More Newbies

[BobRip]

Do a quick search in the forum on it. Both Woodlandfarms and Mike OConnor have posted proof, I mean photos.

All the best,

Peter

P.S. My own version was to get the PT stuck just above a retaining wall dropoff while trenching. I was watching the trencher, and didn't realize the PT was digging itself in. Presto, I had dug one rear tire in deep enough to raise the front off of the ground. The PT waggle wasn't an option because of the dropoff. (well, I tried, and it made a bad picture worse.) Two and half hours, many rocks, and lots of work with a farm jack, and I was able to creep the PT out of its self made jail.

The PT wiggle is for when you get stuck or need to go up a real steep hill. Steer the wheel left and right as you apply power to the wheels. It works wonders. Sometimes just a little turn left and right many times will get you out.

 

[ponytug]

Just my $0.02, but I haven't felt the need for the spinner knob, but YMMV.

All the best,

Peter

 

[woodlandfarms]

Ohhhh Peter, you don't know what you are missing. Once you tried it you will never go back ;-)

 

[IrTxRx]

While you are waiting for your tractor to arrive, go take pictures of everything you are going to work on. The before and after results are that this tractor can produce are amazing. BUT!!! after your tractor has arrived, you won't take the time to take the picture before you get on the tractor and start working on it. Please feel free to post on the "Before & After" thread I started (but haven't added much too... 'cause I keep forgetting to take the before pics, lol)

 

[rcrcomputing]

I forgot... Go by a spinner nob. A nice one. One that wraps around the spoke of the wheel and the wheel, not just the wheel.

I like a spinner knob, but all the ones I've bought are cheap junk. Care to comment on one you like? Brand, etc??

 

[woodlandfarms]

I cannot comment on the quality of these, but this is the type I am referring to. They do look good from the pix I bought one from the second section (the sucky section) and then used some brackets to make it right.

Heavy Duty Aluminum Suicide Knob

Amazon.com: Steering Wheel Spinner, Model# 12: Automotive

These I can vouch for look cool but completely suck in the PT Tractor application...

Amazon.com: Allison "Eight Ball" Steering Wheel Spinner: Automotive

Amazon.com: Classic Steering Wheel Spinner: Automotive

Amazon.com: Pool Ball Steering Wheel Spinner Knob Red #3: Automotive

 

[RegL]

Ohhhh Peter, you don't know what you are missing. Once you tried it you will never go back ;-)

I had a spinner on for a while, but after I changed to a suspension seat, sitting higher made steering with the spinner uncomfortable.

 

[valjo]

While you are waiting for your tractor to arrive, go take pictures of everything you are going to work on. The before and after results are that this tractor can produce are amazing. BUT!!! after your tractor has arrived, you won't take the time to take the picture before you get on the tractor and start working on it. Please feel free to post on the "Before & After" thread I started (but haven't added much too... 'cause I keep forgetting to take the before pics, lol)

Yeah, I don't think I have the digital capacity to take ALL the possible before pics, but I'll go take some. It will help kill the time til THURSDAY, when our shipment is scheduled to arrive. The 48 hour countdown starts NOW.
I'm jealous cuz PTOuser is getting his today!

 

[kjm3232]

congrats on the 1430. here is one thing to consider after getting the 1430 and attachments. To make a modifications to your buckets by either welding on yourself or have someone do it for you: weld some metal shielding around the zerk fittings so if you load the buckets with wood logs and some tumble over the back side hopefully the top of the zerk fittings doesnt get smashed off and you have to extract the bottom half out of the bar.(dont ask me how i found this out)

 

[MossRoad]

I agree that a spinner knob is a very good investment. They are $10.00 at TSC and come in JD green for us smaller PT owners and Red, too, for you folks with the "real" machines.

Tree wrap occurs when you wrap the PT around a tree trunk so that the trunk is between the front and real wheels on the same side of the tractor. The wheels spin on the trunk and you cannot go anywhere. This can happen on flat land or a slope. On flat land, I have had great success getting away from the tree by steering all the way away from the object, lowering the implement enough to raise the front tires off the ground just a tad, then turning all the way towards the object. Then raise the implement and repeat until you crab walk away from the object enought to drive away from it. This also works if you drive into and up against a fence or building.

The real problems happen when you are on the uphill side of something and crab down the hill up against a tree or fence. For a tree, you can always try to drive around to the downhill side(if there are not other trees in the way), then crab walk away from it. But it you are up sideways against the uphill side of a fence or building, it is time to get the winch, come along, tow strap, etc....

 

[valjo]

congrats on the 1430. here is one thing to consider after getting the 1430 and attachments. To make a modifications to your buckets by either welding on yourself or have someone do it for you: weld some metal shielding around the zerk fittings so if you load the buckets with wood logs and some tumble over the back side hopefully the top of the zerk fittings doesnt get smashed off and you have to extract the bottom half out of the bar.(dont ask me how i found this out)

Dumb question...what is a zerk fitting???? Thanks for the advice!

 

[valjo]

I agree that a spinner knob is a very good investment. They are $10.00 at TSC and come in JD green for us smaller PT owners and Red, too, for you folks with the "real" machines.

Tree wrap occurs when you wrap the PT around a tree trunk so that the trunk is between the front and real wheels on the same side of the tractor. The wheels spin on the trunk and you cannot go anywhere. This can happen on flat land or a slope. On flat land, I have had great success getting away from the tree by steering all the way away from the object, lowering the implement enough to raise the front tires off the ground just a tad, then turning all the way towards the object. Then raise the implement and repeat until you crab walk away from the object enought to drive away from it. This also works if you drive into and up against a fence or building.

