davesisk
Platinum Member
Ben and JJ:
I probably fall somewhere in between both your opinions. I'd probably get the kits to rebuild the remaining cylinders, but put them on the shelf and wait until a time when I knew I wasn't going to be using it for a while (which I guess is actually what Ben is planning to do, come to think of it). My thought has always been that I'd rather put the work into fixing something before it actually breaks (IF I have any indication that it's about to break) and interrupts what I'm working on at the time, dumps oil all over the lawn, etc. I guess it's kind of a hard call with cylinders though...you really can't tell what the inside looks like without taking it apart, and at that point you've done half of the rebuild already. The only indication that I can think of would be some oil leaking from the cylinder, and in Ben's case there wasn't any until it was already too late.
Regardless, Ben, hope you get this cylinder replaced and the machine back in service with no more delays!
Btw, I'd say any Power-trac is a "project machine" /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Not that they're not great products, because they certainly are. But then, there's a thread I just saw on a brand new one with a bad PTO solenoid valve. I think you have to be prepared to be a tinkerer if you're going to own one of these machines. If you're not reasonably mechanically inclined, then check to see if there's a shop locally that can handle engine repairs and that understands hydraulic systems reasonably well. (A shop that rents and maintains Toro Dingo's or small skid-steer machines can generally handle Power-trac's with little difficulty.) If you can't do it yourself AND there isn't a suitable repair shop local, then you might not be too happy with a Power-trac. That said, if you're handy enough to keep a lawnmower running, you can likely learn the minimal hydraulic stuff necessary to keep a PT running well, though...it's a pretty simple machine in reality.
Dave
I probably fall somewhere in between both your opinions. I'd probably get the kits to rebuild the remaining cylinders, but put them on the shelf and wait until a time when I knew I wasn't going to be using it for a while (which I guess is actually what Ben is planning to do, come to think of it). My thought has always been that I'd rather put the work into fixing something before it actually breaks (IF I have any indication that it's about to break) and interrupts what I'm working on at the time, dumps oil all over the lawn, etc. I guess it's kind of a hard call with cylinders though...you really can't tell what the inside looks like without taking it apart, and at that point you've done half of the rebuild already. The only indication that I can think of would be some oil leaking from the cylinder, and in Ben's case there wasn't any until it was already too late.
Regardless, Ben, hope you get this cylinder replaced and the machine back in service with no more delays!
Btw, I'd say any Power-trac is a "project machine" /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Not that they're not great products, because they certainly are. But then, there's a thread I just saw on a brand new one with a bad PTO solenoid valve. I think you have to be prepared to be a tinkerer if you're going to own one of these machines. If you're not reasonably mechanically inclined, then check to see if there's a shop locally that can handle engine repairs and that understands hydraulic systems reasonably well. (A shop that rents and maintains Toro Dingo's or small skid-steer machines can generally handle Power-trac's with little difficulty.) If you can't do it yourself AND there isn't a suitable repair shop local, then you might not be too happy with a Power-trac. That said, if you're handy enough to keep a lawnmower running, you can likely learn the minimal hydraulic stuff necessary to keep a PT running well, though...it's a pretty simple machine in reality.
Dave
