Mowing Mowing on slopes

[tracdoc]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I didn't look. I'll assume it is sealed. Is it the one that is the belt tensioner? )</font>

Yes MR, that's the one. There appears to be a groove/track to slide that pulley to change belt tension. No lube point that I could find.

 

[FOURTEEN]

It is easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission!!

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

 

[pequeajim]

Well, thanks to TanSprFarm, tonight I got the chance to play around with a 425, mow up some steep slopes, use the bucket, hoe and see what several of the other attachments look like!

(man, he must of bought a lot of jewelry…)

Anyway, I really like the tractor. Bob was right, the Ventrac is a better slope mower, but in my case, I don’t know if that difference is enough to over come the versatility of the FEL attachments which I really desire. I went up some pretty steep slopes cutting grass, (steeper than what I have) and although the tractor started to bog a bit, it was controllable. I wish it had another 5-6 HP.

The bucket clearly had more “umph” than my 4200, but the most fun was the fact that you could raise it 60” in the air. My 4200 is around 11”.

I hoe is useful and will do just fine for what I would like to do. One thing that really irritated me was that in order to rotate the bucket in/out, you have to work the attachment release lever under the dash which is VERY awkward. I guess over time, I could get used to it, and I wonder if some genius on here has already come up with a solution to make that control more user friendly.

My feet (size 14), fit on the controls and the unit was very easy to drive. No more hand controls like my Ventrac!

Overall, a very positive experience. Bob was right, is it better than my Ventrac, no. I my Ventrac better than it, no. It may well be better for ME though…

Now if I can figure out what to sell my 4200, slip scoop and 60” deck for?

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue"> I wonder if some genius on here has already come up with a solution to make that control more user friendly.
</font>

Yes, some genius has. It wasn't me, though. There is a post around here somewhere that you can look for because I have to go to work. It involved some steel rod, a rubber cord and a bolt. In effect, it turned the right knee lever into a left hand fingertip control right about where the turn signal of a car would be.

 

[MossRoad]

One more thing... what year was his PT425? If it is older than two years, it might have had the older wheel motors. The newer ones are supposed to have higher torque wheel motors for better power in applications like hill climbing.

 

[MuncyBob]

214 mph.....no wonder it sounds like it could take off! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[pequeajim]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( One more thing... what year was his PT425? If it is older than two years, it might have had the older wheel motors. The newer ones are supposed to have higher torque wheel motors for better power in applications like hill climbing. )</font>


The one that I drove is less than a year old. He really loves the tractor for sure.

Jim!

 

[MossRoad]

Good. That was great of him to let you check it out. The generosity of folks still amazes me. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[eambrose]

You are right on the tip speed - Each time I visit my brother in law and use my old 425 i am amazed at the speed of the blades - this does account for the very high quality cut if your blades are razor sharp - I use a Walker ZTR now for my cutting duties - mainly because Ilike to collect clippings every other cut and also want a dedicated unit always ready to go and keep my ASV trac machine as a toy with low hours.

The Walker give a very nice cut - but has nowhere near the tip speed as the 425 - in very thick high grass the PT cut is cleaner. But the dedicated mower vs multi use machine is another discussion - I decided that I wanted a mower designed for that task that I can pound week in and week out and keep wear and tear down on the "toy" uh uh I mean "tool"

 

[Schultz]

We went through this discussion last year too, but I can't find the post. The tip speed was figured out by finding the volume of the hydraulic motor on the mower and multiplying it by the GPM at 3600 rpm. If I remember correctly the speed of the 60" deck was about 17200-17300 ft/min and the 48" deck was somthing like 17500 ft/min. The motor on the 48" deck spins a lot faster.