HRDS
New member
Both look even
Does my PT Mow as good as a Ventrac or Steiner?
- Thread starter pequeajim
- Start date
- Views: 4858
HRDS
New member
Both look even
Barryh
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2005
- Messages
- 1,588
- Tractor
- Former owner of a P T -180 / Kubota BX-1500 .. A Craftsman Yard Tractor / John Deere 140 H-1 / Cub Cadet 108. And now ( Little Red ) a Power Trac 1425
Looks pretty comparable. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Barryh
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2005
- Messages
- 1,588
- Tractor
- Former owner of a P T -180 / Kubota BX-1500 .. A Craftsman Yard Tractor / John Deere 140 H-1 / Cub Cadet 108. And now ( Little Red ) a Power Trac 1425
Looks pretty comparable. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
This is not a comparison of the Ventrac vs. the 425, but rather the results of mowing with each manufacturer's 60" mowing deck. Both are finishing decks.
Also, I can speak from experience because I own a 425, and previously owned a Ventrac 4000 and then 4200 like Danny's.
About the mowing results.
Ventrac 60" Finishing Deck
Likes
- Very clean cut
- BIG anti-scalping roller in the back of the deck.
- Deck rolls smoother
- Easier to adjust height, (takes about 10 seconds)
- Can cut lower
Dislikes
- Big and heavy, (don't hit anything!)
- You should use the weight distribution system, and when doing so, it tends to float over low spots when going fast, not cutting all the grass on the low spot.
- Flip up was a welcome change, but can be hard to work with. Don't let the deck slip or you could lose a finger or foot.
- Belt driven. Hit something really solid and you break a blade or spindle.
Power Trac 60" Finishing Deck
Likes
- Good clean cut
- Easily lifts up with FEL arms for cleaning, takes 5 seconds
- Lightweight, but very well made
- No side discharge so I can cut close on either side of the deck.
- Floats very well on my rolling landscape
- Hydraulic driven PTO, easier on your deck and blades if you hit something.
Dislikes
- Cheap castering wheels, had to replace them with solid rubber wheels.
- Takes too long to adjust the cut height, (need tools to do it)
- Can scalp if you're not careful
- Has a very slight tendency to windrow when cutting higher grass.
- Bouncy and noisy
Conclusion:
The Ventrac deck is a better overall deck, cuts slightly better and adjusts easier. The antiscalping roll is a plus to help keep the bald spots out of your yard.
Bottom Line:
Overall the PT has done a great job of cutting my grass. Remember, you buy a tractor for ALL the things that it can do for you and every one has it's strengths and weaknesses. But, my two biggest questions when I was thinking about a PT was:
1. How does it cut?
2. How does it work on slopes.
There are a lot of arguments for both tractors plus and minus, but in the end, when you are talking about the quality of the cut, looking at Danny's yard and then mine side by side, they are so close, you would hardly know the difference.
So, if you have any doubts about the quality of the cut with the PT 60" deck, dont... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Also, I can speak from experience because I own a 425, and previously owned a Ventrac 4000 and then 4200 like Danny's.
About the mowing results.
Ventrac 60" Finishing Deck
Likes
- Very clean cut
- BIG anti-scalping roller in the back of the deck.
- Deck rolls smoother
- Easier to adjust height, (takes about 10 seconds)
- Can cut lower
Dislikes
- Big and heavy, (don't hit anything!)
- You should use the weight distribution system, and when doing so, it tends to float over low spots when going fast, not cutting all the grass on the low spot.
- Flip up was a welcome change, but can be hard to work with. Don't let the deck slip or you could lose a finger or foot.
- Belt driven. Hit something really solid and you break a blade or spindle.
Power Trac 60" Finishing Deck
Likes
- Good clean cut
- Easily lifts up with FEL arms for cleaning, takes 5 seconds
- Lightweight, but very well made
- No side discharge so I can cut close on either side of the deck.
- Floats very well on my rolling landscape
- Hydraulic driven PTO, easier on your deck and blades if you hit something.
