Hydraulic noise

tlb · Jul 19, 2004

I don't know if this is a problem but my PT425 started making loud noises yesterday that I had not heard before. I bought it used with 246hrs and now have 266 hrs. The noise is most noticeable when running at high forward speeds and appears to be coming from either the front wheel motors or lift hydraulics. When I first noticed it, I was driving down a level path at about half max speed with a LMB on the front and the bucket was empty. The noise sounds like a clack-clack-clack. When I slow down to 1-2 MPH it seems to go away or is reduced in amplitude that makes it hard to hear over the engine noise.

Has anyone had this occur and could/is it an issue?
-Sundown

Bob999 · Jul 19, 2004

Could one of the parking brake pins be dragging? Clack is not a sound I would normally associate with hydraulics.

Rip · Jul 19, 2004

Could be parking brake rod(s) not fully disengaging.

First check that control lever is fully retracting the rods. Note that there are springs involved.

Pull front wheels off and check that rod ends are not bent and thus not fully retracting.

Good Luck

tlb · Jul 19, 2004

Guys,
Thanks for the quick response. I didn't think of this since I rarely use the brake, but I do use it occasional (yesterday) and it is alway hard to move the level to engage or disengage.

Another (dumb) question. I have never removed tires on the beast. What is a godd, safe way of jacking the thing up. I only have a small 2-ton hyd jack. Can this be used safely or is there a better method?
Thanks,
-Sundown

Rip · Jul 19, 2004

Sundown,

First of all, you can lift and/or support a PT from anywhere on the belly plate... it's all quite strong. Just block other wheels and work on a fairly level area since the belly plate is slick.

Since you would be pulling the front wheels, you can use the down pressure of the lift arms (even with bucket attached) to raise the front end up off the ground and then block it up. The center pivot may allow the front end to tilt to one side or the other, but it is not hard to deal with.

The Parking Brake on your model is very much like the Park position on an automatic transmission in that you must be at a full stop before applying it, and often may have to apply a bit of "opposite power" to achieve "full stop" and/or to relieve pressure on it to release it.

It only works on the front wheels, and once either side gets bent or otherwise in a bind from rust or debris it will not fully retract. There is a good chance you can free it up, or in worst case may have to get replacement parts from PT.

When working on hilly terrain, you will have to get used to playing "footsie" with the treadle to smoothly control your possition since these models do not have a "service brake" and the machine will still creep forward or back on a slope with the treadle in "neutral" (more so with hot oil and as the wheel motors age).

If the tractor creeps under power in one direction on level ground, you may need to adjust the cable at the hydro back assembly on the main variable displacement pump. See your manual for this procedure.

Good Luck and enjoy your "new-to-you" machine.

Bob999 · Jul 19, 2004

What is a godd, safe way of jacking the thing up. I only have a small 2-ton hyd jack. 

If you are referring to a 2 ton bottle jack it should work to lift the tractor. However, I would strongly recommend that you use jack stands or solid wood blocking to support the tractor after jacking it up. This is good practice with any jack but with a bottle jack I would be very concerned about tipping when the tractor is raised with a single jack.

tlb · Jul 19, 2004

Guys,
Thanks very much for your response! Very good inputs from both of you. I'll let you know what I find out.
-Sundown

FOURTEEN · Jul 19, 2004

"" What is a godd, safe way of jacking the thing up. ""

Forget the jack!!!

Get a couple of 2X6s or 2X8s. Cut them into pieces nearly the full width of the belly pan. Nail together TWO stacks until each is an inch or two higher than the bellypan.

Now raise the front of the PT as high as possible with the bucket. Slid the first stack under the belly pan until it contacts the belly pan just ahead of the rear wheels. Slid the second stack under the front belly pan near the front wheels. Lower the PT with the bucket. The rear will pivot on the first stack to raise the rear wheels off the ground! The front will sit on the second stack with the front wheels off the ground! Quick, safe, and sound!!

PS: If you intend to remove the wheels, loosen the lug nuts before putting the PT up on the stacks!!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

smartguyz · Jul 26, 2004

( What is a good, safe way of jacking the thing up. I only have a small 2-ton hyd jack. Can this be used safely or is there a better method?
Thanks,
-Sundown )

I highly recommend using an ATV jack - I originally purchased one for my JD318, but it works really well with the PT425! They are widely available, and not too expensive.

-Rob /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

tlb · Jul 26, 2004

Ok, I feel like a dunce. My 5 year old son had been playing on the PT425 (key removed of course) and pushed the brake handle up about halfway between on and off positions. Once I moved it back down to off the "hydraulic noise" went away. However, I found that after a couple of hours of working on the tractor, I started hearing the noise again, albeit very faint. I check the brake handle again and it had creeped up slightly from the off position. I pushed it back down and the noise went away. I either bumped it accidentally or it moved up on its own from all the vibration.
-Sundown

MossRoad · Jul 26, 2004

Mine does that, too. I think a very minor adjustment to the tension on the handle should solve it. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

ernemats · Jul 27, 2004

My 422 also does that every so often, Terry told me how to adjust it but so far I have not adjusted it. Every so often I just push the brake down to off position .

cqaigy · Jul 27, 2004

Wow, I just got my 422 and I'm reading your post about your 5 year old and I'm thinking what a wimp i am cause all the trouble I had releasing and setting the brake. Thank goodness others responded about the brake loosing up. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Dakar · Jul 27, 2004

I sure hope they loosen up. I nearly have to stand on mine sometimes. Even moving forward or backward to take the pressure off doesn't always help. As soon as I get time away from mowing with it, I was going to check out adjusting it.

Clarke · Jul 28, 2004

My 425's parking break is hard to release also. When the brake gets into that quirky position where you are trying to go back and forward to release it I lift the front wheels with the hydraulics makes releasing the brake much easier.

sg

cqaigy · Jul 28, 2004

I lift the front wheels with the hydraulics makes releasing the brake much easier. 

That's a good idea. Has to be easier then hitting the sweet spot with the treadles

Dakar · Jul 28, 2004

Is it safe to lift the front wheels of the PT with a mower deck mounted? Obviously it should not be running, but if it is not engaged is there much chance of damaging anything, I am guessing not, since I inadvertently have lifted the front end a couple of times trying to get it out of float position. Both times the brush cutter was running, and there was no apparent damage.

Clarke · Jul 29, 2004

Power Tracs attachments are strong enough. Power Trac says to do this when you are to close to a fence or building to maneuver. This allows you to lift the wheels and articulate the wheels away from the obstruction and drive away.

sg

cqaigy · Jul 30, 2004

( Power Tracs attachments are strong enough. Power Trac says to do this when you are to close to a fence or building to maneuver. This allows you to lift the wheels and articulate the wheels away from the obstruction and drive away.

sg )
Another great tip from this forum. I was stuck up against a fence the other day and was finally able to raise the brush cutter up over the top of the fence, but it would have been much faster and easier to do as you said here. Are there any other sources on using your pt and attachments?

Rip · Jul 30, 2004

This forum is certainly the main and probably the only significant source for PT owning and operating information other than picking the brains of Scott and Terry at PT.

And there are various excluded areas of their brains where NO ONE is allowed to go under penalty of DEATH!! (or so it seems)

No such excluded zones here (at least for most of us).

Go back deep into the archives and go through every topic as there is a wealth of knowledge and tips that often do not pertain strictly to the thread title. Print out or save to your computer any that interest you, because you never know when a forum server will go up in smoke (it has happened), and all that information with it.

Good Luck, Rip