Re: Jim\'s new projects
<font color="blue"> I wonder if there are hydraulically powered tampers that could attach to the PT?</font>
I have seen hydraulic plate units made for bobcats, but they are pricey and the bobcats put out way more GPM on their hydraulics than my PT425. Some of the plate units were 36" wide!
When we were down in Cade's Cove a few weeks ago, they were doing work around the gift shop near the mill. There was a bobcat with a vibrating roller attachment. It looked to be 48" wide. They were using it to pack down crushed rock similar to what you are doing.
The hardware/lawn mower repair shop in our neighborhood had one of those plate compactor units like the one sitting in your garage pictures in his repair shop for months. I finally asked if he'd like to sell it. He said the engine was blown and the owner hadn't paid the $20.00 dollar diagnostic bill. I told him I'd give him $50.00 for it. He said he'd call the owner(he was required to do so by law) and call me back. The owner paid his bill and took it back. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
My plan was to install a hydraulic motor in place of the blown gas engine and slap a quick attach plate on it. That would have been nice to have on occasion. The PT could put it just about anywhere and the articulation could swing it side to side, too. The unit had a 6HP engine on it, and I think the PTs 8GPM @2500psi puts out a little more than that to the main PTO circuit. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
If you're feeling handy, keep an eye on equipment rental places or small engine repair shops and put in a word there that you are interested in a plate compactor if they come across one with a blown engine. Also check out auctions and police department sales of recovered stolen items. We have a few of those a year and they have all kinds of good stuff for cheap. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif