My PT-422 mods

[KMA]

Cut engine shroud to allow for cleaning without pulling the engine:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/power-trac/309111-engine-heat-shields.html#post3740605

 

[KMA]

Made a tooth bar for my LMT bucket:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/power-trac/310891-cheap-diy-tooth-bar.html

A couple of mini-hoe mods coming soon...

 

[KMA]

Replaced the original 9" bucket on the mini-hoe with a much larger 12" model with replaceable teeth. It cost me just over $200 shipped (with coupon) and required 4 large washers used as spacers when bolting it up. The mounting holes are about 4 1/4" apart on the new bucket, vs 4" on the old one, and the washer filled in the gaps. I plan to use it for digging in softer soil, or where it is wet/soggy since it can hold approx. 3x the material. The original will still be used for trenches and possibly when carrying heavier object with the thumb attachment.

:cool2: Pics of thumb to follow once mounted.

 

[MossRoad]

Where did you order it from?

 

[KMA]

Where did you order it from?

Hi MR,

I got this one here:

3 Tooth Trencher Bucket

I ordered over the phone using a 25% off coupon good until 5/31/2014, but you should be able to go through the website without issue. Here's the coupon code: 58986825

I was charged $6.99 for shipping and took just over a week to arrive. It's not as obvious in the picture, but it is much bigger (and heavier) than the original bucket.

 

[KentT]

Thank you, Sir! I just ordered one at that price! :thumbsup:

 

[KMA]

Thank you, Sir! I just ordered one at that price! :thumbsup:

Glad I could help. I haven't had the opportunity to dig with it yet, but I don't expect any issues. The smaller bucket might be better for hard or rocky soil, but I won't be sure until I put it to work. Hope it works out for you too.

 

[KentT]

That larger size will be useful for cleaning out the ditch beside the driveway. For serious digging, I'll continue to use the original 9"...

 

[KMA]

Hi Kent,

I wanted to let you (and anyone else) know I added some spacers to fill in the larger front mounting holes on the HF bucket. I used 3/4 black pipe I had laying around, cut off sections and put a notch in them so they could be squeezed into place. These ensure the bolt stays centered. The rear holes were fine as-is. Thought I'd pass it on in case you were interested in doing something similar.

 

[KMA]

Bought a 16" thumb off of Ebay for $200 shipped. I could have gotten a different one a bit cheaper (~$38 or so), but this seller was highly rated. It is extremely well built. Really over built for what I need. The base is 1/2" steel and heavy. I mounted it such that it works best with both the new, larger bucket and the original PT buck. Pics are with the new HF bucket and shown in the different positions. I will most likely leave the base only when not using the thumb to avoid the added weight. The "pins" are enormous, and definitely will not the weak point. Picked up an old railroad tie and large rock as test, worked really well.

 

[ernemats]

Have you had a chance to use the HF bucket to do any digging?

 

[woodlandfarms]

Why is there cardboard under the tires?

 

[cqaigy2]

Why is there cardboard under the tires?

black marks would be my guess

 

[woodlandfarms]

black marks would be my guess

Someone loves their garage too much.

 

[KMA]

Have you had a chance to use the HF bucket to do any digging?

Yes, started digging in a wet area behind my shed to try and get better drainage. It worked great, but it was very soft and I haven't had a chance to see how it does in harder soils.

Why is there cardboard under the tires?

black marks would be my guess

Someone loves their garage too much.

No, I'm not quite that clean... lol. :janitor:

That wheel motor has a slow leak (have a new seal kit, but haven't put it in yet). It left a slight puddle on the concrete the day before, so I slid a pizza box under it this time. I try to keep the garage floor in decent shape, but there are stains all over. In fact, there is a pinkish hue over much of it since I sprayed my son's jeep in there. Wife was not pleased. :jaded:

 

[Marks481]

In fact, there is a pinkish hue over much of it since I sprayed my son's jeep in there. Wife was not pleased. :jaded:

But the unfinished bare studs on the back wall and unpainted sheetrock give her no cause for complaint?

It isn't like you painted the jeep on the carpet on the front room... at least not that you have publicly admitted...

looks like the jeep turned out well.

 

[KMA]

But the unfinished bare studs on the back wall and unpainted sheetrock give her no cause for complaint?

