Moving from an 1845 to a 425

   / Moving from an 1845 to a 425 #21  
If PT would put in a clutch in between the engine and hydraulic pumps, it could be de-clutched when starting during cold weather conditions. I bet this would solve the cold starting problems.
 
   / Moving from an 1845 to a 425 #22  
I have the 422 with Robin engine and over 2,000 hours on it and very seldom have I not had it start even below zero outside. I keep it in a unheated garage.
 
   / Moving from an 1845 to a 425 #23  
I have the 422 with Robin engine and over 2,000 hours on it and very seldom have I not had it start even below zero outside. I keep it in a unheated garage.

Are you doing anything special when starting during the cold months? starting fluid, heater tanks etc… Is it just firing up with a turn of the key?
 
   / Moving from an 1845 to a 425 #24  
I have the 422 with Robin engine and over 2,000 hours on it and very seldom have I not had it start even below zero outside. I keep it in a unheated garage.

What model year is it. Must be pretty old with 2000 hrs.
 
   / Moving from an 1845 to a 425 #25  
I bought it new in 1999 and on ocassion I have used a magnetic heater on the hydraulic tank , but most of the time it just requires turning the key several times and put it on full choke and the gas lever about 3/4 open. Not all the time will it start right up but I would say 80% of the time it would. 5 or 6 years ago I had to put new ignition coils on it and they were from a newer 422 that the owner had taken the 22 hp robin motor out of and put I believe a EFI robin motor in it.
 
   / Moving from an 1845 to a 425 #26  
If you can get them to put the 1430 wheel motor boxes on it, like JD Beach did, you can put MUCH larger wheel motors on it than the current 14.3ci. Keep in mind, though, that the lube system on the Robin is only rated to 20 degrees, while the Kohler is rated to 25 degrees.

I first upgraded my Mossroad-vintage machine to Char-Lynn S series 21.7ci wheelmotors. That required that I cut a hole in the tub to recess them into the tub slightly. They worked well as far as power, but the taper on the shafts is not the same as the old 1" wheel hubs, and it eventually wallowed out the hubs so badly that I couldn't keep the hubs tight on them (the metal of the PT-supplied hubs is VERY soft). I do NOT recommend using these wheelmotors with tapered shafts. Some have had success with the keyed, non-tapered shafts and corresponding hubs. But finding 5-lug hubs for 1" shaft wheelmotors is a bit of a challenge...

Two years ago, I upgraded once again, cutting off the old wheelmotor boxes, and bolting on 1430 wheelmotor boxes. I'm currently running 28.3ci with taller 26x12x12 lug tires (similar to JD Beach's tradeoff though his are turfs) and 1.5" tapered hubs -- which essentially cuts top speed in half, after the taller tires, but gives you twice the torque. Wheelmotor torque is no longer the limitation at all -- only traction. At $169 each through Surplus Center, or $179 with hubs already on them the wheelmotor boxes cost almost what the motors themselves cost. They stick back into the tub about flush with the inside edge of the tub -- protruding less than the smaller Char-Lynn S-series I tried previously.

28.3 cu in HYD WHEEL MOTOR W/5 BOLT HUB

My limitations are no longer wheelmotor torque, only traction, and I routinely use mine on 20-25 degree slopes...

Given the lubrication system limitations of the Robin, I think a 21ci to 23ci wheelmotor would likely work quite well for you, and likely would fit neatly inside the 1430 wheelmotor boxes without any cutting of the tub required....

My experience -- your mileage may vary...
 
   / Moving from an 1845 to a 425
  • Thread Starter
#27  
Thank you Kent. As it turns out, I have a spare set of 26x12x12 industrial tires (long story) and even a full set of spare wheel motors for the 1845. Those motors would probably be over kill though.

I'm going to visit PT in a couple weeks. Do you remember the cost for the 1430 wheelboxes? Also, are you saying, with the 1430 box, you still had to cut the tub? And finally, what is the rough top speed now...about 4 MPH (which is equivalent to a fast walking pace)? Sorry for all the questions but you're the wheel motor change expert on the 425. :)
 
   / Moving from an 1845 to a 425 #28  
I don't recall the exact cost of the 1430 wheelmotor boxes -- over $400 with shipping, I think... maybe closer to $500.

Because I am using such large wheelmotors (28.3ci) they stick back into the holes in the tub that I had already cut for the Char-Lynn S series motors that I had on it previously. I think the 21-23ci size White CE-series would likely fit inside the 1430 wheelmotor boxes with no cutting required. You'd want to confirm that...

Yes, I'm guessing that my top speed is about 4MPH now, even with the taller 26" tires. With a wheelmotor in the 21-23ci range, it would likely be 5-6MPH range with 26" tires, plenty fast enough for finish mowing. I use the brush-cutter almost exclusively for mowing, and my finish mower sees little use...

I went with such large wheelmotors simply because of the bargain Surplus Center price, especially with hubs installed -- those are about 1/2 the cost of other alternatives when you add the cost of hubs -- plus I needed tires anyway, so I just bumped the tire size up at the same time...
 

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