possible PT owner

[pagliaccio matto]

Thanks for the feedback about the 2425. Here are a few more questions: The soil conditions here in Santa Fe varry from sandy to rocky to clay to hardpan. In some places there is little or no topsoil. The terrain varries from flat to hilly. How will the 2425 do in thease conditions? Also the elevation here is 7200ft. I have read that you lose 3% horsepower for every 1000 ft. rise above 3000 ft on non turbo charged engenies. If this is the case,then I would lose about 12% power! Can this be true? Are there any special problems associated with the 2425? Anyone own a PT 12ft. T-8 trailer? How would you rate it? thanks,
Steve

 

[jfh28]

We're all rock up here, a lot of fractured shale right below the surface, and I haven't had any trouble yet. Keep in mind this is not a full size cat or jd backhoe so there are limitations. My land is on the side of mountain and I can get up anything I've wanted too with it. Won't set any speed records doing it though. Of course what we call mountains you might call flatlands. I think you really need to test a machine in your conditions. Call Scott at PT and see if there is anyone out your way that you can visit.

Jack

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

I have read that you lose 3% horsepower for every 1000 ft. rise above 3000 ft on non turbo charged engenies. If this is the case,then I would lose about 12% power! Can this be true?
Steve

Steve: I am afraid it it quite true that you will lose at least 12%. In racing naturally aspirated engines, we have seen that much loss at Bonneville, which is less than 5000 ft., and you can demonstrate it fairly easily in the performance of naturally aspirated airplanes. Manifold pressure decreases as altitude increases, so power goes down.
PT does not currently offer turbocharged engines, so the only suggestion I can make is that you pick the machine configuration most suited to the jobs you need to do, and then get the most powerful one you can afford, so you have some power reserve.

 

[MossRoad]

Or see if PT would build you a custom unit with a turbo Kubota engine!

 

[pagliaccio matto]

I'm sorry to hear that the altitude power loss is true. I think it aplies to to the human body as well at this altitude!
Steve

 

[J_J]

I'm sorry to hear that the altitude power loss is true. I think it aplies to to the human body as well at this altitude!
Steve

I believe there is a way around the altitude problem. Check with the customer service department for the engine manufacture, and see if there is a high altitude kit available. I believe it is a matter of changing out the jets, and retuning.

The body will also compensate for the altitude. It is a slow change, but it will happen.

 

[Bob999]

I believe there is a way around the altitude problem. Check with the customer service department for the engine manufacture, and see if there is a high altitude kit available. I believe it is a matter of changing out the jets, and retuning.

J_J My understanding is that lower atmospheric pressure at higher altitude results in a well tuned engine producing less power than the same well tuned engine will produce at sea level. High altitude modification kits address another aspect of high altitude operation--the fuel air mixture becomes overly rich. However, my understanding is that correcting the fuel air mixture will not restore power levels to those produced at sea level.

 

[catsco]

I'm in Colorado at just under 8,000 feet, and originally had a little difficulty with the mixture being overly rich on my PT-425 (with the Kohler engine).

Never got around to rejetting with the high altitude kit, as after about 300 hours and putting slightly hotter spark plugs it, it runs well.

One thing you might check, regardless of which engine is in your PT when you buy it, is that the choke is entirely released when you open it.

That was part of my problem, in that the choke cable was not correctly adjusted.

Another high altitude issue, especially in the sun during warm weather, is the boiling of the gas in the tank, as here along the front range, the only fuel available is made for low emissions, which puts the boiling point at under 120 degrees.

My PT has the steel tank in the engine cover; makes a great solar heater for the fuel!

Regards, MH