Buying Advice Need to find a PT owner in Minnesota

Clumber · May 3, 2011

J_J said:
Clumber,

Do you have case drains on your wheel motors? Does your VSP/tram pump have a case drain?

You might call Terry at PT to verify just what the radiator is cooling. We know about the inaccuracies with the PT schematics.

Perhaps they did change the way the fluid is cooled. Cooling the PTO/steering fluid might be more efficient than the using the charge pump volume.

A visual inspection reveals only two hydraulic hoses going to each wheel motor. Thus, I think there are no case drains. There is a smaller gray cable going to each wheel, but I think it is related to the parking break.

J_J · May 3, 2011

Clumber said:
JJ, I'm not sure what a case drain is. Just beginning to understand the PT and the hydraulics. If you tell me what to look for on the machine I will take a look on the machine-- maybe take some photos. Its the only way to really tell for any particular machine.

The best way to determine which circuits are connected to the the radiator, etc, would be to follow the hoses back from the radiator, and make your own hyd schematic, or just verify what your schematic is showing.

If the radiator is in the steering/PTO circuit, that means that the system is pushing 8 GPM's through the radiator, and your reservoir is only 10 gal, that is a pretty rapid exchange of fluid.

Is there perhaps a manifold that several hoses run to before they go back to the radiator. I would think the VSP would have a case drain to help cool the closed loop fluid, by flushing the VSP case, with cooler fluid from the charge pump.

MossRoad · May 4, 2011

Clumber said:
A visual inspection reveals only two hydraulic hoses going to each wheel motor. Thus, I think there are no case drains. There is a smaller gray cable going to each wheel, but I think it is related to the parking break.

The PT425 wheel motors do not have case drains, as far as I know. Only the front wheels have parking brakes.

As for the layout of the wheel motor circuits, they are arranged in a series/parallel circuit.

Two wheels are in series, forming two series circuits. Those two series circuits are connected in parallel to the variable volume pump.

If you are standing still on the PT, and you turn the wheel all the way to the left, you will see the left wheels roll toward each other. Looking at it from the left side, the front wheel will roll clockwise and the rear wheel will roll counter-clockwise.

If you could X-Ray vision through the tractor, you would see the right side wheels doing just tho opposite. The right side wheels will roll away from each other with the front wheel rolling counter-clockwise and the rear wheel rolling clockwise.

Now imagine turning to the left while the machine is moving. The left side wheels are traveling at the same speed, but the right side wheels have to travel faster, and all of them are rotating counter-clockwise. Now stop and back up to the right. All the wheels have to roll clockwise but the left ones have to roll faster than the right ones.

And all if this is done without scuffing the turf. :thumbsup:

Badback · May 4, 2011

Well, to get back to the original reason that I started this thread.

I got a reply to a PT425 owner in Iowa, just south of Des Moines. This is a 4 hour drive for us but is doable as a one day trip.

He sounds very welcoming in his reply. I will let you know how this turns out.

Badback · May 6, 2011

Well, this is all happening faster than I thought it would.

I asked Julie to pick a weekend for the trip to Iowa to look at a PT425 and she said "let's go this weekend". So, tomorrow we will make the pilgrimage to Carlisle, IA. Our host is TBN member tbunce7(Terry). Terry is a contractor and uses the 425 in his business. He has had it for 2 years of trouble free service.

I'll let you all know how this turns out. Sure beats a drive to Tazewell.

MossRoad · May 6, 2011

Good luck on your trip. Give it an honest evaluation and be sure to test drive a Ventrac, too.

Badback · May 6, 2011

MossRoad,

We test drove a Ventrac a few weeks ago. A 4231D I believe. We seriously considered buying a 4226D. It is a nice machine, especially for snow blowing and mowing. But, the loader is a non-starter. It's $6K and only 500lb rated, and the cab has to come off to attach the loader. The cab is another $6K and has a lot of opens spots that I think could be trouble with a snowblower.

And, the whole thing is just way too much money for what it does.

We are now considering a PT1430 instead of a PT425. We just want a diesel!

After some thought, I have convinced myself that I can build a cab for it.

MossRoad · May 6, 2011

Badback said:
MossRoad,

We test drove a Ventrac a few weeks ago. A 4231D I believe. We seriously considered buying a 4226D. It is a nice machine, especially for snow blowing and mowing. But, the loader is a non-starter. It's $6K and only 500lb rated, and the cab has to come off to attach the loader. The cab is another $6K and has a lot of opens spots that I think could be trouble with a snowblower.

And, the whole thing is just way too much money for what it does.

We are now considering a PT1430 instead of a PT425. We just want a diesel!

After some thought, I have convinced myself that I can build a cab for it.

I have often thought of building some expanded steel panels to hang off of the ROPS to protect me while brush hogging in our dense woods. The sides are easy. The front would have to take into consideration a bump out for the joystick, but not so far as to interfere with the FEL raising. It would have to be a two piece deal, sloping outwards from top to bottom to clear the joystick, then back in to clear the FEL. Of course, this is on a 2001 model. The later models with higher lift may be quite different. I could build the front screen out of lexan. That is pretty tough, although pricey.

I could put snap-in clear vinyl curtains for the expanded steel mesh panels for winter use.

The rear of a cab is the hardest part for a PT425. I have armrests on my factory seat. When I am in full articulation and full oscillation, the rear corners of the armrests actually get torn by the expanded steel on the engine cover!

It is a pinch point. My elbows have gotten in there once or twice. The thing bend and twists THAT much! (quite impressive, really:laughing: ) So I am sure doors and a rear panel could get damaged is some situations unless I move the seat forward some amount of distance (Not sure how far). And I like my leg room. Maybe a half steel rear panel down to the level of the top of the seat followed by a canvas curtain would work. I will probably not ever do it... just thinking out loud.

Clumber · May 6, 2011

Badback said:
MossRoad,

We test drove a Ventrac a few weeks ago. A 4231D I believe. We seriously considered buying a 4226D. It is a nice machine, especially for snow blowing and mowing. But, the loader is a non-starter. It's $6K and only 500lb rated, and the cab has to come off to attach the loader. The cab is another $6K and has a lot of opens spots that I think could be trouble with a snowblower.

And, the whole thing is just way too much money for what it does.

We are now considering a PT1430 instead of a PT425. We just want a diesel!

After some thought, I have convinced myself that I can build a cab for it.

You may want to pole some of the diesel PT owners here. Diesel PTs do not come with glow plugs and I have heard they are a ***** to start at 20 degrees much less zero degree MI weather.

Patrick

SpringHollow · May 7, 2011

The Deutz diesels are actually amazing starting at low temperatures - MUCH better than any previous diesel i have ever had. Mine started at 20° F prior to my installing glow plugs. It starts rough but it starts. The glow plugs are an easy mod. My PT web page has pictures. Some have trouble with the gas engines.

Ken