Oh... she complains. Once I get the detached garage done (hopefully in the next few months), I'll probably insulate and drywall this one.

It isn't like you painted the jeep on the carpet on the front room... at least not that you have publicly admitted...

looks like the jeep turned out well.

Thanks! It's still not done... about a month or so of work left. Also picked up a auto trans I might rebuild and throw in it, but haven't decided 100% yet. It's my 16 yr old son's first car, and we've been working on it together in a 90/10 work split type arrangement. :confused3:

It was rusted out and needed a lot of work, but the frame is perfect and the motor seemed strong. Here is a before, and a current pic (still need to do undercoating, more brake work, and a bunch of other odds and ends):

 

[ernemats]

The bucket is used on hf tow behind trencher which only has a 9 hp motor and operates at 2,750 psi so I think a power trac would be able to handle that bucket.

 

[KentT]

I mounted the HF 12" bucket that Kevin pointed out, and used it to dig two drainage ditches today -- sorry, no pics, I got rained out....

First, regarding mounting. My local Tractor Supply had a 3/4" ID bushing in one of the HW parts trays that I cut off pieces to bush out the large hole where the dump-cylinder mechanism attaches. Also bought a stock of 3/4" ID washers to use for shims. Used one per side, per bolt, to shim the narrower PT mechanism to fit the wider HF spacing.

Also bought the only 3/4-8"- 10 thread bolt that the Tractor Supply had and used it to mount the bucket dump arm. The stock 6" x 3/4 bolts on the PT aren't quite long enough for the bolt to completely come through all the threads on a NyLock nut. Because the bucket dump mechanism is safely hidden behind the bucket, I simply used double nuts on 8" bolt to lock it in place, and left the remaining threads exposed -- also used flat washers under the bolt head and the double-nuts. Now, I need to find another 3/4x8"x10 bolt for the bucket hinge point, add a fresh NyLock nut, and cut off the excess...

Because of the different spacing of the mounting holes, the bucket does not extend (uncurl) quite as far as the 9" PT bucket -- you can't quite put it flat on the ground. Similarly, the bucket curl/dump cylinder does not completely retract before the center tooth hits the 4" square beam/tube of the minihoe. Doesn't really impact its use, IMO, but it is something you may want to be aware of... it was made for a machine with slightly different geometry.

Now to my impressions after use: This thing digs real well -- but it is at the limit of the PT's minihoe stock bucket curl/dump cylinder in breakout force, when in hard clay with slate/shale rocks. There were a few times that I had to use the treadle to move the PT slightly in order to get the bucket to curl and take a full bite... I was never unable to get a full bite, and I adjusted to this need quickly.

In softer soils it works fine. If your goal is to excavate and move a volume of dirt, it must dig at least twice as fast -- if not faster -- as the 9" bucket, because the bucket is SO much bigger. I also found that it cleans out the bucket MUCH better in muddy, sticky, mucky stuff -- the wider bucket and the larger volume makes the "bite" of muck much easier to jar out of the bucket. I was digging some in black sediment that the locals call "crawdab mud" -- sticky, mucky clay kind of stuff -- and I never had to stop and manually clean the bucket. I could always jar the glob of goop out of it....

My first impressions are VERY positive overall, and a great addition to the toolkit! Thanks for the tip on the deal -- Kevin! Sure can't beat the price and $6.99 FedEx shipping all the way from California...

Another observation -- for those of you running stock wheel track -- this thing doesn't leave as much space to articulate the front wheels to empty the bucket as the 9" bucket does. Just be aware, and clean up your trench as you go, so you don't need to go back and straddle it to clean it up. Part of one sidewall caved in on me, on one trench where it was really muddy/mucky, and I had to do just that. I was glad to have the wider stance of my modified wheelmotor-machine...

 

[KMA]

Kent,

Terrific write-up and summary. You were spot-on with everything, including the things needed to get it mounted and also the differences in use when compared to the 9" bucket. :thumbsup:

BTW, my bucket arrived missing the pins used to hold on the removable teeth. I contacted HF via the webpage, but didn't hear back until yesterday when a package arrived. They included the pins AND another set of teeth... felt bad since it was more than I needed, and I highly doubt I'll wear out the ones I already had. Anyway, good CS from HF.