MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 58,111
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
To everyone...
Like any piece of power equipment, these things have to be respected. I read for close to a year before purchase, spoke with two commercial users of PT400 series tractors, test drove one and pretty well knew what to expect when it arrived at the loading dock. I was able to load the attachments into pickup tucks with the PT and load the tractor itself up the ramps into a pickup as well. I have always been extremely comfortable around machines and enjoy operating them. I drove hydraulically articulated tractors of this size for 6 years between 1980 and 1986 while working at the airport (see these pictures) so it was like getting on a bike for me. But I was still impressed with the power and responsiveness of the hydraulics.
A few things to watch out for...
When you get in and out, turn off the tractor and set the brakes or you will eventually either run yourself over, pinch your legs between the two sections, or damage some property.
When you lift things with the bucket, the bucket is not self leveling. It goes up fast! Logs, dirt and debris can and will roll out of the rear of the bucket and come at you if you do not control the roll of the bucket with the joystick as you raise it. Be wary of this as you put the tractor through its paces or show off for friends or have someone else operate it without any experience. I've had a couple laps full of dirt. Enough to fill my shoes. I was not impressed with my lack of self discipline at those moments. I was just happy that there wasn't a boulder to land in my crotch... seriously, it could hit the steering wheel and crush your chest, so be careful /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
The forks can be used as a catapult. At the extreme ends of their travel, their speed increases greatly. Enough that it is posssible to toss railroad ties 10-12 feet away from the tractor, or up onto the canopy, and again, into your lap. Think of them as flippers on a pinball machine. They are that fast at the end of the stroke.
One off the tradeoffs of extremely powerful and responsive hydraulics is they leave little room for error. Take the time to get use to it gradually and don't let other folks drive it without some training. The PT is a little beast that will bite you if you are not careful. I rank it's danger level right up there with any power tool. Common sense, caution and a learning curve are required... off my sopabox. Now go enjoy your new tool. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Like any piece of power equipment, these things have to be respected. I read for close to a year before purchase, spoke with two commercial users of PT400 series tractors, test drove one and pretty well knew what to expect when it arrived at the loading dock. I was able to load the attachments into pickup tucks with the PT and load the tractor itself up the ramps into a pickup as well. I have always been extremely comfortable around machines and enjoy operating them. I drove hydraulically articulated tractors of this size for 6 years between 1980 and 1986 while working at the airport (see these pictures) so it was like getting on a bike for me. But I was still impressed with the power and responsiveness of the hydraulics.
A few things to watch out for...
When you get in and out, turn off the tractor and set the brakes or you will eventually either run yourself over, pinch your legs between the two sections, or damage some property.
When you lift things with the bucket, the bucket is not self leveling. It goes up fast! Logs, dirt and debris can and will roll out of the rear of the bucket and come at you if you do not control the roll of the bucket with the joystick as you raise it. Be wary of this as you put the tractor through its paces or show off for friends or have someone else operate it without any experience. I've had a couple laps full of dirt. Enough to fill my shoes. I was not impressed with my lack of self discipline at those moments. I was just happy that there wasn't a boulder to land in my crotch... seriously, it could hit the steering wheel and crush your chest, so be careful /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
The forks can be used as a catapult. At the extreme ends of their travel, their speed increases greatly. Enough that it is posssible to toss railroad ties 10-12 feet away from the tractor, or up onto the canopy, and again, into your lap. Think of them as flippers on a pinball machine. They are that fast at the end of the stroke.
One off the tradeoffs of extremely powerful and responsive hydraulics is they leave little room for error. Take the time to get use to it gradually and don't let other folks drive it without some training. The PT is a little beast that will bite you if you are not careful. I rank it's danger level right up there with any power tool. Common sense, caution and a learning curve are required... off my sopabox. Now go enjoy your new tool. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