The real problems happen when you are on the uphill side of something and crab down the hill up against a tree or fence. For a tree, you can always try to drive around to the downhill side(if there are not other trees in the way), then crab walk away from it. But it you are up sideways against the uphill side of a fence or building, it is time to get the winch, come along, tow strap, etc....

Oh, I get it now. Thanks for the excellent description. I actually understand the crab walk concept, too.

 

[MuncyBob]

Dumb question...what is a zerk fitting???? Thanks for the advice!

Zerks are where you inject grease for lubrication. Be sure you know where they all are!! The 422/425 models have the hidden "secret" one that I would not have known about until reading it here.

 

[MossRoad]

Driving an articulated machine is kind of a weird feeling at first, but it becomes second nature after a while. I find that if I steer the implement when going forward the tractor will follow nicely. And for going backwards, I look over my shoulder and steer the center of the back of the engine cover and everything follows nicely, too.

One thing you do have to watch for and pay attention to is that if you are going back and forth in a very short area, say just a couple feet while maneuvering around inside a garage, it is very easy to lose track of the other end of the machine. Before you know it, the front is nice a sqaure to your direction of travel, but the rear end will be 45 degrees off to one of your sides. Then, if you turn the steering wheel to try to correct the rear, the implement swings side-to-side and nails your wall, car, etc....

So just be wary of that kind of movement and keep an eye on both ends of the machine in tight spaces. Practice, practice, practice and you'll be a pro at it in a week. Then the fun starts because you can use the articulated motion to your advantage over a "normal" tractor. I can't think of any normal tractor that can swing implements three feet from side to side without having to move forwards and backwards. This articulate motion really shines in mowing, brush hogging, post hole digging, the mini-hoe, etc...

Have you seen any of my videos of our PT425 inn action? If not, just click on the little animated PT425 in my signature and that will take you to my website. There is a link on the left hand side to a videos page. There are several low quality videos where you can see the articulated motion.

 

[valjo]

Have you seen any of my videos of our PT425 inn action? If not, just click on the little animated PT425 in my signature and that will take you to my website. There is a link on the left hand side to a videos page. There are several low quality videos where you can see the articulated motion.

I have seen them, they're cool! Thanks.

 

[DCWhitley]

I'm still new to my PT 425, but it continues to amaze me with how versatile and easy to use it is. I'm still learning but here are my suggestions after 20 hours of use:
1. I would recommend putting on an extension to the quick attach handle. It's not so important if you are using it only for the quick attach, but if you have a mini-hoe, it is almost a necessity. I have attached photos of mine which I developed after seeing what others have done here.
2. The advice to take pictures first is great advice, I wish I had! I used the brush cutter for the first time and it took me 1 hour to clear an area that I used to do by hand in 2 days. I don't have any before pictures and since I have this attachment, it will never look like that again!
3. Check this forum regularly, these guys are great. If they haven't seen it or done, they will give you some great ideas. Spend time going back thru the old posts as well.

 

[valjo]

1. I would recommend putting on an extension to the quick attach handle. It's not so important if you are using it only for the quick attach, but if you have a mini-hoe, it is almost a necessity. I have attached photos of mine which I developed after seeing what others have done here.

Yeah, I totally understand why that handle would be useful if you don't want to spend your mini-hoe time in pretzel position.
You guys are all so handy with your home-baked mods and attachments. Somebody ought to start selling these nifty after-market doohickies for people like me who would much prefer to just use the tools instead of having to make them.

Our PT is on it's way, getting delivered today! Yes, I'll post pics!! (as if y'all haven't seen a PT before, lol)

 

[markpin]

Driving an articulated machine is kind of a weird feeling at first, but it becomes second nature after a while. I find that if I steer the implement when going forward the tractor will follow nicely. And for going backwards, I look over my shoulder and steer the center of the back of the engine cover and everything follows nicely, too.

One thing you do have to watch for and pay attention to is that if you are going back and forth in a very short area, say just a couple feet while maneuvering around inside a garage, it is very easy to lose track of the other end of the machine. Before you know it, the front is nice a sqaure to your direction of travel, but the rear end will be 45 degrees off to one of your sides. Then, if you turn the steering wheel to try to correct the rear, the implement swings side-to-side and nails your wall, car, etc....

So just be wary of that kind of movement and keep an eye on both ends of the machine in tight spaces. Practice, practice, practice and you'll be a pro at it in a week. Then the fun starts because you can use the articulated motion to your advantage over a "normal" tractor. I can't think of any normal tractor that can swing implements three feet from side to side without having to move forwards and backwards. This articulate motion really shines in mowing, brush hogging, post hole digging, the mini-hoe, etc...

Have you seen any of my videos of our PT425 inn action? If not, just click on the little animated PT425 in my signature and that will take you to my website. There is a link on the left hand side to a videos page. There are several low quality videos where you can see the articulated motion.

Moss Road,
Thank you for pointing out your website!!! Watching you on your PT is WAY more informative than anything on the PT website. They should learn from you and put some videos like yours on the site!!
Mark

 

[MossRoad]

Moss Road,
Thank you for pointing out your website!!! Watching you on your PT is WAY more informative than anything on the PT website. They should learn from you and put some videos like yours on the site!!
Mark

I do it for fun.