Manual

[MossRoad]

My guess is the majority of Power Trac owners are businesses, not personal use owners like most of us. Therefore, Power Trac probably takes most of their feedback from the commercial users as to problems/suggestions, not typically homeowners. The commercial users are the real test bed, not us. While it would be fun to believe that our discussions here and our personal websites have lots to do with Power Trac's success as a company, the reality is we are probably a collective drop in the bucket in their sales. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[MossRoad]

My guess is the majority of Power Trac owners are businesses, not personal use owners like most of us. Therefore, Power Trac probably takes most of their feedback from the commercial users as to problems/suggestions, not typically homeowners. The commercial users are the real test bed, not us. While it would be fun to believe that our discussions here and our personal websites have lots to do with Power Trac's success as a company, the reality is we are probably a collective drop in the bucket in their sales. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Barryh]

You may be right, if so, that would be a shame that's not a very smart business model, a problem is a problem, and creative improvements can come from anywhere. I would think more so from home users as they have more time to elaborate on small issues.

As I stated, if this were my company, I would still want to hear feedback from anywhere I could get it. With that said, you will notice Jack does monitor and provide assistance to this forum. I’m sure Robin engines are used commercially and for homeowner use also.

 

[Barryh]

You may be right, if so, that would be a shame that's not a very smart business model, a problem is a problem, and creative improvements can come from anywhere. I would think more so from home users as they have more time to elaborate on small issues.

As I stated, if this were my company, I would still want to hear feedback from anywhere I could get it. With that said, you will notice Jack does monitor and provide assistance to this forum. I’m sure Robin engines are used commercially and for homeowner use also.

 

[Rick_Taylor]

As for copyright infringment from PT's website, if the info did not originate from PT's website it's not infringment. We can write literally anything we please on the internet as long as WE originate it. Just because the sentence includes the words "Power Trac" does NOT mean we have infringed on anyone. Personally, I'm very interested in building our own manuals. I also feel rather insulted that PT as a company would take offense if we did so. This coming from the company that has NEVER made any decent manuals for these neat little tractors, and has NEVER made ANY manuals on the implements. If for nothing else, just the safety issues would be great. As I have said before, one of these days someone is really going to hurt themselves or others and PT is going to face one of those product liability lawsuits without so much as a "Ya'll be careful" in print to protect themselves. To hear that they would 'frown' upon us writing up some instructions is laughable. As an example of their 'help', when my PT broke in half, I got the priviledge of buying the parts at full price and a suggestion I could get a local welding shop to do the work. Just recently the point about tightening the lower center bolt was brought up here. Terry NEVER mentioned that during several discussions. When the lovejoy connector between the engine and tram pump broke, I was the one that had to figure out how to get it out. Turned out PT had failed to install the set screws on the engine side so the key finally worked it's way out and tore up everything. I got a 'Darn, that's too bad' from Terry. Bottom line, I'll belive they are doing online manuals when I see them. I think we have to help ourselves. I will help any way I can.

 

[Rick_Taylor]

As for copyright infringment from PT's website, if the info did not originate from PT's website it's not infringment. We can write literally anything we please on the internet as long as WE originate it. Just because the sentence includes the words "Power Trac" does NOT mean we have infringed on anyone. Personally, I'm very interested in building our own manuals. I also feel rather insulted that PT as a company would take offense if we did so. This coming from the company that has NEVER made any decent manuals for these neat little tractors, and has NEVER made ANY manuals on the implements. If for nothing else, just the safety issues would be great. As I have said before, one of these days someone is really going to hurt themselves or others and PT is going to face one of those product liability lawsuits without so much as a "Ya'll be careful" in print to protect themselves. To hear that they would 'frown' upon us writing up some instructions is laughable. As an example of their 'help', when my PT broke in half, I got the priviledge of buying the parts at full price and a suggestion I could get a local welding shop to do the work. Just recently the point about tightening the lower center bolt was brought up here. Terry NEVER mentioned that during several discussions. When the lovejoy connector between the engine and tram pump broke, I was the one that had to figure out how to get it out. Turned out PT had failed to install the set screws on the engine side so the key finally worked it's way out and tore up everything. I got a 'Darn, that's too bad' from Terry. Bottom line, I'll belive they are doing online manuals when I see them. I think we have to help ourselves. I will help any way I can.

 

[funpilot]

As one of the people offering to do it apart from tractorbynet, I would like to say it would be better if done right here. He said that there are other tools they have that would make this work well. Lets wait to hear what he has in mind...now start responding to my idea on mentors .... lol

 

[funpilot]

As one of the people offering to do it apart from tractorbynet, I would like to say it would be better if done right here. He said that there are other tools they have that would make this work well. Lets wait to hear what he has in mind...now start responding to my idea on mentors .... lol

 

[ontheweb]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( My guess is the majority of Power Trac owners are businesses, not personal use owners like most of us. Therefore, Power Trac probably takes most of their feedback from the commercial users as to problems/suggestions, not typically homeowners. The commercial users are the real test bed, not us. While it would be fun to believe that our discussions here and our personal websites have lots to do with Power Trac's success as a company, the reality is we are probably a collective drop in the bucket in their sales. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

)</font>

Possibly. But, I suspect the opposite, that these forums are monitored closely. PT doesn't respond because it would create a fulltime job and they would have to pay someone to ride the web all the time. Besides, you guys always seem to figure it out the major problems and there are a lot of great, creative problem solving ideas discussed here all the time.

As far as creating the manuals, there is nothing to prevent you guys from doing so. As long as you don't profit from them beyond covering your own costs to produce the things PT has no say as long as you don't represent them as an 'official' manual for their product.

I also agree with the notion that a lawsuit against PT, in the absence of a proper safety and operation/maintenance manual, is forthcoming. I'm surprised at their apparent arrogance or just plain luck in this matter.

Also, the lack of true brakes on the smaller models, some of which are sold as 'commercial', is spectacularly knaive on the part of PT. A jury would crucify them if someone gets seriously injured. The plaintiff would show that every single piece of competitive equipment in the industry has brakes except theirs. Their lucky track record and product uniqueness won't save them from a severe-injury jury.

All of that said, I hope to be an owner some day after you guys whip PT into shape for me. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[ontheweb]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( My guess is the majority of Power Trac owners are businesses, not personal use owners like most of us. Therefore, Power Trac probably takes most of their feedback from the commercial users as to problems/suggestions, not typically homeowners. The commercial users are the real test bed, not us. While it would be fun to believe that our discussions here and our personal websites have lots to do with Power Trac's success as a company, the reality is we are probably a collective drop in the bucket in their sales. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

)</font>

Possibly. But, I suspect the opposite, that these forums are monitored closely. PT doesn't respond because it would create a fulltime job and they would have to pay someone to ride the web all the time. Besides, you guys always seem to figure it out the major problems and there are a lot of great, creative problem solving ideas discussed here all the time.

As far as creating the manuals, there is nothing to prevent you guys from doing so. As long as you don't profit from them beyond covering your own costs to produce the things PT has no say as long as you don't represent them as an 'official' manual for their product.

I also agree with the notion that a lawsuit against PT, in the absence of a proper safety and operation/maintenance manual, is forthcoming. I'm surprised at their apparent arrogance or just plain luck in this matter.

Also, the lack of true brakes on the smaller models, some of which are sold as 'commercial', is spectacularly knaive on the part of PT. A jury would crucify them if someone gets seriously injured. The plaintiff would show that every single piece of competitive equipment in the industry has brakes except theirs. Their lucky track record and product uniqueness won't save them from a severe-injury jury.

All of that said, I hope to be an owner some day after you guys whip PT into shape for me. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif