CUT vs PT

Charlie_Iliff · May 3, 2004

A typical Spring weekend afternoon with the Power Trac:
Started about 1:00 PM, Sunday. Trammed a mile each way to till a garden patch for my brother because our antique JD tiller had finally lunched its gearbox. Switched to Lackender hoe and dug up a bunch of stubborn decorative bush roots to make way for the newer, better decorative bushes. (This was in a tight area with a 6' section of fence removed - requiring a 90 degree turn within 7' after the fence - and other decorative bushes to avoid) Switched back to tiller and tilled the bush area, switched to large bucket and carried a bunch of new potted bushes to the staging area for planting, switched to the 4 n 1 to remove the heavy root balls of the old bushes to a dump area. Mowed lawn with Exmark walkbehind.
I suspect that if I had CUT rather than the PT, I'd have gotten the first bit of tilling done, and then postponed the rest until the weather or something was better. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

(Can't let this thread die, can we?)

smartguyz · May 3, 2004

OK, now that Charlie has started us off again, here's a typical day for my property:

Did some hand weeding - using the large bucket on the PT425 as a big yard cart - carted off the remains to the compost pile. Switched to the 'ultimate sprayer', filled up with herbicide, and then went '4-wheeling' up to spray some errant weed piles that are unreachable by any other method (on top of some terraced slopes). Switched to the 48" finish mower, did the grassy areas. Switched to the brush hog and cleared a number of weedy patches, and then went to the forest and cleared out a walking path and a picnic and play area - took down blackberry brambles that were, in some cases, 6-7 feet high. Pulled out the pressure washer and leaf blower and cleaned up the PT. Done for the day.

I suspect that I would have mowed the lawn and perhaps done a bit of spraying with a CUT and be done for the day. One reason is that with Spring here, the grass is so wet that it clumps up on the deck - with the PT, just lift the deck (brace with a 4x4 timber) and then pressure wash the bottom. Done. With the CUT, woe be it to those who need to clean the deck undersides. Usually, I needed to either put the tractor up on ramps, or drag the deck out (GRUNT) and then prop it up and scrape and hose it down. (GRUNT) Plus, there is NO way to get the sprayer to certain areas of the property if you are towing it. Even an ATV model would be hard pressed.

I agree, the PT is MUCH more industrious where you need to do multiple things in the day. I shudder when I consider what I needed to do on even the honorable JD318 to swap out the deck, the sprayer, and the FEL. No wonder it sits waiting for me to sell it.

Sincerely,

Rob /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

pajoube · May 3, 2004

I ended up renting an asphault cutter and cutting a three foot strip out from the front of the garages (42 ft). This had a sink hole under neath that needed to be corrected. I used the forks on the 425 to lift the 4 to 5 inch thick slabs out. 425 handled without any problem.
PJ

IrTxRx · May 3, 2004

Charlie,

Am i correct in understanding that with your 1845 you turned around / manuevered in a less than 10' X 10' area. I am having troulbe picturing your saturday worksite. Oh BTW my non-PT weekend was a lot sweatier, I am absolutely exhausted today and I didn't get anywhere near as much done. But it was still a great weekend and good kind of tired /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif.

It's OK with me if the thread doesn't die /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. i'll take all the info I can get.

I sent a PM to some PTers so I guess i'll post the question on the board.

Is the $2000-$2500 for me am my mechanic to attend the training in tazewell worth the extra cost (approx +/- 10% above base price of PT 1445 with mower and bucket)???

Thanks

Bob999 · May 3, 2004

<font color="red"> Is the $2000-$2500 for me am my mechanic to attend the training in tazewell worth the extra cost (approx +/- 10% above base price of PT 1445 with mower and bucket)??? </font>

No-- in my opinion. The training is a combination of an explanation of "how it works" combined with information on required maintenance and adjustments. While many of us have noted the "Manual" is very brief most of the info in the training is in the manual if you read/study it closely. The remainder can be gleaned from postings in this forum.

Charlie_Iliff · May 3, 2004

<font color="red"> Am i correct in understanding that with your 1845 you turned around / manuevered in a less than 10' X 10' area. </font>
Nope. I had a narrow opening in the fence alongside a 7' x 25' bed, so I had to go through and turn immediately. Once in, I could go forward and back a bit, then back out and reenter turning the other way. Although I could till the whole bed, I did have to leave some tire tracks to be raked out, since I couldn't back beyond the ends.

KevinFleming · May 3, 2004

I have a PT-1430 with a 72" finish mower and a 60" rough cut mower. They both cut beautifully, are very maneuverable, and are easy to clean. Good luck.

davesisk · May 3, 2004

I helped a neighbor cut down a tree. Used the PT with the front-hoe and thumb to pick up the tree so we could cut it up easily, then switched to the stump grinder and removed 5 small stumps for him. He climbed one of my trees with a ladder to cut out a broken top...I'm more than happy to trade that kind of work! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

pajoube · May 4, 2004

I would not attend the maintenance training unless I was going to Tazewell anyway. As far as taking a mechanic that is your choice but not worth the cost. It's basic training that allows you to ask questions but all information was in the manuals.
PJ

IrTxRx · May 5, 2004

thanks for the information about the training course. I'll buy sight unseen if I buy.

Another question -
One nice thing about a tractor is you can throw a chain around something very big and put the transmission in Low-Low & Go. It may take forever, but you can move a house off its foundations even with a smaller tractor (obviously assuming your wheels don't spin and you don't flip the tractor over backwards).

How well does a PT "tug" since it doesn't really have a range of gears/outputs???

As always,
Thank you for your input

BTW - recent price increases make the 1445 about %50 more expensive than a Century 43HP 4WD 12f/12r + FEL/BB/shredder I can get here in Texas. I am drawn to the PT (like a moth to a flame /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif) but am having a hard time justifying $9K more for a PT with similar lift capacity.