Power Trac PT425

Thomas · Dec 23, 2001

That would be great indeed for mowing around trees etc..but what if the grass was a tad damp on a little side slope..traction would be my question.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

PTRich · Dec 23, 2001

What a nice set up. If you do have traction problems you could always get chains. I bought them and they were not to bad in price, the traction increases dramaticly. I use the small bucket with teeth to move logs, the hydralics are quick enough that with a little practice you can flick the log up and scoop it. The teeth will hold the log in the bucket. I also put an eye in the top of the bucket to hook a chain on. I want to buy the rotary cutter and stump cutter next when finances allow it. Can't wait to here how yours works.

PTRich

MossRoad · Dec 23, 2001

From left to right is the 60" power angle snowplow in the back, the 10 cubic foot light material bucket in front of that and then the 5 cubic foot bucket with teeth. The 60" finish mower is attached to the unit and the 30" forks are in front of that. To the right is the 48" brush hog.

 MossRoad

MossRoad · Dec 23, 2001

Yeah, it is when I'm at work, however, I uploaded them from home at good old 28.8 zzzzz. I use a freeware program called FTP Commander. I just selected the files that I wanted to upload to my web site and hit OK. Then go fold a load of laundry, have some milk and cookies, watch paint dry... you get the idea /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. That's why I listed the file size to the left. Kind of a warning for us regular dial up folks.

 MossRoad

MossRoad · Dec 23, 2001

My lawn is flat, so I'm not worried about regular mowing. However, you are right. When I brush hog my trails there are some slopes, but mostly up and down. On a side slope I imagine that I'll slip to the side. If things get bad, I'll spring for a set of chains as suggested by PTRich. It won't bother the trails to have chains on them a few times a year. The tire tread on the turfs reminds me of the tread on some Armstrong Norseman radials that I had many years ago. It looks like it will do all right in the snow on my paved driveway.

The slippage in the mud wasn't that bad. I just had to go slow. Now, it wasn't real deep mud. And it isn't clay. It is sandy loam. I would be in deep doo doo if it was clay mud with turfs.

 MossRoad

MossRoad · Dec 23, 2001

Where did you get your chains? I'd like to start looking in case I decide to get them.

I have plans for hooks welded to the bucket, but the lights under the canopy come first.

I liked the grapple bucket that they sold, but it was too pricey $$$ and it was on a smaller bucket. I looked at it and am thinking about making my own for the light material bucket to move brush piles. I think it will involve one hydraulic cylinder with hoses and fittings, three bearings, a rod and some 3/8ths steel for the fingers and reinforcing straps. It would be a good project for me over the winter. Right after repairing my IH2500b and selling it.

 MossRoad

PTRich · Dec 23, 2001

tirechain.com Look under garden tractors to get the right size. I got the 2 link spacing without the v.
They work real good. I like the way the grapple bucket looks too. But it does cost to much, I use rope now.

PTRich

MossRoad · Dec 23, 2001

Hey, very reasonable price. Thanks!

 MossRoad

pajoube · Dec 24, 2001

Great job with the video, thanks. How do you like the arm rests? Now that you have time on the machine, would you change anything? size? attachments?
Paul

MossRoad · Dec 26, 2001

I don't know if the arm rests are worth the extra $100.00, but they are very comfortable, and the seat is nicely padded as well. It was well within the budget, so I got them.

So far, I don't think I would change anything, but would make additional lights under the canopy mandatory.

Some paint was rubbed off during shipping, very minor, and Christmas Eve I received two bottles of paint via UPS from Power Trac at no charge. Good service!

As far as attachments go, I have only used the small bucket with teeth(works great, see videos), the pallet forks(works great, hey, how can you mess up two pointy fingers and no moving parts), and the snow plow. We had about 5 inches of light snow just for Christmas. The plow lifts up and down 52", so making snow piles will be easy. It power angles left and right and that works great. And it tips forward and backward, which allows you to set a gap between the ground and the blade. I let it ride on the asphalt, but raised the gap over the grass and the new limestone that I put in. It has pivoting tires instead of skid shoes. One of the tires was not seated on the rim and therefore I could not inflate it. I looked at the brush hog and it has the same tire, axle, bracket and post as the snowplow. I pulled the pin holding the tire assembly on both and swapped them. Took about 20 seconds. I can now get the tire seated at the local garage. Took video of snow plow in action, but it was horribly back lit, so all you see is this massive shadow coming at you. I'll get a better one the next time it snows. And I'll get videos of the quick attach in operation.

So far I'm very happy. Even my wife said it was kind of neat. She said it took me longer to get it out of the garage than it took to plow the driveway and she is now optimistic that my lawn mowing time will be cut down as well. Positive comments from the spouse about "toy purchases" are very encouraging!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 MossRoad