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dannygw
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2003
- Messages
- 74
- Location
- Bismarck, ND
- Tractor
- Power-Trac PT425 purchased May 2004, John Deere 1025R , Dec 2013
Back from Tazewell!
- Thread starter dannygw
- Start date
- Views: 5038
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dannygw
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2003
- Messages
- 74
- Location
- Bismarck, ND
- Tractor
- Power-Trac PT425 purchased May 2004, John Deere 1025R , Dec 2013
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dannygw
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2003
- Messages
- 74
- Location
- Bismarck, ND
- Tractor
- Power-Trac PT425 purchased May 2004, John Deere 1025R , Dec 2013
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dannygw
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2003
- Messages
- 74
- Location
- Bismarck, ND
- Tractor
- Power-Trac PT425 purchased May 2004, John Deere 1025R , Dec 2013
smartguyz
Gold Member
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2003
- Messages
- 488
- Location
- Beaverton, Oregon
- Tractor
- JD318, Power-Trac PT425 with scuffed-up green paint.
Danny -
Thank you for the photos - they look great! Good looking family, too! It's fun to see how you made the PT-unloading (not to mention procuring) a family-affair!
Good job, and I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time with the PT - it has provided a much better property and landscape for us since we secured our 425 last year - our property looks 3x better than it did before. My neighbor, a master gardener who spends 8 hours a day in the yard, even took notice of how much better our property looks! Be sure to share with us as you make things better too!
Sincerely,
Rob /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Thank you for the photos - they look great! Good looking family, too! It's fun to see how you made the PT-unloading (not to mention procuring) a family-affair!
Good job, and I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time with the PT - it has provided a much better property and landscape for us since we secured our 425 last year - our property looks 3x better than it did before. My neighbor, a master gardener who spends 8 hours a day in the yard, even took notice of how much better our property looks! Be sure to share with us as you make things better too!
Sincerely,
Rob /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 58,044
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
Great looking family you have there! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Just one note. I noticed that in a few pictures the implements were being carried high. Be sure to carry all loads as low as possible. I'm sure you've read of the PT-Pucker... where you could tip it up on its nose if you have a really heavy load and turn the wheel. That shortens the center of gravity and down she goes. So make sure you drill everyone on keeping that load just high enough off the ground to get over it, nothing higher. And drill them on dumping the load with the float if it should start to happen. Just slap that joystick forward as far as it can go. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Again, thanks for the great pictures and congratulations on your new tractor! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Just one note. I noticed that in a few pictures the implements were being carried high. Be sure to carry all loads as low as possible. I'm sure you've read of the PT-Pucker... where you could tip it up on its nose if you have a really heavy load and turn the wheel. That shortens the center of gravity and down she goes. So make sure you drill everyone on keeping that load just high enough off the ground to get over it, nothing higher. And drill them on dumping the load with the float if it should start to happen. Just slap that joystick forward as far as it can go. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Again, thanks for the great pictures and congratulations on your new tractor! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
OP
dannygw
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2003
- Messages
- 74
- Location
- Bismarck, ND
- Tractor
- Power-Trac PT425 purchased May 2004, John Deere 1025R , Dec 2013
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Just one note. I noticed that in a few pictures the implements were being carried high. Be sure to carry all loads as low as possible. I'm sure you've read of the PT-Pucker... where you could tip it up on its nose if you have a really heavy load and turn the wheel. )</font>
MR - I have read the posts, but I appreciate the reminder. Even with reminders, sometimes we don't learn our lesson until we experience it ourselves.
We already had one incident happen with the new PT425. I wasn't going to share it, but I feel I must for the safety of others. One of my daughters, I won't mention which, while scooping and dumping some sand, hit the reverse treadle a little fast, got scared and couldn't take her foot off the treadle. At the same time, she was turning the wheel and ended up jumping a 2x6 form set up for my concrete foundation. The back two wheels of the PT ended up in the foundation, a 2' by 2' foundation hole. Yes the back wheels were off of the ground and the backend of the PT was supported by the 2x6 foundation form. We had to jack up the backend of the PT, put boards under the wheels and then drive forward. No one was hurt and the PT was unscratched. My daughter was a little shaken but otherwise okay. We just have to remind ourselves that this is a powerful piece of equipment and to be cautious and careful at all times. Part of the blame for this incident has to be the loose, or light pressure treadle of the new PT425's. I am considering using Fourteen's fix for this problem, and yes I really believe it is a safety issue. I have even scared myself by getting my right shoe tip under the forward treadle and accidentally pulling up my foot and shooting myself in reverse unexpectedly. No harm but it does wake you up and make you aware of the sensitive treadle.
