Goodbye Kubota, Hello Power Trac

[MossRoad]

Re: The Chalkley Syndrome: Power Trac 1845

As a recovering MCS patient I'll admit that I had to go through a 12 step program and several weeks of withdrawl after settling on the smaller PT425, but my family has a father and husband again/w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif.

Start up a seperate post on your 1845. I can't wait. Sounds like you have similar attachments to make, as I do. Yours will just be bigger, heavier and even more capable than mine.

Congratulations on a great machine!

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Re: The Chalkley Syndrome: Power Trac 1845

Paul:
Power Trac has an adapter for pushing aircraft, backing trailers into spaces, etc. It is merely a 2" Reese-type receiver welded to one of their quick attach adapter plates. I have ordered an extra adapter plate, and planned to weld my own. MossRoad's post may be a better idea, however. Welding up a receiver to a bolt-on plate or frame may keep the $150 Quick Attach plate useful for other applications, as well.
I forgot to mention, a brother has an old non-functional fork lift. I will be doing some measurelents and cogitating how to mount its adjustable-width forks to the quick attach plate.
If we keep this up, Power Trac may be able to sell the machines at cost and make their profit on quick attach plates. Even with a bolt up plan, I think I'll need a couple more.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Re: The Chalkley Syndrome: Power Trac 1845

Perhaps the Chalkley Syndrome is the only diagnosis other than pregnancy for which the patient receives congratulations. Come to think of it, however, that's a thought I'd rather not pursue further.

 

[MossRoad]

Re: The Chalkley Syndrome: Power Trac 1845

I don't know. Take a look at all of the pictures posted on this site of people with their new tractor. I hate to say it, but they probably have the same silly grin as they do with the pictures of their newly born children in the hospital. /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Re: The Chalkley Syndrome: Power Trac 1845

Probably some other parallels, too. I suspect we can count on the members of this list to point out a few.

 

[MossRoad]

Re: The Chalkley Syndrome: Power Trac 1845

I took another look at the quick attach plate. You cannot bolt anything to it directly, as the back of the plate has to remain smooth to accept the male plate that is permanently attached to the tractor. To get around this, you could either weld some studs to the plate, or maybe some heavy box tubing and bolt to those. Anyway, I'll be experimenting over the next few months.

 

[MChalkley]

Re: The Chalkley Syndrome: Power Trac 1845

Charlie - Congratulations!!!!! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

As for the comparison to pregnancy, there's not much difference. Except that, for us males, anyway, giving birth is a lot easier with real kids. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

The main thing it seems you've proven in all this is that the "Chalkley Syndrome", as you've named it, is contagious. (I keep getting stuff named after me. First Harv with the cup, and now you with a tractor-purchasing-related syndrome. I hope this isn't the beginning of a trend. Hmmm...) I thought my "syndrome" was purely a one-of-a-kind sort of thing that you either have or don't.

 

[MChalkley]

Re: The Chalkley Syndrome: Power Trac 1845

Charlie - Ok, time for a more detailed response...

First things first: <font color=blue>Mark Chalkley, if you’re still reading this, I almost bought an electric/hydraulic valve that Power Trac bought for your project and still has on a shelf.</font color=blue> I don't understand. Why did they buy a valve for "my project"? I'm trying to remember, but the 2465 I almost bought already had an electric/hydraulic valve on it for the 4-in-1 before they ever met me. Is it for something else that I gave them the idea for? /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

Did you talk to Chris? I guess I should call him. The last time I talked with him, he was going to double-check some prices and get back with me. Then, I called to tell him I'd decided to get an EarthForce machine, but he wasn't in, so I just left a message - never heard from him.

That 1845 is an awesome machine! Once you get that thing, ou're going to be hard to live with around here! I'd say it was an excellent purchase, considering your needs. Besides, like you said, how can you pass up $6k in savings. I mean, that's $6,000 you can go spend on something else you need, now. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

FWIW, I've never known "buyers remorse" to be a complication of "Chalkley Syndrome". If you experience that, you've got something else, or are experiencing even further degeneration than you realize. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Re: The Chalkley Syndrome: Power Trac 1845

Mark:
I was dealing with Terry, not Chris, who was away at a show. I was talking through possible ways to mount another electrically controlled valve to plumb the main PTO hydraulics to the 4 in 1 and control it with a rocker switch on the joystick. (I concluded that it will work, but I have nothing to lose by using the already-available aux PTO for a while to see how I like it. It will be clumsy, with an open/close lever by my right knee, requiring release of the joystick or the wheel, but may work OK until I decide how best to modify it.)
Terry told me that they had what might be just the valve I was talking about, which had been bought for a customer who ultimaely didn't buy the machine. I mentioned your name, and he said he thought it was correct. My assumption, perhaps totally wrong, was that it was to plumb the W.R. Long 4 in 1 to the loader hydraulics similarly to the setup on your Kubota. Maybe I did too much assuming and not enough fact gathering.
Incidentally, I told Terry that you hav bought the bigger, heavier Earth Force, but still highly recommended Power Trac.
So far, I have not come across an owner who hasn't recommended the machines highly. Most I have talked to have been commercial landscapers, some with more than one Power Trac. They won't match your EF5, but the 24 series give the smaller EF's a run. When next I need to dig a hole, I'll rent an EF from Folcomer.
Incidentally, the thing that finally sold me on the 1845 rather than the 1430 was its effortless power. Similar to your description on the EF, it simply didn't seem to have any load a all as I cheerfully bulldozed Power-Trac's hard gravel road into a mogul. Terry seemed pleased rather than irritated, and explained how smooth I could make it all again by back dragging the blade. He advised that the machine would also effortlessly peel up the adjoining blacktop, but asked that I not do that.
Finally, although still Deutz loud, the 1845 is quieter than the smaller 1430. As to the latter, Chris told me that they are talking about experimenting with a supplemental muffler and some engine compartment sound pads, but the air/oil cooled Deutz will inevitably be a bit louder than water jacketed machines.
In a couple of weeks, I'll post first impressions, and hopefully not buyer's remorse.

 

[MossRoad]

Re: The Chalkley Syndrome: Power Trac 1845

The aux pto control down by my knee is not too bad, but you are right. A thumb lever on the joystick would be so much handier for angling equipment or controlling the jaws on a 4 in one or grapple.