PowerTrac Customizations

[Charlie_Iliff]

Re: PowerTrac 1845 4 n 1

When he last posted about it, MossRoad was planning to try a 6 foot box blade on his 435.
You're right that any number of attachments can be adapted, not only from 3-point, but from skid steers.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Re: PowerTrac 1845 4 n 1

<font color=red>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. </font color=red>

Makes sense, but I've already proven to myself, at least, that the digging capability is in the curl of the bucket, not the download on the dipper. I was told that's true of all hoes, but my source isn't a recognized expert. No one is going to claim that an 1845 with a front hoe will compete with the real thing, but I think it will dig pretty well for the few times I need it, for a lot less money than a TLB or frame or 3-point backhoe. And, with the thumb I can pick up stuff with more reach than the 4 n 1 can give me.

 

[Sedgewood]

Re: PowerTrac 1845 4 n 1

<font color=red>I'm not sure that's what's called self leveling</font color=red>
Charlie, Well at least that's what I meant by self leveling and I'm pleased to get this report. Interestingly when I as best I could scaled the linkage from a side on photo in the 1430 brochure, plotted it out and then raised and lowered it on paper, I came up with just about the same range of motion you measured and about 30 degrees of bucket tilt from top to bottom. I'm certainly glad to hear my scaling is wrong! The linkage geometry must be fairly critical.
John

 

[Sedgewood]

Re: PowerTrac 1845 4 n 1

<font color=red>No one is going to claim that an 1845 with a front hoe will compete with the real thing, but I think it will dig pretty well for the few times I need it, for a lot less money than a TLB or frame or 3-point backhoe.</font color=red>

Charlie that's just the situation I have here and just what I want to accomplish.

<font color=red>And, with the thumb I can pick up stuff with more reach than the 4 n 1 can give me.</font color=red>

Ooh! A thumb! I see no thumb in your "hoe" & "hoefull" pictures. I want one. One of my desires is to be able to pick up half buried rocks in the woods where I can't reach with a bucket. I've been thinking of building a thumb & two finger log loader type grapple to do that. The hoe & thumb seems the way to go. How much if I may ask, did this arrangement set you back?

John

 

[Sedgewood]

Re: PowerTrac 1845 4 n 1

If the PT425 will handle a 6 ft box blade, the 7 ft blade my local dealer has ought to work on the PT1845 Seems a bit much to me though. Charlie, you somewhere mentioned you thought the PT1845 was closed to 3000 lbs than to the 1800 lbs shown on their literature. You still think that?
John

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Re: PowerTrac 1845 4 n 1

John:
Check with MossRoad re the box blade test. He may not have done it yet. He had the blade before he got the PT425 and was going to try it, but wasn't sure it would handle it.
Re: 1845 weight. If you look at the website, the 1430 is listed at 2600 lb. and the 1845 still at 1800. I asked about it and I think it was Chris who told me it was closer to 3000 lb. Mine certainly is heavier than 1800, since I think I've probably had 1500 in the bucket and driven around fine. Kristie Asbury has assured me that a group is working on updating brochures and the website, but I haven't seen much change.
The hoe, with everything, has cost just over $2,000.
Extenda Boomer $1,150.00
12" Bucket $290.00
Cylinder & hoses $225.00
Scraper $35.00
Thumb $120.00
Subtotal $1,820.00
Shipping $150.00
Total $1,970.00
See Lackender website.
Re the self leveling, Hans Luginbuhl (bubender) reported a while back that one thing he does with his PT425 is to pick up his other machines and implements on the PT forks, lift them above fence height, and then drive the PT through customers' narrow gates. That way he gets wider mowers, etc. inside. If the forks tended to tilt, I think he and his men might have busted up some equipment.

 

[MossRoad]

Re: PowerTrac 1845 4 n 1

I've given myself a lap full of dirt when flicking the joystick with the bucket full of light dirt. The hydraulics are extremely powerful near the end of the stroke. The bucket is not self leveling. So therefore, the forks aren't either. You just have to be careful when lifting something and keep adjusting the angle of the forks. It is not that bad, as I am used to it with my IH 2500B. BIG bucket, 10' + lift height. I was glad that I had a cab on that thing/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[MossRoad]

Re: PowerTrac 1845 4 n 1

I didn't realize you had the thumb on your hoe. That would be handy for grabbing stuff.

 

[MossRoad]

Re: PowerTrac 1845 4 n 1

I haven't done the 6' blade thing yet, but I'll state again, that while it will lift it with no problem, I doubt that it will pull it with any kind of efficiency. It is sitting in front of my garage waiting for a good day and some angle iron.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Re: PowerTrac bucket/fork angles

John:
Your scaling from the 1430 has me concerned - not about the utility of the machine, but about the accuracy of my impressions of my own machine. I'm a novice operator, and have often curled the bucket the wrong way, although that's becoming a rarer event. I've not actually measured any angles except the limit ones I reported. (Not a 2 degree eye - a protractor.) In normal use, my main impression has been of minimal or no bucket curl as I've lifted things. If it turns out to be 30 degrees, I'll have to get my eyes recalibrated. Certainly MossRoad is a better observer and he says his isn't self leveling.
Bubenberg, PT Rich, other PT users?