MR - I have read the posts, but I appreciate the reminder. Even with reminders, sometimes we don't learn our lesson until we experience it ourselves.
We already had one incident happen with the new PT425. I wasn't going to share it, but I feel I must for the safety of others. One of my daughters, I won't mention which, while scooping and dumping some sand, hit the reverse treadle a little fast, got scared and couldn't take her foot off the treadle. At the same time, she was turning the wheel and ended up jumping a 2x6 form set up for my concrete foundation. The back two wheels of the PT ended up in the foundation, a 2' by 2' foundation hole. Yes the back wheels were off of the ground and the backend of the PT was supported by the 2x6 foundation form. We had to jack up the backend of the PT, put boards under the wheels and then drive forward. No one was hurt and the PT was unscratched. My daughter was a little shaken but otherwise okay. We just have to remind ourselves that this is a powerful piece of equipment and to be cautious and careful at all times. Part of the blame for this incident has to be the loose, or light pressure treadle of the new PT425's. I am considering using Fourteen's fix for this problem, and yes I really believe it is a safety issue. I have even scared myself by getting my right shoe tip under the forward treadle and accidentally pulling up my foot and shooting myself in reverse unexpectedly. No harm but it does wake you up and make you aware of the sensitive treadle.
MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 58,044
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
Glad no one was unjured. That new treadle design sounds pretty touchy.
When I made my Tazewell trip I was able to get the 422 to "tip" when I filled the small bucket with stone. Couldn't get the same result when I did it with the 425. Seeing the picture of Scott with a large bucket full of stone makes me think that while both the 422 and 425 are rated for 800lbs, the 425, due to its larger length and wheel base, really does have a greater lifting capacity and safety margin, especially when maneuvering.
SnowRidge
Elite Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I am considering using Fourteen's fix for this problem, and yes I really believe it is a safety issue. )</font>
Sounds like a close call. It's good to hear nobody was hurt and your PT wasn't damaged.
I haven't seen the new hydraulic treadle controls, so I don't know how much more sensitive it is than the old cable model, which I have, but I'm not sure that what happened to you isn't more a function of the PT's steep learning curve than a sensitive treadle.
PTs treadle control is quite a bit different than anything most of us have experience with. There is no dedicated brake pedal to stomp on in an emergency, but when things get sticky, there is a tendency to stomp on whatever is there--and the only thing there is the treadle. 50/50 chance on which direction you shoot. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif It is a purely ingrained habit we pick up when we learn to drive.
The most difficult part of learning to operate the PT is to unlearn that brake stomping habit while on the PT, yet retain it for those times when some clod pulls out in front of you in traffic. It takes some real seat time and engine hours, at least it did for me.
I would suggest that you contact Power Trac and talk to them before you do any modifying of the controls, which might void your warranty on those parts. For one thing, if the new design is a problem in the field, they need to know that, so they can address the issue properly.
You could also discuss with them exactly what it is that controls the treadle's self centering mechanism and how it might best be adjusted or changed.
Good luck, and tell your daughter she is now a member in good standing of a fairly large club. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
SnowRidge
Sounds like a close call. It's good to hear nobody was hurt and your PT wasn't damaged.
I haven't seen the new hydraulic treadle controls, so I don't know how much more sensitive it is than the old cable model, which I have, but I'm not sure that what happened to you isn't more a function of the PT's steep learning curve than a sensitive treadle.
PTs treadle control is quite a bit different than anything most of us have experience with. There is no dedicated brake pedal to stomp on in an emergency, but when things get sticky, there is a tendency to stomp on whatever is there--and the only thing there is the treadle. 50/50 chance on which direction you shoot. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif It is a purely ingrained habit we pick up when we learn to drive.
The most difficult part of learning to operate the PT is to unlearn that brake stomping habit while on the PT, yet retain it for those times when some clod pulls out in front of you in traffic. It takes some real seat time and engine hours, at least it did for me.
I would suggest that you contact Power Trac and talk to them before you do any modifying of the controls, which might void your warranty on those parts. For one thing, if the new design is a problem in the field, they need to know that, so they can address the issue properly.
You could also discuss with them exactly what it is that controls the treadle's self centering mechanism and how it might best be adjusted or changed.
Good luck, and tell your daughter she is now a member in good standing of a fairly large club. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
SnowRidge
