Can I touch your PT?

[Tractors4u]

Add me to your 'few'!! After considering the noise, the smell, the special fuel, the higher purchase price, the higher maintenance cost, the higher replacement cost, the heavier weigh, the larger size, etc, I think that it is hard to justify getting a diesel for most residential or even light commercial work!!

Noise, I think it depends on the diesel, I have a 32hp diesel CUT and would much rather hear it than my 18hp gas lawnmower. It isn't as loud.

Smell, mine exhausts out the bottom, I rarely smell the exhaust and I would think with a rear engined PT you wouldn't smell it that often.

Special Fuel, most reseidential types are already dealing with special fuels that they have to mix for their weedwhacker, chain saw, leaf blower, etc. While diesel is more a expensive fuel right now, a diesel engine sips fuel compared to a gas engine. I wish my lawnmower was diesel right now.

Higher maintenance cost. Hmmm, not sure what maintenance costs you could be talking about, maybe higher priced oil or fuel filters.

Yes a diesel powered vehicle, tractor, etc will cost more. That is for sure, I think that they cost too much more, but they will last longer and while you could buy extra engines for the cost of the diesel, I would rather deal with a longer lasting low maintenance engine to begine with.

Heavier/Larger Size. Diesels are not limited to large tractors, my first diesel tractor was a Bolens G152 that weighed around 1200-1300 pounds. Of course Deere and Kubota have a few lawn tractors that are diesel. I am intrigued by the PTs and would love to see something like the PT425 in a diesel. I have contemplated getting one someday to to compliment to my conventional CUT, but I would want a diesel.

 

[MossRoad]

I might have been tempted to get a diesel if it came in the PT400 series frame size IF I lived in a warmer climate(although, our winters are getting pretty mild now). The only experiences I have had with diesels in winter were bad ones and related to cold weather starting. I have never failed to get a gas engine to run in minus 0 conditions, but have had plenty of diesel "no go" situations... and that is when I really need my tractor to run... when it is howling cold, snow across the drive and I have to go earn my bacon getting product out to a hundred thousand customers.

 

[Tractors4u]

I know what you mean MossRoad. My 96 F250 Diesel had the glow plugs finally give out last year at just under 200,000 miles. I kept procrastinating about taking it to the shop for new plugs. Even in our mild north Alabama climate, during the winter I had to plug the block heater up at night to ensure it would start in the morning. With hot glow plugs I have never had a problem. I know you guys further north have harsher winters than we do. My experience with winter starts has been dependent on the brand of diesel. I had a little Yanmar 18hp 2 cylinder that had NO kind of cold weather starting aid and I saw it start on the first try within seconds of turning the key at 28 degrees. I had a few Hinomotos that required the glow plugs to start them first thing in the morning in summertime. A 1995 GMC 6.5l diesel I had was the same way. First start of the day always required letting the glow plugs do their thing. With the F250, it will start on most days unless it gets really cold. My 32hp Deere with a Yanmar diesel has only seen the glow plugs used once and that was to make sure the glow plug light worked.

 

[ClintBlake]

I have to admit, that diesel is a little loud and smelly.

Yes, but once you get hooked on the smell, there is nothing like it. You definitely do not buy a diesel for economy.

 

[FOURTEEN]

Yes a diesel powered vehicle, tractor, etc will cost more. That is for sure, I think that they cost too much more, but they will last longer and while you could buy extra engines for the cost of the diesel, I would rather deal with a longer lasting low maintenance engine to begine with.

Heavier/Larger Size. Diesels are not limited to large tractors.

Very few residential owners will ever have to replace a gas engine in their PT. (One PT poster changed his gas engine after 10 years for about $1,000.) I wouldn't spend $6,000 extra for a PT-1430 to maybe save $1,000 10 years from now!! And this is based on the myth that diesels last forever!
Every lawn mower and lawn tractor that I have owned over the years was replaced because it was worn out, but their gas engines still ran fine!


I was comparing the size and weigh of a PT-425 versus a PT-1430!

 

[Tractors4u]

And this is based on the myth that diesels last forever!
Every lawn mower and lawn tractor that I have owned over the years was replaced because it was worn out, but their gas engines still ran fine!


I was comparing the size and weigh of a PT-425 versus a PT-1430!

I never said that they last forever! I said they last longer! Colectively speaking, I don't think that is a myth, but rather an undeniable truth! Sure from time to time you will have a gasoline engine that will run for years or rack up an incredible number of miles, but on average, a comparablely sized diesel engine will outlast it!

 

[MossRoad]

Ford 8N, arguably the best selling tractor ever... 50 year old gas engines.
Farmall H, second best selling tractor ever... 50 year old gas engines.
Power Trac 400 series tractors... O.K., I won't attempt to make that leap.

 

[kmaz]

well guys, I finally got over to see "scarg", a past frequent forum poster who lives in Argyle N.Y. What a beautiful hunk of land he's got!! Anyways he's got the 422 ..and although he's had his share of problems, he would get it again and after driving it Im making my plan to head down after thanksgiving week to pickup my 422 or a 425....their lies the dilema. I guess ill figure that one out there. I am a little dissapointed now to her about scotts departure, especially after reading how much he was involved with everything. Oh well that stuff happens.
I also once again would like to thank Steve, ("scarg") for taking the time to go over his 422.

Kris

 

[MossRoad]

Glad you got to see one in person. I had to do that to before making such a large purchase. It answers a lot of questions.