MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 57,928
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
Mowing Mowing on slopes
- Thread starter pequeajim
- Start date
- Views: 8292
MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 57,928
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
FOURTEEN
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2004
- Messages
- 1,042
- Location
- Efland - Triangle of North Carolina.
- Tractor
- 2004 Power Trac PT-425
"" knocking the PT mower ""
Actually I do not own a PT mower deck, but I do have the Brush Cutter which I have used to cut my lawn and underbrush. Based upon that, and having used the Power King for several years, I prefer the Power King!
If I only had a PT, I'm sure that it would be just fine for grass! But the Power King has a 3 blade 48" belly mower with very high blade speed and side discharge that nearly atomizes grass and especially dead leaves. It will churn through 6" of dry leaves, usually leaving nothing much larger than a postage stamp behind! One pass will blow all the leaves off our woodland trails, two passes off the driveways, and four passes off our gravel road! It is more comfortable, more fuel efficient, quieter, easier and less tiring to use, more maneuverable, and being an antique, more fun!!
I love my PT, but for ME on MY property the Power King rules for mowing!! (20 minutes every 10 days!!)
The PT-425 Mower Deck costs $1,100. Wal-Mart has quite a few dedicated lawn tractors that cost less than that!
I am not denigrating the PT mower, but the Power Trac does so many other jobs so well that to look at it primarily for its mowing ability misses the point!!
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Actually I do not own a PT mower deck, but I do have the Brush Cutter which I have used to cut my lawn and underbrush. Based upon that, and having used the Power King for several years, I prefer the Power King!
If I only had a PT, I'm sure that it would be just fine for grass! But the Power King has a 3 blade 48" belly mower with very high blade speed and side discharge that nearly atomizes grass and especially dead leaves. It will churn through 6" of dry leaves, usually leaving nothing much larger than a postage stamp behind! One pass will blow all the leaves off our woodland trails, two passes off the driveways, and four passes off our gravel road! It is more comfortable, more fuel efficient, quieter, easier and less tiring to use, more maneuverable, and being an antique, more fun!!
I love my PT, but for ME on MY property the Power King rules for mowing!! (20 minutes every 10 days!!)
The PT-425 Mower Deck costs $1,100. Wal-Mart has quite a few dedicated lawn tractors that cost less than that!
I am not denigrating the PT mower, but the Power Trac does so many other jobs so well that to look at it primarily for its mowing ability misses the point!!
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Sedgewood
Platinum Member
<font color="red"> Do you have any idea of how it "senses" the load? </font>
<font color="red">Sure don't. If you leave it on when you try to pick up with the bucket (or reverse the wires with the seat tilt - but that's another story.) the load lifts but sags back down.
Sedgewood, you there </font>
You lookin' for me, Charlie? Blackwell is the one who's up on this technical stuff. My guess is the draft control applies fluid to the lift cylinders through a pressure regulator that can be adjusted, acting like a counterweight or spring.
However it works, it works great. There isn't traction enough to mow on much over a 15 - 20 degree slope without it on. Of course it's plumbed so that when your shuttle valve ball beats up it's seat the draft control acts like having the joystick in float. Then things can get a little tense on a 30 degree slope when PT tries to climb over the mower! Is that PT Pucker 2.0?
Does reversing the wires on the tilt seat toss you off the low side? We want pictures! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Sedgewood
<font color="red">Sure don't. If you leave it on when you try to pick up with the bucket (or reverse the wires with the seat tilt - but that's another story.) the load lifts but sags back down.
Sedgewood, you there </font>
You lookin' for me, Charlie? Blackwell is the one who's up on this technical stuff. My guess is the draft control applies fluid to the lift cylinders through a pressure regulator that can be adjusted, acting like a counterweight or spring.
However it works, it works great. There isn't traction enough to mow on much over a 15 - 20 degree slope without it on. Of course it's plumbed so that when your shuttle valve ball beats up it's seat the draft control acts like having the joystick in float. Then things can get a little tense on a 30 degree slope when PT tries to climb over the mower! Is that PT Pucker 2.0?
Does reversing the wires on the tilt seat toss you off the low side? We want pictures! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Sedgewood
Charlie_Iliff
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2001
- Messages
- 1,890
- Location
- Arnold, MD
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT1845, John Deere 2240, John Deere 950, John Deere 755, Jacobsen Turf Cat II
<font color="red"> Does reversing the wires on the tilt seat toss you off the low side? </font>
Actually, I swapped the power wires for the draft control and the tilt seat in one of my forays into my favorite electrical box. The result was that the bucket wouldn't hold anything up. The tilt seat actually worked fine, so diagnostics took a bit of time.
