I have a love-hate relationship with my PT422

MuncyBob · Apr 27, 2016

This tractor has saved me a lot of back breaking work for sure. Also has saved me space since this 1 unit performs the functions of several. I am totally lost as to why I've had to pay for/perform so many repairs on a unit with around 800 total hours. I perform all maintenance as required and then some but she still hates me. It is kept in a garage and has never been in the rain....heck, I even talk to it at times

So far I have had replaced a few hoses(to be expected I guess) and the fuel pump, had to have the steering cylinder re-welded back onto the floor after it tore away, a bracket on the mower deck cracked so another weld job, almost a total engine rebuild, will be replacing the crappy PT exhaust with the Robin one next week and now I have snapped a front wheel motor shaft. I don't overly abuse the tractor yet it continues to fight me.....sigh

MossRoad · Apr 27, 2016

I've had a few cars like that, yet I continued to repair and use them because I liked them so much. Stand there shaking your head as you wonder why you're fixing it, but still smiling when its working well. Love-hate sums it up perfectly.

MuncyBob · May 11, 2016

I will say that the customer service at Tazewell is superb. Terry called me and stated that he received, rebuilt and shipped back to me my wheel motor all in the same day. 2 days later I had the wheel motor back and installed. What did disappoint me with Tazewell is the matte of fact attitude they had when I mentioned some of the shortcomings of the PT422 I own with barely 800 hours on it. The single steering piston/floor failure, heat issues with the Robin engine which then needed new heads/valve job and now the wheel motor shaft.
It seems to me they would have a truly top notch product with just a few modifications but they don't seem to interested in hearing this. I realize the smaller PT's are not their bread & butter money makers but still........

ponytug · May 12, 2016

I think that there are aspects of shade tree engineering at Tazewell. Our machines are still running, right?
My belief is that they have staked out a section of the market, and they are happy with what they have.

What happens when their mining equipment business folds is perhaps of greater concern, as their primary buyers seem to be small coal mines...

All the best,

Peter

MossRoad · May 12, 2016

Yeah, coal usage is dying out. Makes you wonder where else they could use low profile machines with heavy lift buckets. Also, underground mining in particular is dying out with the advent of complete mountain top removal methods.