Power Trac Maximum Slope Capability Questions

[Spanky100]

Power Trac Maximum Slope Capability Questions


The PT website shows the PT 1850 and PT 1845 as "slope capable mowers" with the PT 1850 capable of 45 degrees and the PT 1845 capable of 40 degrees.

What is the expected maximum slope capability for some of the other PT Products for mowing dry grass?
(Is the maximum limited by engine lubrication or machine stability?)

PT 425
PT 1430
PT 1460

Appreciate your thoughts and experience.
Spanky

 

[MossRoad]

My Kohler engine book says that engine is rated for 25 degrees due to the oiling system. I've never seen any official word from PowerTrac on those models.

 

[m5040]

For rough cut "brush hog" cutting, I have found the limiting factor to be tire traction. Don't know about a finished lawn.
One feature that helps is the draft control (only available on 1430+). It transfers weight from the mower to the front tires

 

[Spanky100]

My Kohler engine book says that engine is rated for 25 degrees due to the oiling system. I've never seen any official word from PowerTrac on those models.

MossRoads
Thanks for the specific engine information from Kohler. powering your PT I have an Exmark ZTR with a Kohler Command Pro. Exmark shows the mower capable at 15 degrees max. Will look at the Kohler manual to see what the engine limit is.

 

[Spanky100]

For rough cut "brush hog" cutting, I have found the limiting factor to be tire traction. Don't know about a finished lawn.
One feature that helps is the draft control (only available on 1430+). It transfers weight from the mower to the front tires

M5040

My typical Power Trac use would be field type "brush hog" cutting. I did not know the 1430 and larger have draft control to transfer mower weight to the front tires. That would be a benefit I would think for slopes. I like the PT425 for small dirt close work around the buildings but thinking for my primary use of rough cut mowing (2 to 5 acres fields) more engine power of the PT 1430 and larger is useful to run a wider mower to finish quicker.

A few more questions if don't mind.
- What is the width and blade setup of your rough cut (bush hog type) cutter?
- What is you estimation of the slopes that you rough cut?
- Your PT 1430 i believe is a 30 HP Deutz Diesel. Do you think it would rough cut at about the same rate acres per acre as a 30HP (Engine HP not PTO HP) HST Conventional Tractor using a 60 inch bush hog. I know many variable but wondering for same HP would a PT cut around the same acres per our as conventional tractor.

Thanks
Spanky

 

[MossRoad]

My PT425 has poor-man's draft control. When i'm mowing uphill and start losing traction, I just pull the FEL out of float and raise the implement an inch off the ground. That transfers the weight of the implement off of it's own wheels and onto the machine trough the FEL arms. Front wheel traction immediately increases and up the hill I go.

 

[ponytug]

PT is the best place to get an answer on the slope capability question. While the engine slope rating (oil starvation) is part of the answer, the height/width center of gravity of the machine is also a factor. When I looked into it years ago, Terry at Power-Trac talked me out of a 1460 on slopes in favor of a 1445 for center of gravity reasons. I have the 1445 with the 72" brush hog, which is a work horse. I have added chains for mowing thistles (slippery sap causes an occasional downhill crabbing on crossways mowing of 30 degree slopes that the chains eliminate).

One thing about slope ratings: I think that they are ball park at best. Why? Well a rock and a gopher hole can make a 30 degree slope a 38 degree slope in a heartbeat. At 30 degrees, I am traversing my 1445 carefully on slopes that I know. I don't do cross slopes traverses on steep hillsides that I don't know. For the really steep sections, I only do uphill / downhill tractor moves. I believe that there is no upside to taking unnecessary risks.

More HP will get you more acres mowed per unit of time. If you can mow on the flats with a gear driven tractor, that will probably get more acres done per hour just due to HP losses in a hydraulic system versus mechanically coupled mowers. If you need slope mowing with mechanically coupled drive, there are Aebi tractors. Swiss made, gorgeous tractors, but if you have to ask the price...

