Power Trac PT425

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   / Power Trac PT425
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#191  
Re: Power Trac PT425 Hydraulic Filter Cross Ref

It wasn't the right filter /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif
 
   / Power Trac PT425
  • Thread Starter
#192  
Power Trac PT425 4\' Brush Hog Works Great

Well, I got to try out our 4' brush hog on the PT425 today. I switched from the plow(not getting any use this winter), backed it up into my pickup, secured everything and off I went. Unloaded, drove to a brushy area, revved up the engine and flipped the PTO switch for the first time(read nervous) and off I went. Started on dead grass. No problems. Moved up to small briars, no problems. Layed into some multiflora rose, ate it up. Blasted my way through some 8' high weeds, again no problems except that the weeds were so high that they started coming up over the front of the brush hog and leaning against the canopy, making it very hard to see! Man, I'm telling you these weeds were thick! Granted, they were dead. Live ones probably wouldn't have been so easy, but I cut through them like butter. Then I started going for the saplings. I went through anything that was 1.5 inches or less. Anything larger wouldn't bend under the front of the cutter and would just stop the tractor, making the turfs spin. I was not dissapointed. I was impressed.

I spent about two hours on it and I have got to say that having the cutter out in front of you is SO much better than my 5' brush hog on a 3pt setup. First of all, with the cutter behind you, you have to run over everything with your tractor before it even gets to the cutter, or you have to back into everything. With the cutter in font of you everything is gone before the tractor gets there. If you do have to back up, you are backing into an area that has already been cut, so no sticks or saplings will spring up and poke you or the underside of the tractor. Also, my neck was not sore from watching the rear mounted cutter. I just sat there with my arms on the rests, driving along, making trails.

It started snowing pretty hard and, while I do have a canopy to keep me dry, the water on all of the brush started flipping in and soaking the tops of my legs. It got cold, and I was finished, so I left.

The only dissapointment that I had was that I could not get the video camera out to film it for everyone, as it was too damp for the camera. I promise that I will get it filmed the first chance that I get.

On a safety note, I made the mistake of not checking the area near where the driveway meets the highway before I started brush hogging. I hit a large metal ratcheting tie down that was under the fallen grass. The cutter flung it against one of the plastic gauge wheels and shattered it, throwing chunks of plastic and the tie down about 30 feet. I'll take some pics of the broken stuff and post it in the safety forum as a reminder to all.
 
   / Power Trac PT425 #193  
Re: Power Trac PT425 4\' Brush Hog Works Great

MossRoad, thanks again for the report, I have said it before, Power-Trac should pay you! I am looking forward to seeing the video that you will shot! THanks for all of your reports! You are making my decision much easier!
KCook
 
   / Power Trac PT425
  • Thread Starter
#194  
Re: Power Trac PT425 4\' Brush Hog Works Great

You're welcome. Like I wrote, everything that I mowed was dormant, so I don't know what it would have been like in the middle of summer. But it was very impressive to me. Can't wait until spring.

Did you see Charlie's posts on the 1845?
 
   / Power Trac PT425 #195  
Re: Power Trac PT425 4\' Brush Hog Works Great

MossRoad:
You and I are finding out the same things about our machines. Every time I test it, the 1845 does even better than I expected. I don't regret getting the big macine, but yours will do everything mine will, and probably do smooth lawn work a lot better.
When you can justify it (or even sooner), take a look at the Catdigger, on the Cadplans site. If you leave off the big skid steer attach plate and put on the Power Trac plate, you have a digger for well under $1,000. I don't know what I'm doing yet with the Lackender, but I found out for sure in the first test that it will dig a lot faster and easier than a pick and shovel.
 
   / Power Trac PT425 #196  
Re: Power Trac PT425 4\' Brush Hog Works Great

MossRoad,
One thing about cutting now is that there is no dust. Wait until summer when everything is on the dry side. Keep up the reports, sure enjoy reading them.
paul
 
   / Power Trac PT425
  • Thread Starter
#197  
Re: Power Trac PT425 4\' Brush Hog Works Great

I've been looking at one of the tow behind models that you can tow with a car. (model 821 I think)It has a self contained hydraulic system. I sent them an e-mail asking about using the PT425 hydraulics to power it, but they have not answered yet. A phone call is now in order. Of course, I don't need a backhoe right now, but I would consider ordering the plans for a rainy day. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
 
   / Power Trac PT425
  • Thread Starter
#198  
Re: Power Trac PT425 4\' Brush Hog Works Great

The area that I am cutting is in a wet land. The soil is adrian muck and there is a creek runing all the time. That is why the weeds are so tall. It is dryest at this time of year when everything is frozen. In the summer, the humidity is usually over 90% down there. There are 10-15 foot high saplings that grew up over two years. Some will have to be chainsawed as they are over 2" in diameter already. And the pollen in late summer is enough to choke an elephant /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.

After I was done brush hogging I decided to clean the brush hog. It was above freezing, so I got out the hose and a broom. It was easy to blast off with water. I was able to lift the brush hog up over 4 feet off of the ground and tip it back a little so that I could spray out the underside very easily from the front of the unit. I just had to bend at the waist to see the entire underside of the mower(safety note: NEVER go under a raised implement). I remember trying to clean out my 3pt hitch bush hog. I could only lift it about 2 feet. Maybe if I had a power top link I could have angled it a little more, but I doubt that it would have been as easy as the Power Trac.
 
   / Power Trac PT425 #199  
Re: Power Trac PT425 4\' Brush Hog Works Great

<font color=red>Of course, I don't need a backhoe right now</font color=red>

David -- David !
If need were a relevant factor, I'd have nothing new at all, and probably have enough still on various credit cards to hire someone and tell him to bring along whatever machine he needs for each job. And I probably wouldn't even want to watch.
As soon as I find a real job for the hoe, I'll report. It won't be as flexible as a full function backhoe, but about 1/3 the cost. And not as much fun or satisfaction as a cad hoe.
 
   / Power Trac PT425
  • Thread Starter
#200  
Re: Power Trac PT425 4\' Brush Hog Works Great

I'm sorry, what was I thinking? /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif
 
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