Price Check Help Please - PT418

[pka45]

Hi all,

I have recently discovered the miraculous Power Trac machine, and I'm in love. I think the machine is perfect for my needs (brush cutting, driveway maintenance, landscaping, etc), but I'm on a tight budget and would love to find a used one. I have recently come across a 1998 PT418 with 18 hp Briggs and Stratton motor, and 4 attachments (bucket, blade, mower, brush cutter). It sounds like everything is in great condition. My question is, what should I look for in that particular model, and what would be a fair price for it? It's a 10 hour drive for me, so I would need to get a good deal to make it worth the trip, and I just haven't been around long enough to see what these things bring.

Thanks very much for any advice. And thanks for the great resource that is this forum -- I've been learning so much by reading past posts.

Pete

 

[MossRoad]

Welcome to TBN and the Power Trac forum. :thumbsup:

 

[woodlandfarms]

What is your budget?

 

[pka45]

Thanks MossRoad.

Woodland Farms - I would like to stay under $5000; my problem is that I'm in need of something fairly soon, and it is tough finding these things used! But if the used prices are too high, I'll just ride across the state and pick up a new one if I have to.

 

[MossRoad]

First, I'd see how many hours are on that machine, engine, original engine, etc....

Second, I don't think the 418s have the quick attach, so you'll have to manually pin the attachments. Not that big a deal, according to the few that have had them here.

Third, I think they may only have one steering cylinder. If that is the case, look closely around the areas where that one cylinder attaches on each end for cracks/repairs/welds.

Fourth, I don't think they have a hydraulic cooling fan, but could be mistaken.

I don't know that much about the 418 series. It's 3 years older than mine. At 20 years old, at an average of 50 hours per year, it would have 1000 hours on it, but that's completely unpredictable. It's just an average based on homeowner useage.

Is the machine a one-owner? Has it seen commercial use? Etc... can all attribute to wear and tear.

Those are going to be 20 year old hydraulic hoses. So check them all carefully.

Lift the FEL arm up half way and give it some serious side-to-side shakes to see if any of the bushings and pins are loose.

Carefully look at the rollover tube that runs across the center of the FEL arms. It should have a grease zerk on each end. Check for play in that tube. Look for cracks in it. And look for cracks where the pin that goes through it is welded to each FEL arm.

Take the center console covers off and look at the condition of the hoses in there, the ball joints on the end of the top center link. The balls on the treadle assembly. The treadle assembly itself.

Look at the hydroback cable that runs from the treadle to the hydroback unit on top of the tram pump. This controls direction. Check for free play, stiffness, etc...

Check the balls on the ends of all the hydraulic cylinder for play and slop.

Check the two center pivot joints V.E.R.Y. carefully. Wipe off the grease and look for cracks around the ball joints, as well as cracks where the triangular ball mount plates attach to the tubs.

Get the FEL off the ground, and grab it and shake it very hard side-to-side again and check the center joints for looseness. There shouldn't be much slop in those joints.

Start it up and run it at full throttle. Once it's warmed up, if you can, put it up against something immovable while on dirt, not pavement, and start giving it some treadle slowly. See if you can spin any of the wheels or if the machine just bogs out easily. You should be able to somewhat spin or at least break free a tire or two in loose soil. If it doesn't, the pump may be getting weak.

I'm sure others will chime in with more and better suggestions.

All that stuff can be repaired, but at what cost to you and your time.

Can you weld?
Are you opposed to turning wrenches and getting greasy and oily from time-to-time?

 

[pka45]

Great, thanks very much for the tips MossRoad -- I really appreciate it. I'm not opposed to turning wrenches, but I am opposed to driving 10 hours one way and finding out that this machine needs a bunch of work and wasting 2 full days of my time...

Also, this one doesn't have an hour meter. What would a rough going rate be for such a machine and attachments?

 

[Lnk]

Great, thanks very much for the tips MossRoad -- I really appreciate it. I'm not opposed to turning wrenches, but I am opposed to driving 10 hours one way and finding out that this machine needs a bunch of work and wasting 2 full days of my time...

Also, this one doesn't have an hour meter. What would a rough going rate be for such a machine and attachments?

What is the owner asking? Unless the owner can give you detail about the current condition and maintenance history, I would make an offer expecting to fix some things. A new engine is 1200-1500, hydraulics can be repaired or replaced but at a cost. I would offer him 3k and see what he says. If he jumps at your offer, might make me suspect. If he thinks it is in good shape he'll counter with a decent bump. The 10 hour drive would make me hesitant. Add up all you time and costs to go and see/transport etc. Plus repairs, and increase your budget by that much. Might be in new 422 territory. I am looking at the power-trac 425 as something my wife would use. She won't drive either tractor, but this would be like a powered wheelbarrow. Just not sure how it would work on our max 18 degree hills.

Good luck with this, and let us know how you make out.

 

[pka45]

Great information, thanks Ink!

 

[MossRoad]

Great, thanks very much for the tips MossRoad -- I really appreciate it. I'm not opposed to turning wrenches, but I am opposed to driving 10 hours one way and finding out that this machine needs a bunch of work and wasting 2 full days of my time...

Also, this one doesn't have an hour meter. What would a rough going rate be for such a machine and attachments?

From my notes, in 2001:
PT425 was $8000.00 for the tactor with the lift arms and quick attach installed. All of the implements also were very resonably priced. The small bucket was $300.00. The teeth were $100.00, the 60" mower was $1200.00, the 60" power angle snow blade was $450.00 and the large light material bucket was under $400.00. Pallet forks were $250. Loading ramps were $100. All told, the entire package was under $13,000.00 delivered. I couldn't touch that price for any of the other units that I looked at.

The PT422 was $7000 and the PT418 was $6000 as I recall, again 2001 prices.

I don't know how that PT418 was laid out. If you could find the Briggs model that was in it, you might be surprised to find that a Harbor Freight Predator engine 22HP is $729 and might, AND I SAID MIGHT, be a direct bolt-in replacement. It MIGHT NOT!!!, so don't get any hopes up.

I also just bumped up an olddddd thread for your viewing. Check it out in the Power Trac forum. It might be helpful.


As for what a 20 year old PT418 is worth? I just can't tell you. I'd definately pay less than half of what it cost new. Especially since you might have to re-power it, repairs, etc... mayb way less than half. It's just hard to say without putting hands on it, checking condition, power left in the engine, hydraulics, tire condition...

At a 20 hour 1000 mile round trip, that's gonna cost you $300 in wear and tear on your vehicle, plus food and lodging, so $500 minimum.

If I lived within an hour of it, I'd check it out for you in return for a case of root beer and a cheeseburger. :laughing:

Good luck. Try getting some better pictures of it for yourself, and maybe a video of it operating under load.

 

[airbiscuit]

Maybe if you told us where it was, a TBN member could take a look at it and give you a report. I have learned from reading the Power Trac forums that they are better than any Compact Utility Tractor, and owning one makes you stronger, better looking and more virile.