It might be helpful to think about the special uses in terms of do it once and never again versus need to haves like mowing an access road to your well. Some things I decided to rent, rather than buy. My must have was 30 degree mowing to get some invasive species under control without using herbicides. The job that paid off the tractor in my mind was the broken main water line that had to be excavated to find the leak and repair it in water saturated heavy clay soil. It was insanely heavy, like 60lbs a shovel full. The one that actually paid for it was subsoil drainage for our arena, or the 2000' of three board fence. The point being, everybody is different.

Good luck,

Peter

 

[joshlee]

I thought they told me the diesel 1430 was good for 30 degrees , because that’s what the engine was rated for.

 

[Spanky100]

My PT425 has poor-man's draft control. When i'm mowing uphill and start losing traction, I just pull the FEL out of float and raise the implement an inch off the ground. That transfers the weight of the implement off of it's own wheels and onto the machine trough the FEL arms. Front wheel traction immediately increases and up the hill I go.

MossRoad

Great use of changing the FEL position control from float to raise to transfer the implement weight onto the front wheels for additional traction when needed. Much experience in this group.

Thanks
Spanky

 

[Spanky100]

PT is the best place to get an answer on the slope capability question. While the engine slope rating (oil starvation) is part of the answer, the height/width center of gravity of the machine is also a factor. When I looked into it years ago, Terry at Power-Trac talked me out of a 1460 on slopes in favor of a 1445 for center of gravity reasons. I have the 1445 with the 72" brush hog, which is a work horse. I have added chains for mowing thistles (slippery sap causes an occasional downhill crabbing on crossways mowing of 30 degree slopes that the chains eliminate).

One thing about slope ratings: I think that they are ball park at best. Why? Well a rock and a gopher hole can make a 30 degree slope a 38 degree slope in a heartbeat. At 30 degrees, I am traversing my 1445 carefully on slopes that I know. I don't do cross slopes traverses on steep hillsides that I don't know. For the really steep sections, I only do uphill / downhill tractor moves. I believe that there is no upside to taking unnecessary risks.

More HP will get you more acres mowed per unit of time. If you can mow on the flats with a gear driven tractor, that will probably get more acres done per hour just due to HP losses in a hydraulic system versus mechanically coupled mowers. If you need slope mowing with mechanically coupled drive, there are Aebi tractors. Swiss made, gorgeous tractors, but if you have to ask the price...

It might be helpful to think about the special uses in terms of do it once and never again versus need to haves like mowing an access road to your well. Some things I decided to rent, rather than buy. My must have was 30 degree mowing to get some invasive species under control without using herbicides. The job that paid off the tractor in my mind was the broken main water line that had to be excavated to find the leak and repair it in water saturated heavy clay soil. It was insanely heavy, like 60lbs a shovel full. The one that actually paid for it was subsoil drainage for our arena, or the 2000' of three board fence. The point being, everybody is different.

Good luck,

Peter

ponytug

Appreciate your broad input. Agree I need to contact PowerTrac and get their input for the various PT Products slope capability. Additionally I need to take a trip to see the equipment first hand in the PT yard.

Reflecting on your special use. Most of my use is rough mowing with rolling land that a conventional tractor with bushog will work fine. The PowerTrac need is for the 10 percent of the land where the slope is too much to safely cut with a conventional tractor. Initially started looking a Ventrac but started looking a PT as a more all around capable tractor replacement. My wants might be driving more cost then my true needs.

Thanks
Spanky

 

[BigDaddyEureka]

Thinking out loud here...seems like someone could make a remote control kit for a PT that lets you drive the machine from a safe distance / location. That way you can mow the slopes with less pucker factor - or up to the full capability of the machine. Even with the mechanical limitations of things like engine oiling, lots of folks aren't willing to take that wild a ride while onboard. On the smaller machines like the PT-425 the operator weight certainly raises the center of gravity - and THAT isn't a good thing for slope operation either...you could mount the remote components pretty low too...

