Center Section Rebuild

Red Zebra · Jul 4, 2008

Right, The bottom is tight....the play is in the upper control arm/joint.

marrt · Jul 4, 2008

First, ensure the upper arm is moving forward and backward, not up and down. I had a "thunk" in my arm and determined the arm was moving up and down. I determined this by jacking up the rear of the tractor until I could move the arm freely. You can also take the center cover off and "feel" the arm while travelling over bumpy terrain or lifting something with the bucket. I placed a thin washer on top of the arm in the front position and fixed the problem.

Red Zebra · Jul 6, 2008

Thanks Marrt. I'll give it a look.

Red Zebra · Sep 6, 2008

FYI for anybody getting the upper control arm "thunk"....it was a loose bolt. The one next to the zerk fitting. Duh! I should have checked this before posting the first time. I've had it tightened up for a while and just didn't get a chance to post.

SnowRidge · Sep 6, 2008

I had the thunk. I could also move the control arm Marrt mentioned up and down, but when I tightened the lower nut, the thunk went away. I can still move the upper arm, but I am thunk free, at least for the moment. Different strokes for different machines, I guess.

Bob999 · Sep 7, 2008

It would be very helpful for posts to mention the model of PT they refer to--at a minimum profiles should list the model owned. Marrt has an 1845 according to the profile. Red Zebra's profile does not list a PT. SnowRidge owns a 425 according to his profile. I am posting this here because it is my understanding that the center section is not identical on all models of PT.

woodlandfarms · Sep 7, 2008

And your tractor is? ;-)

I know it is an 1845 but I did not see it on the front page. Also, maybe there is a way to clarify what "generation" of PT you have. I think that there would be 2 generations of the 1845 /50 lineup, right? Maybe 3? The first generation, with the odd front lift arms, the second that had the cable tram control, and the third (current) with hydraulic tram control? Or is it only 2.... Or does it matter?

SnowRidge · Sep 7, 2008

woodlandfarms said:
Also, maybe there is a way to clarify what "generation" of PT you have.

Specifying a PT's "generation" is extremely problematic, since Power Trac itself does not seem to have any particular criteria for identifying changes, which are not infrequent. If they do maintain such data, they certainly don't publicize it.

For example, PT-425s alone have had major changes to the following:

Lift height
Wheel motor torque and maker
Fuel tank material
Fuel tank location
Pump location
Engine brand
Treadle control mechanism
Muffler type and maker
Muffler location
Exhaust direction
Rollover arm design
Battery location

Some of these changes have been permanent. At least one or two have been back and forth. There surely have been other changes that I am unaware of.

Absent some sort of official nomenclature for these changes, it is very difficult to categorize a machine as being a particular generation, especially since newer owners may be completely unaware of how older machines were put together.