Oil & Fuel How about a diesel PT425?

[FOURTEEN]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have bar tires but I'm only 160lbs and a full tank of gas makes a difference. )</font>


<font color="red"> /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Speaking of gas, what air pressure are you using in your bar tires?? At 214# I use 11 Front and 7 Rear, and very seldom ever spin a tire! You might be able to use 10 and 6!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

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[IslandTractor]

Do you PT guys ever add external weight to your tractors? How about loading the tires?

 

[J_J]

When I bought my 1445 used, the tires were full of a calcium and water mixture for weight. It probably added about 450 lbs. If you have a lot of tire spin, a solution of some kind would help out. A loaded bucket will normally keep the front tires from spinning. I believe some one has added wheel weights to their PT.

 

[KentT]

I have all 4 tires on my PT-425 loaded with about 7 gallons of winter-weight windshield washer fluid and puncture sealant. It essentially eliminated all wheel spin in routine use, especially with the bucket in float position. One of the front wheels will still spin if you have too much downpressure on the bucket, but it doesn't happen nearly as often.

I loaded the tires not just for traction, but for (a) more lift capability before PT pucker occurs, and (2) more stability on sideslopes.

I have a pair of 42 lb wheel weights on each the rear wheels also, as more of an experiment to see if I could find the point where my lift arms by-pass rather than lift the rear of the PT off the ground...

The experiment failed -- it will still lift the PT off the ground. I think I'll remove them, because my next experiment will be to reverse my wheels, like Fourteen has done...

I also want to design and fab (likely have someone else weld up) a combination rear weight/2" hitch receiver that will simply pin on using the existing PT hitch pin that doesn't fit anything. I want it so I can quickly detach it, if I don't need the weight or the tow hitch.

Anecdotal evidence -- after having several flats in the first few hours of use from punctures, I haven't had any more since I used the sealant. I have broken a valve-stem on one front wheel, using it in the woods, but that was not something any sealant would've prevented.

 

[toolz_not_toyz]

14: I haven't checked the air pressure in the tires (I know, call me lazy). I'll check it out.

As time passes, I'm just getting better and better at managing power to the wheels. I imagine it would be much more difficult without the treadle springs. It is truly amazing (or at least nifty) how delicately you can maneouver this thing with precise inputs. I'm just more and more impressed every day.

BUT. I did have the unfortunate (?) opportunity to participate in the dreaded PT pucker while going downhill (of course) with a fully loaded bucket (of course). It's pretty freaky and not enjoyable. I lowered the bucket to restablize the machine. Now I'm wondering where that imaginary vertical point is where PT pucker will set in if the bucket is loaded and higher than that point, AND the PT is kinked in the middle.

What we need here folks is one big red button that will automatically lower the bucket in a controlled way for such situations. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I was thinking how crazy things could have gotten if I had raised the lift arms instead of lowered them. You know how sometimes you forget which way is which (on the joystick) when you're still new at this. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

So let's see, I need a computer to control wheel spin and another one that will auto shutdown and restabilize the tractor when pucker sets in. Or even better, one that senses pucker before it is about to happen and doesn't let you raise a heavy bucket into the danger zone! This ought to add about $5K to $10K to the base PT 425 price. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[SnowRidge]

<font color="blue"> 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. </font>

Check your hydraulic plumbing. The wheel motors should be in series on each side. This provides a limited slip action between the front and rear wheels on each side. The most you should ever see spin is either one of the front or one of the back wheels. To have two wheels spin, you would have to be balanced on two wheels somehow.

I weigh the same as you, and I don't experience any significant wheel slippage even on wet clay or wet grass, both of which are pretty slick. I have turfs, BTW.

 

[SnowRidge]

<font color="blue"> Anecdotal evidence -- after having several flats in the first few hours of use from punctures, I haven't had any more since I used the sealant. I have broken a valve-stem on one front wheel, using it in the woods, but that was not something any sealant would've prevented. </font>

I've been putting sealant in my PT tires also. I use Berryman sealant from TSC, which costs less than slime, and works just as well. It has even stopped a sidewall leak, which I got from mowing too close to a barbed wire fence. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[FOURTEEN]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I did have the unfortunate (?) opportunity to participate in the dreaded PT pucker while going downhill (of course) with a fully loaded bucket (of course). It's pretty freaky and not enjoyable. I lowered the bucket to restablize the machine. Now I'm wondering where that imaginary vertical point is where PT pucker will set in if the bucket is loaded and higher than that point, AND the PT is kinked in the middle.
So let's see, I need a computer to control wheel spin and another one that will auto shutdown and restabilize the tractor when pucker sets in. Or even better, one that senses pucker before it is about to happen and doesn't let you raise a heavy bucket into the danger zone! )</font>


<font color="red"> The 'computer' that you are talking about is called 'experience'! With enough of it these problems automatically resolve themselves! Often it helps to experiment with and experience a variety of scenarios under controlled conditions to determine the results rather than waiting for things to suddenly and shockingly develop!!

It's like driving on snowy roads. In November during the first snow when the rear end of the car slids suddenly and unexpectedly to the side, our hearts leap into our throats! By March we go down the road fishtailing like a salmon going to spawn, and think nothing of it!!

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[FOURTEEN]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Now I'm wondering where that imaginary vertical point is where PT pucker will set in if the bucket is loaded and higher than that point, AND the PT is kinked in the middle.
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<font color="red"> Much downhill pucker is caused by slowing or stopping too abruptly. (Like this!).

Most pucker can be avoided simply by carrying slightly lighter loads, keeping the load as low as possible while moving, and avoid moving or turning with the loaded bucket raised high. ALWAYS WEAR THE SEATBELT!!

PS: Remember that even with the seatbelt on, the seat still will tip forward!</font>

 

[Phils]

And getting used to the "pucker" is easy. I'm sure it's not the best treatment to give the machine, but I regularly "pucker up" when scooping gravel. What amazes me is that you can [somewhat] steer while puckered. I guess it's the weight shifting that makes it go to the side that the rear is leaning toward, but it still works and I steer in the direction I want with only the two front wheels touching the ground.

Phil