Buying Advice Considering Power Trac: Slopes and other questions

[woodlandfarms]

Saddly the Mattracks won't fly due to the way the PT turns. It has been discussed, and all of us drool over the thought.

 

[MossRoad]

I'm guessing you'd be disappointed with the boom mower for the 400 series. I've looked at it, and it just seems to be hanging out there and awkward to use. No personal experience. All just an eyeball guess. The larger one for the 1430 looks beefier and better balanced, but wow, that's expensive. I'd have to see it in person and operate it in some conditions before committing that kind of money.

Mattracks! Yeah, we've all drooled over those. :drool:

As Woodlandfarms says, they won't work due to that articulation of the machine. If you turn left, the left tires get closer together and vice versa. They may hit each other when nearing full steering lock side-to-side.

Which brings up a good time to mention the PT Pucker if you haven't already heard about it.

When a center articulated machine turns side-to-side, its center of gravity shifts. Greatly. And since the Power Tracs have stupid strong hydraulics, they can easily lift the rear of the machine off the ground if you have too large of a load on the FEL arms, like, oh, say, a bucket load of bricks to drop into the bed of your aluminum Ford. So you remove a few bricks, and a few more until you can now lift the bucket full of bricks without the rear end coming off the ground. And off you go down the driveway to your truck. As you approach the truck, you make a turn to one side and the machine tips forward on its nose, the bucket hits the ground and the rears come off the ground again. And you go and change your shorts cause the first time it happens to you it scares the poop out of you. :laughing:

We've all done it (tipped the tractor forward, not pooped our pants), but its something to be aware of. As you turn the machine from straight, it gets shorter, and the center of gravity shifts towards the side you are turning towards and away from the rear of the machine towards the front. As long as the bucket is only a few inches or a foot off the ground, its no big deal as it stops when the bucket hits the ground. But should you have the bucket high when moving, and you turn the wheel, the unit can and will tip forward violently and then you'll be wearing the steering wheel in your stomach, as the seat will flip forward with you buckled in it. And then maybe you'll smack the joystick into float and slam back down.

- So never travel with the bucket raised more than necessary.
- Always be aware of the PT Pucker factor.
- Know that the center of gravity changes as you turn the machine.
- Always wear your seat belt, always.

Best thing to do is soon after getting a machine like this, load up the bucket to the point where it will lift the rear off the ground, then remove some load until it sits. Then turn the wheel and experience the tip for yourself.

There's a link to a video on my website about moving a big log. It shows the right, rear coming off the ground and me not even noticing. Check it out.

Many times I've been working hard in the woods prying out stumps, lifting logs, etc... and looked to my right or left only to see the rear of the tractor sitting next to me, not behind me. You don't notice it because the operator is sitting on the front half of the machine and you don't feel the rear swinging.

 

[Egon]

For the steep areas another consideration.

 

[JonFields]

Thanks for the safety info. I take all that very seriously, take things slow, and don't take chances. Even being careful, one morning I went a little too far with my Z-turn and slide down a dew-covered slope. That scared me, and that same summer there was a very bad accident involving a Z-turn in our town, so I am scared enough to not take ANY chances at this point.

 

[JonFields]

As for the boom mower, yes it's quite pricey. However, if it worked, it could keep me off many of the slopes. The slopes are long, aren't that high, and there is flat land at the top and bottom. (They were formed by the creeks.) I could work from top and bottom. I've seen people use mini-excavators and boom mowers in a similar manner... Ultimately, I need to ask PT what their machines are rated for, and go from there....

On the Mattracks, I was only half serious, but I did wonder about the articulation and them touching. Makes you wonder how this can work on the BCS articulated tractor:

M3 Series - BCS Invictus K4��

As far as the Agria walk-behind brush mower.... I have seriously considered something like that too, and may still. I used to have a BCS walk behind tiller that could take different attachments, similar to the Agria. BCS is available in the US; I don't know about the Agria. There is also a purpose built walk behind like the Brown Brush Ox or Billy Goat. However, if I can find something that I can ride, that would be preferred as I am on the down side toward 60....

And on the topic of BCS, Agria etc, that brings me to my gripe about how the European market has so many more equipment choices for small loaders and articulated FWD tractors than we have. Avant, MultiOne, BCS, Antonio Carraro, etc. I don't understand why there isn't more of a market for these in the US. The ones that are imported are either very expensive and/or have limited in availability/service/attachments. The only domestic counterpart seems to be PT or Ventrac, with the latter being more for turf. There is the Gehl AL140, which used to just be a re-branded Avant, but it is $28K to start. It seems that the US market is limited to the conventional CUT design and nothing else.

I do like the simplicity and heavy-duty construction of PT. It reminds me of the original Wheel Horse (before sold to Toro). I still have my Dad's early 80s Wheel Horse and use it all the time. I can easily service it myself, and with proper maintenance it, and the old cast-iron Kohler will probably run as long as I can find parts....

 

[ponytug]

That's the advantage of the PT- they are very simple.

Europe has so many more because they have so many more small land holdings that are still profitable. Aside from specialty production, like say wasabi, most US farms have gone for economies of scale, and therefor large equipment.

I'm thankful to have Power-Trac, and very thankful to have my 1445. It has kept me safe on slopes and able to keep a small property maintained and improved.

If you know one end of a screwdriver from the other, I suspect that you will fall in love with the PT- most of us have.

All the best, Peter

 

[SpringHollow]

I bought the large boom mower for mine and never used it - I bought exactly for wiping out honey suckle, russian olive, and multiflora rose. The larger stems would be pushing its capability which is why I never used it. It really is meant for grass and weeds. I am looking at the chain saw attachments for larger trimmers for this purpose. I use glyphosate as well as basal bark herbicide on the multiflora rose and grape vines. I am at the point where I will start on the honeysuckle etc - currently, I will hit small ones. My bush hog would mow them down no problem but the I would be wiping out all of the small trees etc near them as well.

The Shindaiwa multi tool and a couple of their brush cutters accept their articulating chainsaw attachment and you can buy a stubby pole as well for them.

Ken

 

[SpringHollow]

Actually, not sure if they articulate - the sickle bar attachments do but I do not think the chainsaws do. The sickle bar would be hard pressed to do 1" or more.

If someone knows of an articulated chainsaw pole saw, please let me know since that would make ot easier to cut at ground level.

Ken

 

[MossRoad]

... Makes you wonder how this can work on the BCS articulated tractor:

M3 Series - BCS Invictus K4��

...

My guess is the machine either doesn't articulate as far as the Power Trac, OR, the sections aren't as close to each other as the Power Trac, OR, they hit each other and the manufacturer isn't telling us that. :laughing:

 

[MossRoad]

Im not sure what you mean by articulated chainsaw. Got anymore info?