had another factory return visit and 2 main hoses were replaced - vibration had apparently worn enough to cause a leak where they passed under the operator area foot plates and out to the front end area. Again took the opportunity to have the factory give everything a good look-over while there.
4) As pointed out, I have only been using the standard temp gauge as my guide, and have not installed a meter or spot checked the actual hydraulic oil temp. I will use a laser spot temp meter and keep notes on actual direct oil temp measurements the next opportunity I have to run it long enough to where the slope traction problem kicks-in again.
5) On the operational issues.... yes, I have tried going at all different methods of going light, medium, and full on the pedal and tried climbing both forward and reverse up the steep slope sections, and tired different loading weight options - ie: no bucket, empty bucket, medium fill, and heavy filled. What I have consistently found is when still relatively "cool" I can get up the steep slope sections pretty consistently (as long as the road is not too wet/muddy) in most any configuration. However, even in good road conditions - the worst performance is backwards with loaded bucket; and whenever I get stopped on a steep section - getting started moving uphill can be "iffy" without a tire spinning (progressively worse with warm-up condition). Best approach for me on these steep slope sections is to always come into them with as much speed and momentum as possible and even if a tire breaks loose, can still generally make the climb (until it gets up to the magic temp where it just spins wheels always). As long as I am 1/2 to 2/3 throttle or better (depending on load) - there is never issue with any bogging-down on any light or hard pedal mashing. As a traction and torque note -- we have one short section of asphalt paved driveway that is almost at that same grade - never any traction or power issues on the paved driveway of course - any approach from just creeping with light pedal to full mash down with as much load as I can safely manage is fine on the pavement section.
Hopefully will get good upcoming weekend weather for some outside tractor time and I will report back with more details and specific measurements. Thanks again.
1) I purchased my PT1430 used along with the trailer and a few implements in November 2011. (It started its life in North Carolina with a landscaping company I believe). It arrived with the turf tires. In December 2011, it made a return trip back down to Tazwell VA for a full factory going over and to address some clear maintenance problems. It got a main pump rebuild while there among some smaller repairs and a good check-up from Terry and the crew. Same sort of hill traction issues were present with the turf tires - so decided to try new tires....
2) The current lug tires were a new purchase and installed spring of 2012. Local tire service place had them at close to the rated 20psi pressure. Although traction improved in general vs. the turf tires, the slope issue remained. Tried adjusting the pressure down a good bit - using the advice of sitting on flat concrete surface to achieve maximum contact across the lug tread on the flat hard surface. If my memory holds I think that seemed to be around 8psi. But did not "fix" the slope break-free spinning when hot condition.
3) In 2013 (spring/summer) had another factory return visit and 2 main hoses were replaced - vibration had apparently worn enough to cause a leak where they passed under the operator area foot plates and out to the front end area. Again took the opportunity to have the factory give everything a good look-over while there.
4) As pointed out, I have only been using the standard temp gauge as my guide, and have not installed a meter or spot checked the actual hydraulic oil temp. I will use a laser spot temp meter and keep notes on actual direct oil temp measurements the next opportunity I have to run it long enough to where the slope traction problem kicks-in again.
5) On the operational issues.... yes, I have tried going at all different methods of going light, medium, and full on the pedal and tried climbing both forward and reverse up the steep slope sections, and tired different loading weight options - ie: no bucket, empty bucket, medium fill, and heavy filled. What I have consistently found is when still relatively "cool" I can get up the steep slope sections pretty consistently (as long as the road is not too wet/muddy) in most any configuration. However, even in good road conditions - the worst performance is backwards with loaded bucket; and whenever I get stopped on a steep section - getting started moving uphill can be "iffy" without a tire spinning (progressively worse with warm-up condition). Best approach for me on these steep slope sections is to always come into them with as much speed and momentum as possible and even if a tire breaks loose, can still generally make the climb (until it gets up to the magic temp where it just spins wheels always). As long as I am 1/2 to 2/3 throttle or better (depending on load) - there is never issue with any bogging-down on any light or hard pedal mashing. As a traction and torque note -- we have one short section of asphalt paved driveway that is almost at that same grade - never any traction or power issues on the paved driveway of course - any approach from just creeping with light pedal to full mash down with as much load as I can safely manage is fine on the pavement section.
Hopefully will get good upcoming weekend weather for some outside tractor time and I will report back with more details and specific measurements. Thanks again.
