How sturdy IS the PT adapter plate?

[pequeajim]

I have been pulling out briars, vines and spalings over the past couple of days and some times, it puts quite a strain on the 425 to the point, where I lose traction. A bit of wiggling and side to side motion is what is needed to get the vine off of the tree or the sapling out of the ground. I use the mini hoe most of the time as it has the best reach.

There's a lot of tugging and pulling that goes on. The 425 has been a champ, doing much more than I would have given it credit for.

I am wondering if I can pull to the point of hurting something?

How far have you guys pushed, (or pulled) your tractors? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[BobRip]

On my 422, I pushed on a tree with the bare (no attachments on) adapter plate and bent it slightly. I had to use the hydraulics to straighten it (It would be difficult to explain) because attachements would not go on.

With an attachment on it is much stronger. I push pretty hard. I recommend not building up speed and ramming it into dirt or whatever, that puts a lot of stress on it. I can almost never spin tires except in mud (like a swamp). You have the new high torque motors and that let's the tires spin

 

[FOURTEEN]

The weakest link seems to be the toggle on the lift arms. The MiniHoe, due to its length and the resulting high leverage, can bend or break the toggle!

When using the MiniHoe, avoid hard digging with the boom fully extended. Watch the angle of the teeth, and use the curl to rip up.
Or, use the Potato Digger for high stress digging or lifting.

 

[pequeajim]

I was really alluding to the small tabs that hold the attachment in place on the plate, but you make another good point.

When ripping out briars and vines, I have been trying to keep the arm and mini hoe arm as straight as possible when pulling to take the stress off of the joint. This puts most of the stress on the bucket joint, the plate and where the arm is attached to the tractor.

I wasn't too worried about the tractor side, but I was concerned about how much stress the adapter plate could take.

 

[MossRoad]

I've bent my forks pretty severely and I've probably abused the machine pretty good. The adapter plates are the least of my worries. The part that FOURTEEN mentions seems to be the weakest link and it has broken on a couple members' machines and had to be repaired.

If you've every seen my soil slicer I can tell you I've snapped the two bolts out of it twice. Just sheared them right off! The plate didn't budge.

 

[PowerTrom425]

I agree with MossRoad and Fourteen. That connection seems to be the weakest link in the chain. When using the backhoe I think the bucket curl provides the most power/pull and exerts the least stress on these beasts. Regarding overall durability, I'm convinced that you can't hurt the PT as it comes from the factory, oem, if you use common sense. If you have too much weight in the bucket, it simply won't lift it. If you have nearly too much weight, it'll pucker on you and let you know that way. Someone on the site added some weights to the back of the PT. That would concern me because then you could overload the front and not get the pucker-warning. Anyway, happy digging in PA.....

 

[FOURTEEN]

"" as it comes from the factory, oem ""

"oem" /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif stands for "There MUST be a better way!!!!" /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[pequeajim]

THanks for the comments. I will take care of how I use the mini hoe.

 

[pairodime]

My adapter plate has a slight bend and other signs of stress after lots and lots of loader work. Also had to repair cracked welds where the plate is connected to the pin mounts on the arms.

The plate is bent but it still works fine!

 

[toy]

I bent the pivot pin in mine. When I took it back to Tazwell and told them about it they said that I must have been jamming into the work, but I knew that wasn't true. When they came out to look at it they then said that there was a weld that hadn't been welded properly. It had one pass and it should have had three passes I beleive, it's been a while back. They never gave me any static about fixing it under warranty, as a matter a fact they were real nice about it. I have enjoyed my dealings with them so far, good people.