Disaster down below

Rick_Taylor · Apr 29, 2003

I managed to move the sick Green Machine to a spot that will allow loading onto a trailer for a trip to the welding shop. I hooked a chain to the rear pin and ran it underneath to the lift arms. I hooked the chain around the welded cross piece and just used the joystick to lift the center of the machine. I used a piece of PVC pipe to operate the pedals and walked along side as it drove itself out.

Still waiting on the part from PT. So far, so good. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

MossRoad · Apr 30, 2003

Hey, that's good news! Sounds pretty ingenious, too /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Charlie_Iliff · Apr 30, 2003

Great solution to get it to a trailer.
I doubt the replacement time is Terry's 10 min, but a welding shop should make pretty short work of it.
Back in business by the weekend?

Rick_Taylor · Apr 30, 2003

I NEED to be back in business asap but I'm still waiting on the complete joint from PT. Unfortunatly in my business our weekend is the busy time and it starts on Friday. It will most likely be Monday before I get it fixed.

I can't belive how dependant I've become on the PT. We have a NH Boomer tractor w/ FEL, box blade, and Brush Hog, and a ZTR commercial mower, but the PT with all it's attachments has been the 'goto' guy for most projects. I try to keep the mower for mowing just the nice grass. The tractor is fine for heavy work but it's weight leaves ruts in our soft soil. The PT can do most tractor jobs and is turf and earth friendly. The little 4' bush hog is REALLY tough. I have nothing to backup it's auger, and we're really missing the extra mower this time of year. Maybe in another week this will all be over.

Thanks to all for your concern and helpful ideas.

Rick_Taylor · May 8, 2003

Well the little green machine is back in business. We picked it up from the welding shop this afternoon. After about an hours time it appears to be working fine but I can detect some movement in the joint. I greased the new joint when I got it home but it may need some more. I'm using the machine but you can bet I'm being VERRRRY alert to anything out of the ordinary. Maybe I'm paranoid now but.........

Anonymous Poster · May 9, 2003

congradulations on your tractor being back in service /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Daivd

duane · May 9, 2003

Rick,

I'm glad it's back in service for you. Any details from the welders on how the repair went. How does it look, good as new? Also interested in whether you can see any type of defect in the original heim joint where it failed.

Duane

Rick_Taylor · May 10, 2003

The new weld could have been prettier but it seems to be holding. I need to order some touch-up paint from PT. There were two spots , one on either side of the old joint that appear to have been older cracks (see the picture attached to my original post). I'm wondering, does anyone else experience a shock or wham when the steering travel stops abruptly at full lock? I experience this when mowing around trees. I have also noticed a paint scrape on one side of the foward section, near where it would contact the steering cylinder at full lock.

I'm wondering about glueing some rubber bumpers onto the bang points where the front and rear sections come together at full lock. Those might absorb some of the shock and maybe prevent this from happinening again. You can bet I'm going to be much gentler turning from now on.

Charlie_Iliff · May 10, 2003

Rick:
I have noticed a similar shock sometimes at full lock, and also have some contact marks on my 1845. You may be right that it's a contributer, but it sounds as if a weld problem led to cracks and weakening which shouldn't recur.
You'll get over babying it - Power Tracs just demand to be run hard, so as to outwork all the BX's out there.
(That should get a rise out of TresCrows /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

MossRoad · May 10, 2003

<font color="blue"> I have also noticed a paint scrape on one side of the foward section, near where it would contact the steering cylinder at full lock. </font>

Would it be possible to get a picture of that scrape area, so we soucl check it out on our machines? It would be much appreciated.

I haven't noticed any shock or bump when getting to the lock.