New PT tucked away.

[jbman]

Thanks to all the advice and the wealth of info on this forum, I took the plunge and now have a new 425 at the house. I want to thank you folks for the advice you gave me directly, and the information you have shared in the past that is now available in the archives here. My trip to Tazewell was enjoyable, a real nice group of people there that were willing to spend all the time I wanted showing me around the PT. I feel pretty good about doing business with these folks. Once I got into the demo, I decided on the 4 in1, the mini hoe, and the forks for now. I can see a stump grinder and the mower in the near future.

Thanks again, I'll keep reading and learning here.
Jim

 

[KentT]

Congratulations, but...

Or maybe...

Seriously, let us know what you think of it after you've put a few hours on it! I clearly remember the day I brought mine home -- and it wasn't a brand new one...

 

[jbman]

Ok KentT - you pretty well cracked me up there with that one. Now, I am reasonably confident you all know just exactly what my 425 looks like.... let's see, it's green.. it's uhm, real solid.... and it turns kinda funny but real well...............

okeydoke, I'll get some pics! I'll have to see if I can get the brunette to take some that make me look like I know what I am doing on it. That won't be easy at this point.

Jim

 

[KentT]

Ok KentT - you pretty well cracked me up there with that one. Now, I am reasonably confident you all know just exactly what my 425 looks like.... let's see, it's green.. it's uhm, real solid.... and it turns kinda funny but real well...............

okeydoke, I'll get some pics! I'll have to see if I can get the brunette to take some that make me look like I know what I am doing on it. That won't be easy at this point.

Jim

LOL...

As you're probably figured out by now, take it easy until you get used to it. At first, the treadle appears too sensitive, the hydraulics too quick (especially the tilt function), and it just plain handles funny -- and perhaps turns too quickly.

I suggest you leave the throttle set at about 2/3 to 3/4 for a little while -- since you'll not be driving anything off the front PTO. This "slows it down" a bit and makes it easier to get used to. You'll be surprised at how quickly you become comfortable with it, and it becomes almost second-nature.

I also suggest you don't try maneuvering it into "tight spots" for a little while, until you get more used to it. It's pretty easy to articulate too much and hit something with one end of the tractor or another...

Welcome aboard -- you're in for a fun time!

 

[jbman]

Thanks Kent - I appreciate and will carefully follow any advise offered.

Jim

LOL...

As you're probably figured out by now, take it easy until you get used to it. At first, the treadle appears too sensitive, the hydraulics too quick (especially the tilt function), and it just plain handles funny -- and perhaps turns too quickly.

I suggest you leave the throttle set at about 2/3 to 3/4 for a little while -- since you'll not be driving anything off the front PTO. This "slows it down" a bit and makes it easier to get used to. You'll be surprised at how quickly you become comfortable with it, and it becomes almost second-nature.

I also suggest you don't try maneuvering it into "tight spots" for a little while, until you get more used to it. It's pretty easy to articulate too much and hit something with one end of the tractor or another...

Welcome aboard -- you're in for a fun time!

 

[woodlandfarms]

LOL...

I also suggest you don't try maneuvering it into "tight spots" for a little while, until you get more used to it. It's pretty easy to articulate too much and hit something with one end of the tractor or another...

Or get wrapped around a tree. Somehow or other It took me 10 minutes to get around a tree I had wrapped myself around. Maybe the dualies are the issue, but now I pay more attention to it all.....

 

[KentT]

Or get wrapped around a tree. Somehow or other It took me 10 minutes to get around a tree I had wrapped myself around. Maybe the dualies are the issue, but now I pay more attention to it all.....

You're not the first person to do that, nor likely the last. I think Mike or someone posted pictures of getting his around a tree on a sideslope -- and had to cut the tree down if I remember correctly.

 

[Sedgewood]

You're not the first person to do that, nor likely the last. I think Mike or someone posted pictures of getting his around a tree on a sideslope -- and had to cut the tree down if I remember correctly.

Ha! It didn't take me long to do that with my new 1845 - and cut the tree down - it must be one of the initiation rites. Later I learned you can do it with just the canopy if the hill is a steep one.

And then there's the PT pucker....