Of course, I can also imagine a person standing at the bottom of the hill while remote controlling the PT...then the PT comes rolling downhill at them with the mower flailing wildly...

 

[ponytug]

ponytug

Appreciate your broad input. Agree I need to contact PowerTrac and get their input for the various PT Products slope capability. Additionally I need to take a trip to see the equipment first hand in the PT yard.

Reflecting on your special use. Most of my use is rough mowing with rolling land that a conventional tractor with bushog will work fine. The PowerTrac need is for the 10 percent of the land where the slope is too much to safely cut with a conventional tractor. Initially started looking a Ventrac but started looking a PT as a more all around capable tractor replacement. My wants might be driving more cost then my true needs.

Thanks
Spanky

At one point in my life I was brush hogging new trails in your neck of the woods, and nearly got swept off our Ford into the brush mower. One comment I would make about the PT brush mower over conventional tractors is that you are driving over the brush after it has been cut down to size. The same would be true of a skid steer, but with less slope stability.

The Ventrac "Tough Cut" mower is more of a grass/large weed mower, as the mower tops out an inch. My 1445 takes out 3-4" oaks- not that you want spectators anywhere nearby! Not a totally fair comparison as the Ventrac diesel is only 25HP.

If you have other jobs in addition to mowing, I would strongly encourage you to try out a Power-Trac.

All the best,

Peter

 

[MossRoad]

That reminds me of one of my old, crummy videos.

8' honeysuckle goes bye bye

 

[agjones]

Thinking out loud here...seems like someone could make a remote control kit for a PT that lets you drive the machine from a safe distance / location. That way you can mow the slopes with less pucker factor - or up to the full capability of the machine. Even with the mechanical limitations of things like engine oiling, lots of folks aren't willing to take that wild a ride while onboard. On the smaller machines like the PT-425 the operator weight certainly raises the center of gravity - and THAT isn't a good thing for slope operation either...you could mount the remote components pretty low too...

Of course, I can also imagine a person standing at the bottom of the hill while remote controlling the PT...then the PT comes rolling downhill at them with the mower flailing wildly...

I've converted several tool carriers to remote control. On a power trac both the steering and drive present expensive problems due to the variability of the flow. On/off controls are relatively easy to deal with and affordable. Fine control and proportional flow are expensive and relatively unreliable via remote control.

 

[MossRoad]

I've often thought that a PT would be a great starter machine for a handicap conversion, since you could control direction and speed with 1 joystick if you used the proper valves. And the FEL with another.

You could even convert to operate the FEL off of the speed/direction joystick with electric solenoid valves and buttons on the joystick. Although you wouldn't be able to move and FEL at the same time, it could be very workable.

 

[cqaigy2]

You need to update your "Spinning Blades of Death" video Moss.

 

[MossRoad]

You need to update your "Spinning Blades of Death" video Moss.

Yes I do. It's the scariest thing I own. 92CC chainsaw runs a close 2nd. Yamaha RD400 is 3rd.

 

[ponytug]

No doubt about it. My 72" brush mower from PT. I have seen it toss a two inch limb over a hundred feet. That got me to wear a chainsaw face mask and helmet while mowing brush, just in case.

All the best,

Peter

 

[MossRoad]

I think I've mentioned this before, but what the hey, here goes again..

I ran over a 2-3" stick with the brush cutter. A bent piece of wood about 2' long comes just FLYING out away from the front right of the brush cutter, spinning away from me about 30-40'. My brain says "Hey, that looks just like a boomerang" right about the same time the piece turned around and came right back at me! GAHH!!!! I put my hands up over my face and it hit somewhere on the front of the machine or went right past me. Can't remember for sure as it's been many years, but.... YIKES! Boomerang!

 

[Lnk]

Yes I do. It's the scariest thing I own. 92CC chainsaw runs a close 2nd. Yamaha RD400 is 3rd.

Stihl 660?