Actually, I swapped the power wires for the draft control and the tilt seat in one of my forays into my favorite electrical box. The result was that the bucket wouldn't hold anything up. The tilt seat actually worked fine, so diagnostics took a bit of time.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="red">
The PT-425 Mower Deck costs $1,100. Wal-Mart has quite a few dedicated lawn tractors that cost less than that!
</font> </font><font color="blue" class="small">(
Actually, that is good logic, except for the fact that I am mowing on some slopes. I did have an old used Cub cadet that I used to mow my yard with. I ditched that when I bought the Ventrac. It's not a bad idea though to consider buying a used garden tractor instead of the deck? (hmmmmmm...) Maybe a cheap zero turn?
The PT-425 Mower Deck costs $1,100. Wal-Mart has quite a few dedicated lawn tractors that cost less than that!
</font> </font><font color="blue" class="small">(
Actually, that is good logic, except for the fact that I am mowing on some slopes. I did have an old used Cub cadet that I used to mow my yard with. I ditched that when I bought the Ventrac. It's not a bad idea though to consider buying a used garden tractor instead of the deck? (hmmmmmm...) Maybe a cheap zero turn?
Charlie_Iliff
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2001
- Messages
- 1,890
- Location
- Arnold, MD
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT1845, John Deere 2240, John Deere 950, John Deere 755, Jacobsen Turf Cat II
<font color="red"> Maybe a cheap zero turn? </font>
The word "cheap" contains its own warnings, but beware of zero turns on hills. Skillful operators do pretty steep stuff. Not so skillful, or lucky, operators take exciting rides.
The word "cheap" contains its own warnings, but beware of zero turns on hills. Skillful operators do pretty steep stuff. Not so skillful, or lucky, operators take exciting rides.
MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 57,928
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
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MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 57,928
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
One of the reasons I wanted the Power Trac was to eliminate many of the little gas engines around our home so I would have fewer to maintain. One power source for many implements. Here's some other reasons:
Price.
The PT mower deck is 5' wide. It currently costs $1320. Lawn tractors with 5' decks will cost more than the mower for the Power Trac. MUCH more. In fact, I'm willing to say we can't find one with a 60" deck for under $3000. Heck, I couldn't find ANY lawn tractors with a 60" deck.
Quality of the cut.
I'm pretty sure the PT mower gives a better quality cut than a lawn tractor that costs $1300.
Speed.
The PT will cut the lawn much faster than a $1300 lawn tractor.
Durability.
It will probably last longer than a 1300 dollar lawn tractor since it is built like a tank, just like the tractor. All plate steel. Everything welded. No stamped thin stuff.
Maintenence.
It will require less maintenance and is easier to store than a lawn tractor. It will take less floor space, too. Important for people with limited space.
Overall Value.
I think for the average home owner the PT 5' deck is a bargain compared to a cheap lawn tractor.
OK. I feel better, now. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Price.
The PT mower deck is 5' wide. It currently costs $1320. Lawn tractors with 5' decks will cost more than the mower for the Power Trac. MUCH more. In fact, I'm willing to say we can't find one with a 60" deck for under $3000. Heck, I couldn't find ANY lawn tractors with a 60" deck.
Quality of the cut.
I'm pretty sure the PT mower gives a better quality cut than a lawn tractor that costs $1300.
Speed.
The PT will cut the lawn much faster than a $1300 lawn tractor.
Durability.
It will probably last longer than a 1300 dollar lawn tractor since it is built like a tank, just like the tractor. All plate steel. Everything welded. No stamped thin stuff.
Maintenence.
It will require less maintenance and is easier to store than a lawn tractor. It will take less floor space, too. Important for people with limited space.
Overall Value.
I think for the average home owner the PT 5' deck is a bargain compared to a cheap lawn tractor.
OK. I feel better, now. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
ok, ok, OK!!
Good points. Since that last post, I did go out and look at some used garden tractors on the net and really couldn't find anything that would work anyway.
Besides, my wife would never buy into a second tractor just for cutting the grass.
I can hear it now...
"What's the other one for? I thought this one would do it all? Isn't that why you bought the Ventrac in the first place??"
oops /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Good points. Since that last post, I did go out and look at some used garden tractors on the net and really couldn't find anything that would work anyway.
Besides, my wife would never buy into a second tractor just for cutting the grass.
I can hear it now...
"What's the other one for? I thought this one would do it all? Isn't that why you bought the Ventrac in the first place??"
oops /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
