Looking for a new tractor to buy in Q1 2005. Went the usual route and started looking at CUTs and SCUTs. Always came down to poor turning radius which just wouldn't work in my yard. Attachments seem over the top expensive, too.
Then, I found this site and the PT series. I think the PT's will work great for my yard, and I have read a zillion posts here to get well informed. You guys are having too much fun with your machines... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Now I have a nagging question... Obviously the 425 is a great machine for a wide variety of tasks, but how come nobody has the 2425? When I look at many of the lifting/digging/PT pucker issues people have had, it seems a little more weight, like the 2425 has, would make a big difference in the lift capacity. Also, I looked closely at where the main lift pivot is on the 2425 and it is substantially behind the front wheel compared to the 425 and that alone would seem to seriously reduce the pucker-potential.
I only have a one acre yard with about 50 mature trees and gardens to mow around, but I have lots of local neighbors with bigger 3+ acre properties and neighborly type jobs that can keep a worthy tractor busy. I have drain tile to install (at 42" depth), decks that need posts dug, lots of large tree maintenance (can you say grapple bucket), a 250 foot drainage ditch to keep cleaned out, a 200 foot fence to install, seasonal snow maintenance, and that's just to get started.
The 2425 attracts me more than the 425 because the higher seat would seem to give better visibility, I like the 7' lift potential, and I only need the 48" mower to provide agile clearance among the trees. The 2425 is 7" shorter. I like the fact a more capable backhoe can be attached and removed easily, though I would only use the minihoe at first due to costs.
Downsides I see to the 2425 are the obvious cost, higher center of gravity and overall height. Possibly the seat being in the rear of the tractor may feel strange at first? The pictures don't show it but the 2425 has ROPS canopy, right?
Other concerns - is the 2425 as easy to service as the 425? Does the seat really get hot due to being above the engine?
Look forward to your feedback,
Steve in Michigan
Then, I found this site and the PT series. I think the PT's will work great for my yard, and I have read a zillion posts here to get well informed. You guys are having too much fun with your machines... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Now I have a nagging question... Obviously the 425 is a great machine for a wide variety of tasks, but how come nobody has the 2425? When I look at many of the lifting/digging/PT pucker issues people have had, it seems a little more weight, like the 2425 has, would make a big difference in the lift capacity. Also, I looked closely at where the main lift pivot is on the 2425 and it is substantially behind the front wheel compared to the 425 and that alone would seem to seriously reduce the pucker-potential.
I only have a one acre yard with about 50 mature trees and gardens to mow around, but I have lots of local neighbors with bigger 3+ acre properties and neighborly type jobs that can keep a worthy tractor busy. I have drain tile to install (at 42" depth), decks that need posts dug, lots of large tree maintenance (can you say grapple bucket), a 250 foot drainage ditch to keep cleaned out, a 200 foot fence to install, seasonal snow maintenance, and that's just to get started.
The 2425 attracts me more than the 425 because the higher seat would seem to give better visibility, I like the 7' lift potential, and I only need the 48" mower to provide agile clearance among the trees. The 2425 is 7" shorter. I like the fact a more capable backhoe can be attached and removed easily, though I would only use the minihoe at first due to costs.
Downsides I see to the 2425 are the obvious cost, higher center of gravity and overall height. Possibly the seat being in the rear of the tractor may feel strange at first? The pictures don't show it but the 2425 has ROPS canopy, right?
Other concerns - is the 2425 as easy to service as the 425? Does the seat really get hot due to being above the engine?
Look forward to your feedback,
Steve in Michigan
