Hydraulic Breakers

[baanista]

I keep thinking that a hydraulic breaker would be a great tool to with a PowerTrac. Crowder has a line of tools as well as Stanley

Having spent some time this weekend working on a posthole with a prybar that had been made from a Model T axle, the idea of being able smack our lame excuse for dirt 1300 or 1800 times a minute is real appealing. Any of the PowerTracs look to have enough oomph in their PTO circuits to run these things. In fact, it looks like you would need to buy a widget to reduce the PSI in some cases.

I kind of favor the Crowder offerings since they have the decency to list prices. Plus, they offer an oil divider to reduce pressure to the tool. The Stanley site doesn't really address how to deal with hydraulics that are a little to strong for the tool. They have independent power units and hydraulic converters for big tractors. On the other hand, their breaker can run at 2000PSI which is the PT180's output. Plus, Stanley has a pole mounted chainsaw which would be perfect for attacking the trash trees here in South Texas. But I would have to come up with some kind of brush grapple for a 180.

I am convinced that a hand breaker is a critical tool for my situation. We spend a lot of time refreshing old fences and breaker would let us dig post holes in tight quarters. Not to mention making starter holes for metal t-posts. Plus it would be a way to loosen soil for excavating or ditches. Typically we have a layer of soil filled with flint nodules, followed by a layer of caliche (good for road base, it should become limestone in a million or 2 years) before you hit real limestone. A breaker seems to be the only alternative to having a big, heavy tractor to keep this stuff in line.

Which leads to an interesting trade off. I am not really in a position to go larger than the gas powered PT's. I suspect that even the 425 doesn't have the muscle to brute force our landscape. If I am breaking things up first with the breaker, then even the 180 might be good enough to move stuff. Plus the 2000 PSI of the 180's PTO is a match to the Stanley tools. If I were to have a Thumb bolted on a set of forks, would that give me good enough brush mover? If so, the bottom of line 180 might be a better fit for me than its bigger cousins.

Your thoughts are welcome.

Thanks,

David

 

[KentT]

One caution on the use of a PT-180 for extended heavy work in Texas -- to my knowledge the 180 doesn't have a hydraulic oil cooler...

I'd be concerned that operating temps could be a problem when working for hours building roads, etc. in the Texas heat...

Plus, the 180 doesn't have the Aux PTO (used for the Quick Attach) to operate the grapple -- you'd have to add that circuit and control valve. Others have done so -- but the PT-422 and 425 come with that standard... in addition to oil coolers.

 

[baanista]

I can sure count on it getting hot down here. I was wondering if the 180 had an aux PTO circuit, between no oil cooler and no aux PTO the 180 sounds pretty marginal for my situation.

I don't have a problem with getting a 425, it is just that I would have enjoyed paying 180 prices for attachments. It looks to me like the investment in attachments will be bigger than the tractor.

I would still be interested if anyone had any input on the pros and cons of hydraulic breakers.

Thanks,

David

 

[BobRip]

I It looks to me like the investment in attachments will be bigger than the tractor.


Thanks,

David

The day I got my PT422, my attachment investment was almost equal to the Tractor cost. I am sure that by now it far exceeds it.

 

[MossRoad]

When we bought our PT425 in 2001, it was only $8,000. We bought about $4000 in attachments and $500 for shipping to Indiana.

 

[J_J]

In my opinion, I think you should go with a 425 or larger for the type of work you are talking about. For everyday use, I would go for the 1445. Sure it's big bucks, but it is a business expense.