Power Trac PT425
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MossRoad
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- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
Re: Power Trac Mowing Performance
That's interesting. Now that I think of it, Saturday, I went sideways across a small but steep slope where my front yard meets the street and another slope. The front downhill tire came up an inch or so off of the ground. I attributed it to me not knowing what I was doing, or the mower coming out of float. But it was in float. The only other thing that I can think of was that I had the tilt angled all the way back, instead of dead center when on a flat surface.
I can't take a look at it tonight due to other activities, but I will try to re-create it and photo document it some time this week.
Hang in there.
That's interesting. Now that I think of it, Saturday, I went sideways across a small but steep slope where my front yard meets the street and another slope. The front downhill tire came up an inch or so off of the ground. I attributed it to me not knowing what I was doing, or the mower coming out of float. But it was in float. The only other thing that I can think of was that I had the tilt angled all the way back, instead of dead center when on a flat surface.
I can't take a look at it tonight due to other activities, but I will try to re-create it and photo document it some time this week.
Hang in there.
Charlie_Iliff
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Re: Power Trac Mowing Performance
Reds:
PTRich and Bubenberg have more experience with the 400 series than the rest of us, so I hope they'll chime in soon.
From what you describe, I think I've heard of some of the syndrome before. It sounds as if your deck wasn't in float, or bounced out, which I understand can happen in rough mowing on occasion. The effect is that the deck then can pick up the front, not only reducing traction, but possibly visibly raising a wheel. I don't know if the float position has any adjustment, but if it doesn't want to float properly, be sure to call Power Trac. It may be that instead of float, in heavy going they'll suggest lifting the deck so that it is light on its guide wheels, thus increasing tractor traction.
In heavy mowing, uphill, I can bog the engine on my 1845 fairly easily by pressing the pedal to the floor. As with other hydrostatic drives, its most power is when the pedal is only slightly depressed, and the engine revs stay up. I modulate mine by listening for when the mower slows considerably, and then letting up the pedal until it gains RPM. With the earplugs I've been wearing, any change in the mower whine is still noticeable. Uphill with heavy grass can slow any mower, I think, but when the revs stay up, it doesn't bog the way it does if you floor it.
PTRich? Bubenberg?
Reds:
PTRich and Bubenberg have more experience with the 400 series than the rest of us, so I hope they'll chime in soon.
From what you describe, I think I've heard of some of the syndrome before. It sounds as if your deck wasn't in float, or bounced out, which I understand can happen in rough mowing on occasion. The effect is that the deck then can pick up the front, not only reducing traction, but possibly visibly raising a wheel. I don't know if the float position has any adjustment, but if it doesn't want to float properly, be sure to call Power Trac. It may be that instead of float, in heavy going they'll suggest lifting the deck so that it is light on its guide wheels, thus increasing tractor traction.
In heavy mowing, uphill, I can bog the engine on my 1845 fairly easily by pressing the pedal to the floor. As with other hydrostatic drives, its most power is when the pedal is only slightly depressed, and the engine revs stay up. I modulate mine by listening for when the mower slows considerably, and then letting up the pedal until it gains RPM. With the earplugs I've been wearing, any change in the mower whine is still noticeable. Uphill with heavy grass can slow any mower, I think, but when the revs stay up, it doesn't bog the way it does if you floor it.
PTRich? Bubenberg?
Re: Power Trac Mowing Performance
"As with other hydrostatic drives, its most power is when the pedal is only slightly depressed, and the engine revs stay up."
Charlie is correct, as I have seen the video for the 400 PT, it does say the less peddle pressure the increase in Torque!
KCook
"As with other hydrostatic drives, its most power is when the pedal is only slightly depressed, and the engine revs stay up."
Charlie is correct, as I have seen the video for the 400 PT, it does say the less peddle pressure the increase in Torque!
