Power Trac PT425

[pajoube]

Two items:
I also live in cold country, are you having any problems starting or warming the oil? I was wondering if a magnetic block heater would work placed on the oil reservoir side?
Was the tractor and attachments strapped down to pallets or did they drive unit into truck? When you picked up at trucking company I assume you added gas and then drove it off and used the tractor to load the attachments in a truck.

 

[pajoube]

Looking back on a few posts, notice you have a PT tractor. What model do you have and are you happy with it? Would you have done anything different in regards to ordering a different model or attachments?
Paul

 

[MossRoad]

It is the PT425. The tractor was shipped by driving it onto the truck with the 60" mower deck attached. The 4 foot brush hog was strapped to a wood skid by itself. All of the other implements were strapped to a second wood skid. The folks at Power Trac told me that it would be shipped with just enough gas to get it on and off the truck, but not much more, as the trucking companies don't want the flamables in their trucks. They recommended that I bring a few gallons of gas with me when I went to pick it up. I did, but did not need to add any until I got home, when it ran out of gas in the driveway. It was so easy to operate that I just hopped in, started it up and drove it out of the trucking company into the parking lot. I took my time and used the quick attach to pick up all of the implements and load them onto the pickup trucks. It was very easy. It really helped that I had watched the video several times and talked to several owners. I knew what to expect when it got here and was not dissapointed. I took about a year to make my decision based on the tasks that I wanted this machine to do. Lawn mowing, snow plowing, landscaping, etc...(see previous posts). I really considered the Kubota BX2200. They are fine machines and I wouldn't have gone wrong purchasing one of those as well. The deciding factors for me were I wanted the implements out in front of me where I could see them, the quick attach is awsome(see my home videos if you don't believe it) and I wanted a gasoline engine for cold weather starting ease. The coldest that I have started it so far is about 5 degrees. I set the throttle to about 1/3 and the choke to about 1/2. It fired within 1-2 seconds. I suspected(from past experience with my hydro IH2500b) that the hydraulics would have to be warmed up before doing anything. I pulled the joystick back a little and the response was slow, but not bad. I let it run at 1/3 throttle for about 5 minutes while I hand shoveled the steps. When I returned the response was normal. As I used it, I noticed that the hydraulic tank got warm to the touch after about 1/2 hour of operation and the cooler fan came on and off occasionally.

As far as would I do anything different? I don't think so. I checked out JD, Kubota, NH and CUB. I found things that I liked and disliked on all. I read as much as I could, I talked to several owners, I sat on one and operated its hydraulics and watched an experienced operator tear up some sod with it and operate the quick attach. This is more money than I have ever spent on anything with the exception of my houses. I really wanted to get something that I would be happy with for many years. So far(I only have 7 hours) I can honestly say that this is a very tough, very well built machine that is easy to operate and maintain. The proof for me will be this spring when I start mowing the lawn with it. That is what I bought it for.

I have some modifications planned and will post that a little later, probably over the weekend. Nothing major, just lights, flashers, ramps.

Feel free to ask any questions. I'll be happy to answer what I can.

 

[pajoube]

You are most gracious to put up with so many questions. I appreciate your honest approach and will look forward to comments about your approach to each season.
Another question (they never stop) you mentioned you purchased and additional quick connect plate. Any ideas as to what you may do with it? I was thinking about getting one with a ball hitch for moving a trailer around in the back field.
Paul

 

[MossRoad]

Yes, I was thinking the same thing. Here's a list of attachments that I would like to make or adapt to the quick attach plate:

1. Weld a 2" receiver onto a plate about 6" square and bolt it to the face of the quick attach plate. That way I could remove it if I need the plate for another project(can't do this with bolts only, will need to investigate further)

2. I have a 5 foot box blade scraper that is for 3pt hitch. I would like to see if I can adapt it to that as well. It might be too big to be useful.

3. I would like to fabricate a very skinny bucket for popping out small trees<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kascomfg.com/rooter.htm> similar to this </A> only smaller. It looks like a good beginner project.

4. A small log grapple would be a harder project, but as I progress, that would be neat. I could just drive up to a log, grab it and back out of the woods.

5. The every popular Cad Digger backhoe kits. The one that I am looking at is the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.cadplans.com/821.htm> model 821</A>. It requires a ball hitch. I already have the hydraulics. That is a big project that will cost about $1500.00. It will have to wait, but I can plan it now. I have to contact Power Trac to see if it is suitable. It will not put any weight load on the PT425, as it is self supporting. The PT425 will just provide the hydraulics and a means to move it.

6. Log splitter.

7. Hydraulic winch <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.milemarker.com/> similar to this</A> for hauling out logs that I don't want to drive up to, although the PT425 is probably small enough to get anywhere in my woods.

I'm sure I can think of more, and probably will./w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

 

[pajoube]

You just made my day with your post, thanks. The links are very helpful.
I like the idea of the skinny bucket. I will be developing an arboretum with heavy planting and large rock placements.
I never cease to be amazed at the inovative ideas you and others have. I think along those lines but do not have the training to weld. Some of your projects include some very heavy pressure on the front plate. Is there any problem with putting to much pressure on the front end?
Paul

 

[MossRoad]

The lift is rated at 800 pounds. I figure that I will just have to gain experience as I go to learn what not to pick up. I don't think that the 800 pounds refers to the actual lift capacity of the loader, but the load that can be safely lifted by the tractor with out it possibly tipping forward or sideways. I almost did that with my larger tractor loader. The person that had it before me put larger cylinders on the loader in an attempt to get more lifting power out of it. Well, it was so powerful that I could lift the back end off the ground. This is an 8000 pound tractor. I had to learn not to do this, as it was dangerous to the operator and dangerous to the tractor. There really is no way to eyeball something and determine its weight. You have to learn through experience. As you get more familiar with the machine, you can tell if the hydraulics or motor are straining by the sound of the machine and the feel of the controls. But then how do you gain the experience? I guess you should get an 800 pound weight and play with it. Learn what the machine feels like under its maximum rated load, so that you will remember that feeling later.

The only thing that might put a lot of pressure on the unit is getting the bucket stuck under something and trying to lift too hard. As far as pushing or pulling something I think I would lose traction before I would break the lift assembly. Again, I will start small and slowly and determine what the machine is capable of.

I started a thread in the customization area and will add things as I go.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

MossRoad:
One mildly entertaining aspect of Power Trac is the specifications which are published for the machines. If you look on the website, the 1845, for instance, is listed as weighing 1800 lb. My guess is that it is actually near 3000. Even the wheelbase varies among publications. Kristie Asbury assured me that they are having a meeting next week for sure to start getting all that cleared up.
I have talked and corresponded with 5 or 6 400 series owners. Uniformly, they have said that the lift capacity of the machine far exceeds the published numbers. Terry, at Power Trac, told me that the capacities are calculated according to published safety standards (perhaps SAE, he wasn't sure). He said, however, that the relief valves were specified to open before damage was caused to the lift machinery. As a result, he said that he thought all the machines would lift the back of the machine if enough weight was in the bucket, and this was well in excess of the rating. He told me this along with a warning to observe the limits, although he said that he had lifted the back of various of the machines without any dramatic incident. I suspect you will continue to be pleased as you work up to the 425's limits.

 

[MossRoad]

There is a huge log laying in my back yard.
There is no snow on the ground.
It is snowing lightly.
I am bored.



Time to test the fork lift/w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

 

[MChalkley]

Oh no, just what the world needed, another art form: PowerTrac free verse. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

So, how did the fork test go?