Dislikes
- Cheap castering wheels, had to replace them with solid rubber wheels.
- Takes too long to adjust the cut height, (need tools to do it)
- Can scalp if you're not careful
- Has a very slight tendency to windrow when cutting higher grass.
- Bouncy and noisy
Conclusion:
The Ventrac deck is a better overall deck, cuts slightly better and adjusts easier. The antiscalping roll is a plus to help keep the bald spots out of your yard.
Bottom Line:
Overall the PT has done a great job of cutting my grass. Remember, you buy a tractor for ALL the things that it can do for you and every one has it's strengths and weaknesses. But, my two biggest questions when I was thinking about a PT was:
1. How does it cut?
2. How does it work on slopes.
There are a lot of arguments for both tractors plus and minus, but in the end, when you are talking about the quality of the cut, looking at Danny's yard and then mine side by side, they are so close, you would hardly know the difference.
So, if you have any doubts about the quality of the cut with the PT 60" deck, dont... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
This is not a comparison of the Ventrac vs. the 425, but rather the results of mowing with each manufacturer's 60" mowing deck. Both are finishing decks.
Also, I can speak from experience because I own a 425, and previously owned a Ventrac 4000 and then 4200 like Danny's.
About the mowing results.
Ventrac 60" Finishing Deck
Likes
- Very clean cut
- BIG anti-scalping roller in the back of the deck.
- Deck rolls smoother
- Easier to adjust height, (takes about 10 seconds)
- Can cut lower
Dislikes
- Big and heavy, (don't hit anything!)
- You should use the weight distribution system, and when doing so, it tends to float over low spots when going fast, not cutting all the grass on the low spot.
- Flip up was a welcome change, but can be hard to work with. Don't let the deck slip or you could lose a finger or foot.
- Belt driven. Hit something really solid and you break a blade or spindle.
Power Trac 60" Finishing Deck
Likes
- Good clean cut
- Easily lifts up with FEL arms for cleaning, takes 5 seconds
- Lightweight, but very well made
- No side discharge so I can cut close on either side of the deck.
- Floats very well on my rolling landscape
- Hydraulic driven PTO, easier on your deck and blades if you hit something.
Dislikes
- Cheap castering wheels, had to replace them with solid rubber wheels.
- Takes too long to adjust the cut height, (need tools to do it)
- Can scalp if you're not careful
- Has a very slight tendency to windrow when cutting higher grass.
- Bouncy and noisy
Conclusion:
The Ventrac deck is a better overall deck, cuts slightly better and adjusts easier. The antiscalping roll is a plus to help keep the bald spots out of your yard.
Bottom Line:
Overall the PT has done a great job of cutting my grass. Remember, you buy a tractor for ALL the things that it can do for you and every one has it's strengths and weaknesses. But, my two biggest questions when I was thinking about a PT was:
1. How does it cut?
2. How does it work on slopes.
There are a lot of arguments for both tractors plus and minus, but in the end, when you are talking about the quality of the cut, looking at Danny's yard and then mine side by side, they are so close, you would hardly know the difference.
So, if you have any doubts about the quality of the cut with the PT 60" deck, dont... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Also, I can speak from experience because I own a 425, and previously owned a Ventrac 4000 and then 4200 like Danny's.
About the mowing results.
Ventrac 60" Finishing Deck
Likes
- Very clean cut
- BIG anti-scalping roller in the back of the deck.
- Deck rolls smoother
- Easier to adjust height, (takes about 10 seconds)
- Can cut lower
Dislikes
- Big and heavy, (don't hit anything!)
- You should use the weight distribution system, and when doing so, it tends to float over low spots when going fast, not cutting all the grass on the low spot.
- Flip up was a welcome change, but can be hard to work with. Don't let the deck slip or you could lose a finger or foot.
- Belt driven. Hit something really solid and you break a blade or spindle.
