PowerTrac Customizations

Charlie_Iliff · Apr 5, 2002

Re: PowerTrac 1845 4 n 1

John:
 From looking at what pictures I can find of the Power Trac bucket I think you mean the back is 60 degrees off horizontal, right? 
Absolute right. I must have been lying down when I typed vertical instead of horizontal.
I haven't had any problem with the available down angle digging. When dumping into a trailer or truck, however, I'd like a few more degrees down, so I don't have to shake it as much to get it empty. I haven't measured, but I'm sure at full lift it gets lower than 15 degrees bucket bottom below horizontal, but does not go near vertical. It does roll back: rather than dumping things out the front, it can toss dirt (or in my case manure) over the back and into your face. You learn not to do that.
I'll try to remember to observe a bit more carefully this weekend and let you know.

MossRoad · Apr 5, 2002

Re: PowerTrac 1845 4 n 1

Well, I'm a day late, but congratulations on a great machine!

Sedgewood · Apr 6, 2002

Re: PowerTrac 1845 4 n 1

Thanks MossRoad. And thanks for all the many many great posts. The great wealth of info here is very persuasive and I'm sure I wouldn't have made the 700 mile trek to Tazewell without it. Power Trac should be grateful. I can hardly wait to play with my new toy.

Sedgewood · Apr 6, 2002

Re: PowerTrac 1845 4 n 1

Charlie,
It does roll back: rather than dumping things out the front, it can toss dirt (or in my case manure) over the back and into your face. You learn not to do that.
I see on Carvers site that Long offers a spill guard. Adds 46 lbs if the figures are correct. Learning beats losing 46 lbs of load capacity. The HD60 is listed at 670 lbs as it is. Has this extra weight been too much of a burden to carry with a bucket full? I gather from other posts that Power Trac's 1200 lb lift capacity is rather conservative.

How's the Lackender hoe working out? Every now & then I'd like to dig a hole, but I'm having a hard time visualizing the dynamics of digging with the Lackender. I asked Sean at Power Trac if they had considered a hoe for these machines and he said they tried it but that it just didn't dig very well because of the tractor's rearward weight bias (a real plus otherwise but not helpful for hoeing).

wasabi · Apr 6, 2002

Re: PowerTrac 1845 4 n 1

Charlie, etal. I have more questions and seek your sage guidance regarding potential PT package. I'm trying to drill down to specific needs and am confused by some of the options and equipment discussed here. First of all, I see the 2445 comes with standard with an electric PTO, but the 3pt hitch is an (expensive) option. I can see how a PTO option would be handy for "conventional" attachments, but am perhaps missing something...I don't see what good a PTO would be without a 3pt hyd hitch? Secondly, I am trying to deciphre your thread re: Long bucket customization....don't the PT bucket options cover those needs? Thoughts?

Charlie_Iliff · Apr 6, 2002

Re: PowerTrac 1845 4 n 1

John:
I did some measurements. With the bucket down, the bottom can curl down to 32 degrees below horizontal, and curl up to 25 degrees above horizontal. At max lift, the curl is 40 degrees down and 78 degrees up. That is where I'd like it a little more down, but if I did that, it would dump things out when the bucket is low. Guess Power Trac got it pretty close.
I haven't done enough with the Lackender hoe to learn how to use it. I've done a couple of practice holes, and can tell you it beats the stuffing out of a pick and shovel. I have no backhoe experience, so I'll think the Lackender is great even if it won't hold a candle to a real backhoe, mini excavator, etc. I'll have to think a bit about why rear weight bias is a problem. I would think it would help, not hurt, but I'll play with it a bit before I claim any level of understanding.
The machine picks up a full bucket of wet compost with no problem at all. It's probably equivalent to typical topsoil. With the big bucket, I had no problem with a heaped load of topsoil, so I'm not concerned about reduced capability with the smaller 4 n 1.

Charlie_Iliff · Apr 6, 2002

Re: PowerTrac 1845 4 n 1

Doug:
When a PT 2445 was No. 1 on his list, Mark Chalkley was proposing some changes to Power Trac on the 3-point, PTO setup. I never looked seriously at the 2445 because slope mowing was and is my primary objective. Once I played with the Power Trac front attach system, my dislike for 3 point hitches morphed into a determination never to fool with them again. So, I bought more attachments than I first planned. Our farm still has four conventional tractors, so I'll probably use a 3 point again someday. Today, however, I had the big bucket on the 1845 twice, the rough mower twice and the auger once. If they were three point, I'd still be out there, and probably bruised to boot.
There are a number of tow-behind PTO driven machines. Our old square baler, for instance. You can get a lot of different mowers which are tow behind, but use the PTO.
I'm sure the 2445 is a good machine, but doesn't fit what I need most.
Re buckets, the experienced guys on the list swear by 4 n 1 buckets. I got one from Long on their recommendation. Power Trac has a grapple attachment which is good for stacks of brush, etc. The 4 n 1 is allegedly good for picking up logs, etc. but also for grading nearly like a box blade. Can't prove it by me yet. Power Trac used to offer a "clamshell" bucket, but doesn't now.
I don't know yet whether the Long bucket was worth it for my particular uses.

Sedgewood · Apr 7, 2002

Re: PowerTrac 1845 4 n 1

Charlie,
Wow, the man has a 2 degree eye. I'm impressed. Thanks for the research. So the curl range is much different at top & bottom. I agree they got it pretty close at 60 degrees for those numbers. However. I made a rather large assumption (presumption?) that nobody was making anything but self leveling buckets anymore. Having never used anything but a self leveling bucket the significance of "stuff" falling out the back of the bucket didn't register with me. So one has to master the lift & curl dance. I'm not so sure I like that. I think I can live with it on the bucket but it might get a bit tricky keeping a load level while lowering it to the ground with the forks which I plan to add to my collection.

Relative to the hoe/rearward weight bias the problem is not too much weight on the rear but rather too little on the front to get sufficient downforce to dig hard ground.

Sedgewood · Apr 7, 2002

Re: PowerTrac 1845 4 n 1

I don't know yet whether the Long bucket was worth it for my particular uses.
In spite of the firm commitment to the 4n1 I've expressed earlier, I too am having a hard time deciding. I had hoped for more down curl so I could use the toothbar like rippers on a box blade to rip up my driveway. Now that won't work without much more curl. Power Trac's box blade seems kind of light weight to me. It occurred to me one could weld a 3ph quick hitch to a guick attach plate and then choose from any number of box blades, angle & tilt blades, York rakes etc available out there in the great 3ph world. Has anybody tried this?

Charlie_Iliff · Apr 7, 2002

Re: PowerTrac 1845 4 n 1

John:
What I have posted may be misleading. All I measured was the limits of curl at top and bottom of lift. To do it, I curled down and then lowered until the edge hit the ground, and after measuring I curled all the way up from that point. Then I ran it as high as it would go and curled up and down. Although the limits change, the bucket does not appreciably change its angle when you lift or lower. I'm not sure that's what's called self leveling, but I think it would be fine with forks. MossRoad, and other PT fork users please chime in.
I tossed stuff out of the back of the bucket by curling it back after I had it all the way up, not by lifting it. I've not spilled anything either direction during lift-only motion.