KCook
ernemats
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Re: Power Trac Mowing Performance
I JUST READ YOUR COMMENTS ON YOUR POWER TRAC EXPERIENCE. I ALSO HAVE SOME STEEP SLOPES I MOW WHILE GOING ACROSS THE SLOPE I HAVE NEVER HAD THE FRONT WHEEL RAISE OFF THE GROUND BUT IN FLOAT POSITION IT DOES HAVE A TENDENCY TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS A LITTLE BIT. WHEN MOWING UP AND DOWN THE SLOPE I HAVE FOUND IT BETTER TO BACK UP THE SLOPE, YOU DO NOT LOOSE TRACTION WITH THE FRONT WHEELS. I HAVE THE 422 WITH 48 INCH MOWER AND GOING UP A HILL IT DOES MAKE THE ENGINE STRAIN A BIT. I HAVE HAD MY POWER TRAC 2 YEARS AND I THINK AFTER YOU GET 50-100 HOURS ON IT THE POWER SEEMS BETTER AND ALSO THE GAS USED SEEMS TO DROP, MAYBE IT IS JUST MORE EXPERIENCE USING IT . POWER TRAC SAYS 20 DEGREE SLOPE IS THE MAX SAFE SLOPE YOU SHOULD RUN IT ON EITHER SIDEWAYS OR UP OR DOWN, I HAVE EXCEEDED THAT BUT IT DOES FEEL IFFY.
I JUST READ YOUR COMMENTS ON YOUR POWER TRAC EXPERIENCE. I ALSO HAVE SOME STEEP SLOPES I MOW WHILE GOING ACROSS THE SLOPE I HAVE NEVER HAD THE FRONT WHEEL RAISE OFF THE GROUND BUT IN FLOAT POSITION IT DOES HAVE A TENDENCY TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS A LITTLE BIT. WHEN MOWING UP AND DOWN THE SLOPE I HAVE FOUND IT BETTER TO BACK UP THE SLOPE, YOU DO NOT LOOSE TRACTION WITH THE FRONT WHEELS. I HAVE THE 422 WITH 48 INCH MOWER AND GOING UP A HILL IT DOES MAKE THE ENGINE STRAIN A BIT. I HAVE HAD MY POWER TRAC 2 YEARS AND I THINK AFTER YOU GET 50-100 HOURS ON IT THE POWER SEEMS BETTER AND ALSO THE GAS USED SEEMS TO DROP, MAYBE IT IS JUST MORE EXPERIENCE USING IT . POWER TRAC SAYS 20 DEGREE SLOPE IS THE MAX SAFE SLOPE YOU SHOULD RUN IT ON EITHER SIDEWAYS OR UP OR DOWN, I HAVE EXCEEDED THAT BUT IT DOES FEEL IFFY.
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MossRoad
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Re: Power Trac Mowing Performance
Right. They said to think of the pedal as a shifter. The farther you push it, the higher the gear. But I have found this to be kind of a gray area. For instance, if I drive up to a pile of gravel with minimal foot pressure, the tractor will stop against the pile. I have to push farther on the pedal to get it going into the pile. I listen to the engine and keep pushing down until I can hear the engine start to strain. At that point, I let up a bit on the pedal. By then the bucket is usually full.
A few of the videos that I shot show this when digging out that parking space in semi frozen soil. Listen to the sound of the tractor and hydraulics as I have to push down on the pedal to get a good bite, then let up as the forward motion slows.
Right. They said to think of the pedal as a shifter. The farther you push it, the higher the gear. But I have found this to be kind of a gray area. For instance, if I drive up to a pile of gravel with minimal foot pressure, the tractor will stop against the pile. I have to push farther on the pedal to get it going into the pile. I listen to the engine and keep pushing down until I can hear the engine start to strain. At that point, I let up a bit on the pedal. By then the bucket is usually full.
A few of the videos that I shot show this when digging out that parking space in semi frozen soil. Listen to the sound of the tractor and hydraulics as I have to push down on the pedal to get a good bite, then let up as the forward motion slows.
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MossRoad
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Re: Power Trac Mowing Performance
Also, for everyone's knowledge, the Kohler engine manual for the Kohler Command 25HP motor in the PT425 says not to operate it at more than 25 degrees, or the engine might not get proper lubrication.