Power Trac 60" Finishing Deck
Likes
- Good clean cut
- Easily lifts up with FEL arms for cleaning, takes 5 seconds
- Lightweight, but very well made
- No side discharge so I can cut close on either side of the deck.
- Floats very well on my rolling landscape
- Hydraulic driven PTO, easier on your deck and blades if you hit something.
Dislikes
- Cheap castering wheels, had to replace them with solid rubber wheels.
- Takes too long to adjust the cut height, (need tools to do it)
- Can scalp if you're not careful
- Has a very slight tendency to windrow when cutting higher grass.
- Bouncy and noisy
Conclusion:
The Ventrac deck is a better overall deck, cuts slightly better and adjusts easier. The antiscalping roll is a plus to help keep the bald spots out of your yard.
Bottom Line:
Overall the PT has done a great job of cutting my grass. Remember, you buy a tractor for ALL the things that it can do for you and every one has it's strengths and weaknesses. But, my two biggest questions when I was thinking about a PT was:
1. How does it cut?
2. How does it work on slopes.
There are a lot of arguments for both tractors plus and minus, but in the end, when you are talking about the quality of the cut, looking at Danny's yard and then mine side by side, they are so close, you would hardly know the difference.
So, if you have any doubts about the quality of the cut with the PT 60" deck, dont... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Both look even
)</font>
Yes, they do, and even more so when you actually look at them in real life. My pattern of cut is slightly different which will cause an overstripe on half of my yard. THat has nothing to do with the deck.
)</font>
Yes, they do, and even more so when you actually look at them in real life. My pattern of cut is slightly different which will cause an overstripe on half of my yard. THat has nothing to do with the deck.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Both look even
)</font>
Yes, they do, and even more so when you actually look at them in real life. My pattern of cut is slightly different which will cause an overstripe on half of my yard. THat has nothing to do with the deck.
)</font>
Yes, they do, and even more so when you actually look at them in real life. My pattern of cut is slightly different which will cause an overstripe on half of my yard. THat has nothing to do with the deck.
Marks481
Platinum Member
- Joined
- May 29, 2005
- Messages
- 978
- Tractor
- Power Trac 422 (2005)
The cheap castering wheels hit is probably not valid, since PT now ships the decks with a quality rubber inflated wheel that I have never had problems with.
My chief complaint is the crummy plastic rear wheels on the deck. I wish they were castered; if I make the mistake of turning the steering wheel with the PT stopped, they will rip up the lawn. Not a problem if you are moving, so maybe it is just a comment on what happens until you practice enough to get good. I still wish they were castered.
You consider the PT deck to be lightweight? Wow, the ventrac deck must be built like a tank.
My chief complaint is the crummy plastic rear wheels on the deck. I wish they were castered; if I make the mistake of turning the steering wheel with the PT stopped, they will rip up the lawn. Not a problem if you are moving, so maybe it is just a comment on what happens until you practice enough to get good. I still wish they were castered.
You consider the PT deck to be lightweight? Wow, the ventrac deck must be built like a tank.
Marks481
Platinum Member
- Joined
- May 29, 2005
- Messages
- 978
- Tractor
- Power Trac 422 (2005)
The cheap castering wheels hit is probably not valid, since PT now ships the decks with a quality rubber inflated wheel that I have never had problems with.
My chief complaint is the crummy plastic rear wheels on the deck. I wish they were castered; if I make the mistake of turning the steering wheel with the PT stopped, they will rip up the lawn. Not a problem if you are moving, so maybe it is just a comment on what happens until you practice enough to get good. I still wish they were castered.
You consider the PT deck to be lightweight? Wow, the ventrac deck must be built like a tank.
My chief complaint is the crummy plastic rear wheels on the deck. I wish they were castered; if I make the mistake of turning the steering wheel with the PT stopped, they will rip up the lawn. Not a problem if you are moving, so maybe it is just a comment on what happens until you practice enough to get good. I still wish they were castered.
You consider the PT deck to be lightweight? Wow, the ventrac deck must be built like a tank.