Oil & Fuel How about a diesel PT425?

Gravy · Jan 31, 2006

Here's a teaser for you: http://www.tradekey.com/product_view/id/7830.htm

Looks like it might fit, but as far as I can tell it's not imported to the US yet. Of course, quality and parts availability might be an issue, too...

Gravy

KentT · Jan 31, 2006

Here's another, that's available now:

Briggs & Stratton

Probably made by Daihatsu, who jointly manufactures the OHV Vanguard gas engines... Also, these are 3600 RPM diesels.

MossRoad · Feb 1, 2006

Hey, those look like the same tires on a PT425.

MossRoad · Feb 1, 2006

To heck with diesels....

Click here!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

pequeajim · Feb 1, 2006

I had that 26.5 HP engine in my first Ventrac. It was the only thing on that first tractor that worked right out of the gate. Ran like a champ with LOTS of torque!

Fortunately Ventrac worked out the wrinkles and make a very fine tractor. They now put a turbo on that engine and it is rated for 31 hp!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

pequeajim · Feb 1, 2006

( To heck with diesels.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

I've got ya covered!!

BIG Block!

MossRoad · Feb 2, 2006

I had a 454 in an old GMC pickup. I loved that thing! Straight pipes that ended under the cab. No mufflers. What?! I said it has no mufflers! HUH??!! IT HAS NO MUFFLERS!!! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

FOURTEEN · Feb 8, 2006

( Where's 14? )

 Thanks for the offer, but if I were to need to replace my 25hp Kohler CH730 at any time, (extremely unlikely), I would slip in a 30hp Kohler CH750 ! Although I'm not sure that performance would improve without also upgrading the pumps and motors!!

But, it's a 'catch 22', because, if the CH730 failed me, I would be so surprised and disappointed that I wouldn't want another Kohler, and if it didn't fail me, why bother!!??!!

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

toolz_not_toyz · Feb 10, 2006

( Although I'm not sure that performance would improve without also upgrading the pumps and motors!! )

I'm almost up to 30 hours now!!! At least half of that time has been racked up in the past 3 or 4 days. What I'm starting to conclude is that the PT 425 does not need a stronger engine. 25Hp is enough. The problem, as I see it, is getting power to the ground. I'm a lightweight and in our soil conditions (sandy, loamy, wet enough you can squish it into a dirt ball) that wheel spin is a real problem. I have bar tires but I'm only 160lbs and a full tank of gas makes a difference. I'm convinced I wouldn't be able to pull this off with turf tires so I'm glad I made the bar tire choice. (Plus, they look so much cooler as 14 would say). Needless to say, I've become quite the master of delicate treadle work. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I experience wheel spin quite readily when backing up an incline with nothing in the bucket. I experience wheel spin easily when trying to plow into a pile of soil. Okay, it's not a pile, I'm actually regrading an area for my daughter's forthcoming play area. But anyway...

I have begun to question the fact that all 4 wheels are powered on the PT. Since all (or most) power will go to the wheel with the least resistance, the idea of "all wheel drive" is lost. I don't think skid steers behave this way (anyone know?). What we need is a smart proportioning valve (or something) that can detect wheel spin (increased flow rate). Ideally, we want all wheels to turn at the same speed all the time but this is not what happens.

Adding a larger engine may make this problem worse.

Marks481 · Feb 11, 2006

If all the wheels turned at the same speed, then when you drove in a circle, you would tear up the lawn.

If the hydraulic circuit applied more power to the wheels that weren't slipping, then it would also tear up the lawn when you turned.

A better choice might be a control manifold that would allow you to shift from "gentle" driving mode to a "locked 4 wheel" mode that delivers power equally, or gives more power to the nonslipping wheels. So you could shift at need depending on what you were doing and if you got stuck.

Somebody proposed a solution like that sometime in the last year. I think the topic of conversion was how the left wheels were on an independant hydraulic circuit from the right wheels, and they proposed shifting it to a front & rear independant circuit.