I don't know what the PT418 or PT422 Robbin engines are spec'd at.
Also, for everyone's knowledge, the Kohler engine manual for the Kohler Command 25HP motor in the PT425 says not to operate it at more than 25 degrees, or the engine might not get proper lubrication.
I don't know what the PT418 or PT422 Robbin engines are spec'd at.
Re: Power Trac Mowing Performance
Thanks for all the replys. No I didn't get a chance to call Power Trac today. The attic fan was in need of repair (we've gone right into summer down here in Md), and today was tax d-day. Since we owe this year i put it off till the last minute. Did an excellent job if i do say so myself! Yes i am going to call Power Trac to get some ideas from them. I'm thinking my hills combined with the weight of the canopy and the oscillation of the machine caused the front (up-hill side) wheel to lose contact with the ground. Could be fluid in the tires would help with that. Maybe even moving up to a 26-12-12 filled with fluid ... if there is room. I asked the salesman prior to my purchase about this and he indicated there could be a problem with some attachments. As far as going up and down the hills, i did wonder about the mower not being in float was a problem at one point. But after i readjusted the joystick I still had a very rough time going up the hill. A lot of front wheel spin. I also wondered about the tilt position and briefly played with that. I did run out of expermination time because one of the small wheels on the front of the mower got caught in a rut and went flat. And that was the end of that. Another observation which could be a cause for lack of power. My throttle only goes about 3/4 of the way down. I was wondering if this was proper or just out of adjustment. The choke slides the full length of the slot, just not the throttle. The point about backing up the hill sounds interesting. Once i'm back up and running i'll give it a try. Now this was my first mowing of the year, and yes the grass was very high. So high that i had to slow down in some places because i could hear the engine struggle. I finished the hill with my 20" push mower and we both struggled!!!. But, it was not any higher then some previous mowings and i never had these types of problems with my GT. Engine (25hp kohler)never struggled and the wheels only slipped when wet.
Thanks for all the replys. No I didn't get a chance to call Power Trac today. The attic fan was in need of repair (we've gone right into summer down here in Md), and today was tax d-day. Since we owe this year i put it off till the last minute. Did an excellent job if i do say so myself! Yes i am going to call Power Trac to get some ideas from them. I'm thinking my hills combined with the weight of the canopy and the oscillation of the machine caused the front (up-hill side) wheel to lose contact with the ground. Could be fluid in the tires would help with that. Maybe even moving up to a 26-12-12 filled with fluid ... if there is room. I asked the salesman prior to my purchase about this and he indicated there could be a problem with some attachments. As far as going up and down the hills, i did wonder about the mower not being in float was a problem at one point. But after i readjusted the joystick I still had a very rough time going up the hill. A lot of front wheel spin. I also wondered about the tilt position and briefly played with that. I did run out of expermination time because one of the small wheels on the front of the mower got caught in a rut and went flat. And that was the end of that. Another observation which could be a cause for lack of power. My throttle only goes about 3/4 of the way down. I was wondering if this was proper or just out of adjustment. The choke slides the full length of the slot, just not the throttle. The point about backing up the hill sounds interesting. Once i'm back up and running i'll give it a try. Now this was my first mowing of the year, and yes the grass was very high. So high that i had to slow down in some places because i could hear the engine struggle. I finished the hill with my 20" push mower and we both struggled!!!. But, it was not any higher then some previous mowings and i never had these types of problems with my GT. Engine (25hp kohler)never struggled and the wheels only slipped when wet.
bubenberg
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Re: Power Trac Mowing Performance
hi moss, am so glad we got you book worms, they belief you more than when i tell them that they can do whatever the want to their tractor to make it a hill machine ...NO LUBRICATION ..no tractor ...and new engine ...great work dude
hi moss, am so glad we got you book worms, they belief you more than when i tell them that they can do whatever the want to their tractor to make it a hill machine ...NO LUBRICATION ..no tractor ...and new engine ...great work dude
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