 

[Sedgewood]

Re: PowerTrac 1845 4 n 1

Charlie,
A weight for the 1845 of 3,000 or so certainly seems reasonable to me. The Extenda Boomer also seems reasonably priced. My local tractor dealer has an old beat up 3ph backhoe sitting out back. I had thought of taking the bucket & first section of boom and welding it to a quick attach plate to do the same thing. But by the time I get done I'll have who knows how much invested in beat up old cylinders and bushings. there is also the issue of contaminating the motor oil Power Trac uses for hydraulics with the old hydraulic fluid in the used cylinders. I don't think I want to go that route.

 

[Sedgewood]

Re: PowerTrac 1845 4 n 1

<font color=red>Re the self leveling, Hans Luginbuhl (bubender) reported a while back that one thing he does with his PT425 is to pick up his other machines and implements on the PT forks, lift them above fence height, and then drive the PT through customers' narrow gates. That way he gets wider mowers, etc. inside.</font color=red>

These PT's sure are handy!!

 

[Sedgewood]

Re: PowerTrac 1845 4 n 1

<font color=red>The bucket is not self leveling. So therefore, the forks aren't either.</font color=red>

Logic would lead me to think all the machines would share the same geometry. But then again.... maybe not.

 

[Sedgewood]

Re: PowerTrac bucket/fork angles

<font color=red>In normal use, my main impression has been of minimal or no bucket curl as I've lifted things. If it turns out to be 30 degrees, I'll have to get my eyes recalibrated.</font color=red>

Blame the cattywompus protractor.

<font color=red>Bubenberg, PT Rich, other PT users?</font color=red>

Add Sedgewood to that list. The bank agreed to join me in this adventure yesterday. My PT 1845 is scheduled to arrive here 9 am tomorrow. Its still a bit astonishing to get a letter overnighted much less a tractor. I'm impressed.

 

[wasabi]

Re: PowerTrac bucket/fork angles

Ok you PT braggerts....enough with the chest pounding already!! ...anyone watching (lurking by) these discussions is clearly already thoroughly impressed with your superior reasoning and decision making skills (after all, you bought PT's!).. This ongoing banter showing prowess in the areas of creativity and adaptability by customizing implements may be a bit over the top, especially for admitted low hour users. You guys should start a new thred titled "Weekend Tractor and Implement Addicts Support Group"!

More seriously, since I am still on the hunt, tho nearer to decision point than when I started, I need to again chime in with more novice questions.

1) Am I to infer that the custom backhoe adaptations being discussed produce a better solution than the hoe offered by PT. Is that primarily a cost function?

2) Similarly, is the discussed Long bucket fix a better route than the standard PT Grapple bucket...If so, why?

3) Is there consensus as to clear advantage of comparative utility and ease of changing implements on the PT vs. 3pt ?

4) What experiences have you all had with attempting such adaptations with PT engineers. Are they open to changes?

5) Please weigh in with opines on suitability of a 1430 (30hp diesel PT) vs 45 hp for the aforementioned Bearpen uses. (...we're clearing about seven acres to put in pasture, orchard and vineyards, so ground prep and maintenance will be important functions, over ten miles of logging roads to improve/maintain....also, planting, auguring for fence posts and such. We're building, so material handling will come in handy. We'll also likely get a cement mixer.. don't have a lawn there and don't plan on one, but will need brushhog. Got hills!!...Bearpen runs from 3800 to 3200 ft elevation)

Thx, Sabi

 

[MossRoad]

Re: PowerTrac bucket/fork angles

The only one I can answer for you is #3.

<font color=blue>3) Is there consensus as to clear advantage of comparative utility and ease of changing implements on the PT vs. 3pt ?</font color=blue>

Watch this short video if you can and see if this is a better way to change implements. It is about 250K in size, so it may take a few minutes to download and view in Windows Media Player. It shows how fast you can change an implement. It is only 15 seconds long, because that is how long it takes to change implements!<A target="_blank"
If you have to change a powered implement, like power angle snow plow or mower deck, you can add another 16 seconds because you will have to hook up two hydraulic hoses. <A target="_blank" pt425/PT425Videos/PT425_PowerAngleHookup.WMV>Watch by clicking here.</A> (again, it is about 16 seconds long and 250K in size and will take several minutes to download).

 

[wasabi]

Re: PowerTrac bucket/fork angles

Thanks MossRoad. I asked the PT folks to send videos, but they sent a note saying they're currently being updated so unavailable. Good media clips!...very convincing!!! Did you make those with a digital movie camera? (also thinking I might have to get one of those)

 

[Reds]

Re: PowerTrac bucket/fork angles

The quick attach feature is what initially caught my eye. After watching Mossroads video ... I was sold. Now I have no experience with 3pt attachments, but my yearly experience of changing out the mid-mount mower for a snowblade left a bad taste in my mouth and too much grease on my hands! No tools ... doesn't get any easier than that!

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Re: PowerTrac bucket/fork angles

Sedgewood
Sounds Great.
My first adventure was backing mine off the trailer. I'd driven it at the factory, but not in any confined situation. I was slow, but managed to get it off, remove the mower, and then use it to unload the other attachments. After that, I took my first break.
Hope yours goes as smoothly.

 

[MossRoad]

Re: PowerTrac bucket/fork angles

Regular old 8mm video camera and a video capture card on my PC.

There are more videos at <A target="_blank" HREF

Now this is the 1845 forum and these are of a PT425, but many of the things are similar.