broken frame on PT 422

[pajoube]

You should have no problem getting this fixed by PT. They are good to work with.
PJ

 

[toy]

Does your machine have two steering cylinders or just one? Seems like I read somewhere that they was just using one of the newer machines so I was just curious.

 

[duane]

Looks like the failure is in the heat affected zone (HAZ) around the weld. Common area for weldment failures. This area is very susceptible to cracking and subsequent failure. Although not a welding engineer, I suspect a welding process problem (too much heat) as the cause for the problem

 

[scarg]

Greetings Toy,

The 2004 PT 422 has only the one steering cylinder on the left side.

Thanks,

Steve

 

[toy]

That is what I was thinking but I wasn't for sure if it had changed on the 422 or just the 418 pt. When I read about them doing that I had a concern about it. With only one jack when you steer it it is exerting twice the force on the machine where the jacks are welded on as it would for a machine that had two jacks. I hope you can get it fixed without any problems. Have you called pt about it yet. I saw a pt418 the other day that I beleive is only 4 or 5 months old and it had two steering jacks and it also had a hydroulic quick attach, I don't know if the man that bought it had special ordered it that way or if they had made a change in the most recent model of the 418. keep us informed about your repair of the machine hope all goes well.

 

[BillCroasmun]

Hey Toy,
My 180 is only a couple months old and has one (left sided) steering cylinder and manual quick attachment plate. That's interesting to hear they did that one different. I wonder if PT will do some "customizing" if all it involves are upgrades that they do on other models. Since those types of customizations wouldn't require them to research/engineer/test anything special maybe they do. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[scarg]

Okay- I got a hold of PT in Tazwell. The frame is covered under warranty and if i ship the tractor to them they will fix it for free!!!

Let's see upstate NY to VA at least $500 each way for freight and I would have it back if a few weeks. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

PT says that this is caused by scooping up dirt with the bucket and puts stress on the frame.

At least 90% of the time that i move dirt in any form i use the 4:1 reverse drag method and that can't put anywhere near as much stress on the frame as driving in hard and fast.

Isn't that what the tractor is desiged to do though?

I would not recommend purchasing any tractor model below the 425 and which now that i had spent the extra money initially. We have one of these at the factory where i work and i checked out the differences today.

For one thing as most already know the 425 has two steering cylinders and they are located outside the frame. Another plus is that the 425 has two joints in the mid section in lieu of the 422's one joint.

Those are the obvious differences.

PT says that they have had only two of these failures with the 422 and mine is number 2.



I check my hour meter and there are about 134 hours on my model 422 at the time of the frame break.

 

[SnowRidge]

I guess I expected that they wouldn't pay for local labor to repair it. It's a shame, but what can you do.

I didn't realize the 422 only has a single articulation joint. There are a lot more differences between the various gas powered models than I realized.

 

[Marks481]

I am having a hard time picturing the difference here.

What do you mean by a "single articulation joint" vs. a "double articulation joint"?

My PT422 articulation joint is composed of two hinge points lined up vertically.

I don't know how you could do it any differently.

Somebody want to post a picture of their PT425 joint, and I will snap a picture of my PT422 joint tomorrow so we can compare.

Power Trac's version of "covered under warrenty" for a serious component failure is pretty troubling. I think you have the right to expect alot more of them then this.

 

[stray]

Here is a picture of the older 422 stearing cylinder set up or the 425's (new or old).