Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I am still considering doing the same with my PT.
<font color="red"> Stop considering! Just do it! REVERSE YOUR WHEELS!! You'll never want to go back!!! </font>
How do you feel about undue stress being put on motors or shafts?
<font color="red"> Visualize that the footprint at the wide wheel setting overlaps the footprint of the narrow wheel setting by 67%, since the inner 7" of the wide setting sits on the same ground as the outer 7" of the narrow setting.
When sitting on a flat hard surface, there would be little, if any, added stress because the wide stiff tire would resist any slight leverage effect, and the position of the hub/wheel interface has not been changed.
Now visualize the tire riding lengthwise along a 1" diameter pipe. In this unique situation the wheel can rotate radially.
If the pipe was positioned under the shared 65% of the footprints, the hub would experience the same radial torque at either setting.
If the pipe was positioned somewhere under the outer 3.5" of the wide setting, there would be a slight increase in radial torque, but I doubt that it would be a significant amount, or that it would exceed the design limits of the motor.
This is a scenario that would seldom be duplicated in the real world, except, perhaps, riding over a small stone or root near the outer edge of the tire where the entire load was supported at that point, a condition which seldom occurs, and if it does, it does so for a very short duration.
There are many factors which can increase the wear on, or reduce the service life of, a Power Trac, or any vehicle. Liquid filled tires, for example, greatly increase stress on wheel motor shafts due to the large reduction in tire compliance.
I believe that the benefits of reversing wheels for SOME owners, in SOME situations, may far exceed any slight, if any, detrimental effects!! However, this is a decision, like many others regarding the use and care of a PT-425, which must ultimately be addressed by the OWNER for HIS machine being used by HIM in HIS situation!!
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Or being more exposure for sticks to puncture hydraulic hose’s and such?
<font color="red"> No such exposure! See
#519768 - 10/27/04 at PT-425 PROS & cons?? </font>
<font color="red"> PS: I have used my PT-425 with reversed wheels for over 275 hours with NO ill effects! These were nearly all 'high stress' hours - many spent lifting and carrying heavy loads over rugged forest floor for long distances with complete confidence, not mowing grass!!
If I ever do develop a wheel motor problem, I will consider it a tiny price to pay for the superior stability and safely of having a 'Wide Track' Power Trac!!
PPS: Tire pressures should be 11# front and 7# rear! </font>
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