new to tractors, thinking about a powertrac...

[MossRoad]

Yes, the wording on the PDF price sheet reads...

"45HP Deutz - 72" lift height, 40 degree finish mower" which I suppose could lead people to believe it is included. It should read something like "40 degree slope tractor" instead.

 

[ducati996]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( the owner has been using a John Deere model 4100hst w/ 4 wheel drive. It is a 1999 with 500hrs on it. He will sell it for $11,000 with a 54" mmm and a 47" snowblower.

He goes straight up and down, never side-wise on the hill. In fact, he said he cant turn it on the hill. He uses 4wd to go up, then backs down, then back up. He specifically said that you need 4wd and that a gear tractor would be really hard to use on the hill. )</font>

Thats an really good price for this machine -compare it to the 4110 (basically no difference) and the attachments are mucho expensive !! That blower will do wonders for the snow on that driveway -get a cab if you keep it....

But you got some crazy slopes and the 4100-4110 is high on the C.O.G scale (wheel weights or fluid are a must) ! I would follow the owners instructions to the T with no margin for error...

The PT no doubt will be the safer of the two on the slopes, but the guy does it now with the 4100, and is offering it to you at a really good price...makes the choices harder...

I saw the website and the PT models have some serious muscle !! doesnt make the choices easier

Ducati

 

[Bob999]

<font color="red"> I did not realize that the 1845 came with the mower deck, that does make it seem more reasonable. </font>

Others have made clear that a mower is not included in the tractor price.

FYI I have a finish mower for the 1845 for sale. It is listed in TBN classifieds. Mower is nearly new with about 10 hours use and was purchased new in 2003

 

[pequeajim]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Yes, the wording on the PDF price sheet reads...

"45HP Deutz - 72" lift height, 40 degree finish mower" which I suppose could lead people to believe it is included. It should read something like "40 degree slope tractor" instead. )</font>

MR: It was really the wording on the tractor description page that I was quoting where it specifically lists "72" finished-cut mowing deck" as part of the tractor description.

http://www.power-trac.com/tsmclass.htm

Scott tild me that the deck is not included and has caused some confusion in the past.

 

[dukenyc]

Thanks for checking with Power-trac about the mower. I suspected it was extra.

Jim, the pics of the property helped alot with picturing what the various slopes might look like.

Iwish I could post larger pics. It is really hard to show the actual grade. I am attaching a cropped pick of the grass behind the house, unfortunately taken in the winter.

I'll try and measure the slope, but its changes over the course of the hill due to the terrain.

How does Sears sell their craftsman mowers with 27+hp Kohlers that are full pressurized oil systems for $3000? it really seems like a full pressurized oil sytem would be reasonable to include on a $10,000 mower/tractor.

I am also a bit worried about the lack of brakes. What do you do when you need to stop quickly? Do you hit the reverse pedal and spin'em backwards for a second?

 

[Bob999]

You raised two issues:

Pressurized oil systems: So far as I know the engines PT uses have pressurized oil systems. The issue is that if the engine is operated on a sufficient slope then the intake for the oil system may be uncovered and there will be no oil available. The Deutz diesel engines have oil sumps that are designed to operate at a greater angle than the Robin gas engines. The potential of tilting a tractor sufficiently that the oil suction is uncovered applies to all tractors including the brand you cited.

Brakes: So long as the engine is running and the hydraulic system is intact all of the PT tractors have effective "brakes" i.e. the hydrostat system very effectively functions both as a drive system and a brake system. The issue arises to a small degree if the engine is not running but even with the engine not running the hydrostat is pretty effective because the wheel motors are "locked". However, if there is an opening in the hydrostat system --a burst hose, a torn hose, or a broken fitting then the wheel motors provide almost no resistance and the operator has no way to control the tractor. The larger units have braking systems which function even when there is no hydrostat pressure.

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue">What do you do when you need to stop quickly? </font>

As soon as you take your foot off either the forward or reverse pedal, the tractor stops by itself almost instantly. It has enough force to be make you fly forward in the seat, so use your seatbelt. Brakes are not needed.

 

[dukenyc]

I am really starting to lean towards buying the 1999 JD 4100 that is on the property now. He wants $10,500 for it with the 54" MMM and 47" 2-stage blower. It has 500hrs on it, and it looks to be well maintained.

I just don't know if it is a good deal, if it is enough tractor, and if it is a good choice as a mower/and rough cutter.

How capable of an FEL would it be compared to a 425?

A new 425 with FEL, mower and rough cutter would cost me the same as the used JD and a new FEL for it. The JD would include the snow blower wjereas the 425 would not.

Tough choice, and if I want the JD, I have to decide this week before it moves to Maine.

 

[MossRoad]

I can't recall what the lift capacity is of the JD FEL. It will lift higher than the PT400 series. You will have to keep some weight on the rear, like a large box blade or a ballast box, or, perhaps the snow thrower. That really seems like a good price for the JD, as the mower and snow thrower are several thousand dollars worth of equipment. Do you like any of the local JD dealers that would be performing any major work for you? JD parts are available nationwide and, as I recall, the JD4100 was the only 4000 series that is completely yanmar assembled... could be mistaken. That is a good thing... I think they all used yanmar engines, but all of the 4000 series were assembled in the US with the exception of the 4100. You'd have to research that to make sure I'm not leading you down the path with incorrect information. There were reports of front axle problems and turf scuffing on the larger 4000 series tractors, but, as I recall, the 4100 was pretty much complaint free. I really was leaning towards it and probably would have purchased one except for the fact that all of our local JD dealers were not too friendly and unwilling to come out from behind their desks to show me the tractors like it would sell itself or something. Also, I concluded the PT was the right choice for me in comfort and versatility. It has a much smaller footprint than the JD and I needed to use my pickup truck to transport it between our properties, the little league and the church. It fit in the 8' bed of the truck with an attachment hanging out the back. Couldn't do that with the JD.

If you decide to buy the JD4100, you can always resell it for just about what you paid for it. They are great machines with great re-sale value. I doubt you will lose any money on the deal. Tough decision, for sure.

 

[dukenyc]

Thanks, I appreciate the reply. So you think the JD will hold its value for a few years? I thought 10,500 was a bit high being 6 years old. That said, its alot better than $18,000 for the same parts new.