Operating Tips

[Red Zebra]

Adding weight to the back of the PT will not only reduce wheel spin, but allows the wheel torque to be used from all four motors giving you greater "push" for the machine.

Anybody have a pic or description to do this on a 425????

 

[Rivco]

Anybody have a pic or description to do this on a 425????

A better solution might be to just add wheel weights to the rear wheels. This would put less stress on the articulated joint when you are carrying a full bucket of dirt, stone, etc., as opposed to hanging weight off the back end of the powertrac. You would still get as much if not more traction with wheel weights IMHO.

 

[BobRip]

A better solution might be to just add wheel weights to the rear wheels. This would put less stress on the articulated joint when you are carrying a full bucket of dirt, stone, etc., as opposed to hanging weight off the back end of the powertrac. You would still get as much if not more traction with wheel weights IMHO.

You can also put fluid in the tires, non-freezing kind if needed for your climate.

 

[Rivco]

You could fill the tires for added weight and traction but I like the idea of wheel weights better. ( easy on & easy off as needed )

 

[Red Zebra]

Hate to ask dumb quetions....

but where does one find wheel weights? How do they attach?

I purchased/brought home a pallets of mixed slate (1'x1' 6"x6" 2"x2" etc.)
14 boxes of slate 1'x1' was the limit for the 425.
The sales guy said they weighed 50 lbs each x14 = 700 lbs.

Any turn over a few degress started bringing the pucker on.

However, It shure beat moving them a few at a time with a wheel barrow.
We leveled a pallet on the 425 with the truck/trailer. Slid the boxes over then used shrink wrap before taking them up to the new house over the rough terrain.

Love the PT...and want the weights when moving heavy loads!

 

[toy]

Hate to ask dumb quetions....

but where does one find wheel weights? How do they attach?

I purchased/brought home a pallets of mixed slate (1'x1' 6"x6" 2"x2" etc.)
14 boxes of slate 1'x1' was the limit for the 425.
The sales guy said they weighed 50 lbs each x14 = 700 lbs.

Any turn over a few degress started bringing the pucker on.

However, It shure beat moving them a few at a time with a wheel barrow.
We leveled a pallet on the 425 with the truck/trailer. Slid the boxes over then used shrink wrap before taking them up to the new house over the rough terrain.

Love the PT...and want the weights when moving heavy loads!

On the rims on my 425 there are 4 square holes you can use them to bolt the wheel weights on. I have a craftsman garden tractor that has wheel weights that are 55 pounds each and they can be mounted on the 425. By using this kind of weights , the weight is bearing down on the rim and not on the motor which in that respect is easier on the wheel motors but it would take a little more to get the wheels to turning. Considering the fulcrum point I believe it would give you more lift than the 110 pounds of wheel weights. You can probably find a used set if you search around. If you was to leave the weights on all the time you might get used to pushing the lift capacity of your machine and do damage, so that might be something that you might want to keep in mind and make two trips instead of overloading the machine to make it in one trip on the occasions where you can divide the load. Hope my ramblings help you. If you want to buy them new you can get them at sears

 

[Rara Avis]

As to loading tires...I thought I had read something about not doing it...

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ker-2.html?highlight=loading+tires#post143390

 

[Red Zebra]

Ah, the voices of reason.....

Yep, It may take me an extra trip or two lightening the load a bit...but seems the prudent thing to do.

I thik I'll go weightless.

 

[toy]

Ah, the voices of reason.....

Yep, It may take me an extra trip or two lightening the load a bit...but seems the prudent thing to do.

I thik I'll go weightless.

There are times that you can't divide a load and the wheel weights are nice to have. When I got my coal furnace for my garrage when I put the forks under it the pt would lift it ,but the pt was light and would pucker and with something like that I didn't want to drop it wheel weights in that case is good to have.

 

[FOURTEEN]

Ah, the voices of reason.....

Actually the maximum lifting ability of the PT425 is only slightly more than the pucker point!

Concerning traction, in dry conditions the wheels will usually just stop rather than spin.


PS: Try reversing the wheels for greater safety and stability!
In a PT425, use 11# of air in the front tires and 7# in the rear for the best traction, nicest ride, and least wheel motor wear!