Mowing Mowing on slopes

[MossRoad]

I guess I don't know why people are knocking the PT mower. I love mine. It does a great job and the lawn looks nice.

Attached is a before picture.

 

[MossRoad]

And here is an after picture.

 

[FOURTEEN]

"" 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!!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Sedgewood]

<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

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

<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.

 

[pequeajim]

</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?

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

<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.

 

[MossRoad]

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[MossRoad]

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

 

[pequeajim]

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

 

[JackIL]

Jim,

Now you have revealed a basic flaw in the way you think about tractors. You should not feel the need to ask permission to acquire a second tractor--you only need to be prepared to ask for forgiveness after the fact!

This usually (but not always) works.

JackIL

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="red"> Jim,

Now you have revealed a basic flaw in the way you think about tractors. You should not feel the need to ask permission to acquire a second tractor--you only need to be prepared to ask for forgiveness after the fact!

This usually (but not always) works.

JackIL </font>

And that is why I love the summer time. The lovely Mrs_Bob takes her annual trip to visit her family and just as if magic, a new machine shows up in my driveway. I can't explain it. I think they follow me home like poor homeless lost dogs that need a good home. Funny thing too, there is usually some form of jewelry that shows up at the house too . . . I think it acts as a pacifier?

 

[MossRoad]

That is funny how that works... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="green"> That is funny how that works... </font>


Moss, I actually beg to differ with you. Your statement is not quite accurate.

More accurately stated it would be: That is funny how that STILL works!

 

[pequeajim]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Jim,

Now you have revealed a basic flaw in the way you think about tractors. You should not feel the need to ask permission to acquire a second tractor--you only need to be prepared to ask for forgiveness after the fact!

This usually (but not always) works.

JackIL )</font>

You're right guys... Maybe I need to learn from the pros at this sort of thing. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Maybe someone could teach a class or something...

Getting the Tractor You Want 101
Getting the Tractors You Want 102
Bribing, (oops, I mean) Negotiating with Your Wife 101

I’m just not in your league yet guys… Maybe a little more time on TBN under your expert tutelage, and I will get this stuff down pat! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MikeOConnor]

this is my first post as a "real Power Trac type person", the stork having delivered the new 1850 over the weekend. i'll add a note to my "steep slopes" thread in a minute, but couldn't resist offering another "obtain new toys" strategy for your consideration.

namely, help your wife with a couple huge restoration projects on the first weekend that the new machine is at your house.

here's a link to Marcie's blog entry (with cool before/after pictures) about yesterday's brush/tree clearing project.

Marcie's blog entry about clearing Hidden Oaks Prairie

she also wrote up another entry showing some action shots of me climbing up one of our "medium" steep hills. this gizmo is the greatest! here's the link;

"new toy" blog entry

Marcie's the VP of Finance around here -- and she just decided that the new gizmo is just darn nifty. me too!!

 

[pequeajim]

Thanks for the inspiration Mike! Now THAT'S a machine!!

 

[tracdoc]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I guess I don't know why people are knocking the PT mower. I love mine. It does a great job and the lawn looks nice. )</font>

I love mine, too MR. I read somewhere in this Forum that the blade tip speeds are very high (? 17k rpm) on the 3-blade PT mower. My "lawn" aka tamed pasture grass mix has never looked better. Moreover, I get a kick out the look on folks' faces as they drive by while I'm mowing. You can almost read their lips: "Golly, what was that thaang, anyhow?"

I removed the covers after the last mow this week, preparatory to wintering over. Lotsa' grass built up around pulleys. <font color="red"> QUESTION </font> : one of the pulleys, the only one which is not connected to a blade, does not appear to have a Zerk fitting. Is this a sealed bearing pulley, or should I be lubricating it somewhere? I've lubed the other three via the Zerks under the deck.

Thanks for your help.

 

[blackwell]

Check out draft control in past post. Weight transfer on PT's explained there.
EB

 

[MossRoad]

I didn't look. I'll assume it is sealed. Is it the one that is the belt tensioner?