Sedgewood

 

[MossRoad]

JBMAN,
Congratulations on your purchase!

The rest of you,
You're making me laugh with those "rite of passage" stories!

Here's another one.... How many of you have repeatedly lifted the front tires off the ground over and over again while trying to carefully get the joystick into float instead of just shoving it past the stop like you should?

Up, down, up, down, up, down...

 

[MuncyBob]

Congrats on the new PT! I'm sure you'll soon be added to the owners by state section. If you find the treadle too sensitive you might want to ask PT about the pair of springs they can send you to put under the treadles or look for the thread of the modisifaction that member fourteen did to his. I got the springs and after getting use to them I'm happy with them. I bring this up because when I first drove the PT around the property with the treadle around half way or so I noticed what seemed to be a bucking of the unit..soon realized it was my foot bouncing on the treadle! Hope you have fun breaking her in...I enjoy "working" every time I'm in the seat.

 

[woodlandfarms]

On wrapping around a tree. I did it on the flats, I was mowing around a 5" alder and bang, I was stuck, back tire hooked a tree (no biggy I think) and then I try to back up, but because I was in a turn I just got myself closer, and closer. Frankly, all I could do was laugh and think of mikes pictures on the slope. And you guys are right, I do get used to the hydraulic lift sensitivity after a while. But, the dumping of the bucket and trying to get it to come down smoothly still eludes me. But, I have yet to get a PT Pucker to happen. Not sure it is possible on the 1850's. Maybe when I replace the front hydraulics with something a bit stronger...

Carl

 

[Phils]

Here was one of my "passage rites". The hill was steeper than it looks in the photo.

Phil

 

[jfh28]

...and don't forget the picture with the first thing you "accidentially" back into!

I do recommend that you keep an attachment on (preferably a bucket or hoe) until you get use to it. This will help you to push your way out of whatever predicament you get yourself into. I keep both a front attachment on and the hoe on the back....I tend to put myself in a lot of places I shouldn't be

Enjoy
Jack

 

[jbman]

I am paying attention here! I only have 15 or 20 minutes of seat time so far, so I have a loooong way to go. I'll keep all this in mind, especially considering my land is about 98% woods. Farmall, I may look into those springs too. I am still a bit 'jumpy' on all the controls..

I should be spending alot of time on the machine this weekend. Hopefully, I'll have absolutely no stories to tell.

Thanks again,
Jim

 

[woodlandfarms]

...and don't forget the picture with the first thing you "accidentially" back into!

I do recommend that you keep an attachment on (preferably a bucket or hoe) until you get use to it. This will help you to push your way out of whatever predicament you get yourself into. I keep both a front attachment on and the hoe on the back....I tend to put myself in a lot of places I shouldn't be

Enjoy
Jack

PT's don't have the luxury of rear attachments :-( But I know what you mean...

 

[KentT]

PT's don't have the luxury of rear attachments :-( But I know what you mean...

His PT does -- I think it's a 2425, though it may be a bigger one...

 

[woodlandfarms]

Thats right. My bad.

 

[MossRoad]

Is anyone going to tell him the trick about getting off a tree without cutting it down after hanging it up on a hillside?

Or getting away from a fence once you drive up too close parallel and can't turn away from the fence without hitting it?

 

[jbman]

Really! Please don't hold out on me! Spent a little time with the machine using the minihoe last night - obviously, I'm going to need all the tricks and advice I can get - this is going to take some practice. It is kind of tricky getting used to how it manuevers.

I'm all ears - Jim

Is anyone going to tell him the trick about getting off a tree without cutting it down after hanging it up on a hillside?

Or getting away from a fence once you drive up too close parallel and can't turn away from the fence without hitting it?

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Is anyone going to tell him the trick about getting off a tree without cutting it down after hanging it up on a hillside?

Or getting away from a fence once you drive up too close parallel and can't turn away from the fence without hitting it?

OK, as I recall, someone says you drive into the tree all the way around until you're down hill of it and slide away from it. I haven't tried it, but it may work.
But, when I was downhill against a fence, I dragged the 1845 sideways with a tow strap. What clever maneuver did I fail to figure out?