PT-425 PROS & cons??

FOURTEEN · Jun 13, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

con: Stump Grinder Rotation

Problem:
OEM rotation of the cutter blade is from the bottom of the blade toward the front of the PT.
The first stump I ground resulted in chips and dirt flying back at the PT and me in a shower that filled the entire front area, the seat, the foot wells, and even the canopy! My clothes and face were pelted and covered with dirt and chips!! I used a 12” x 18” piece of Plexiglas to partially hide behind long enough to complete that stump. It took longer to clean the PT and myself afterward than it had taken to grind the stump! Grinding the front of the stump or rear made little difference!

Solution:
Reverse the rotation of the cutter blade, so that the rotation of the blade is from the bottom of the blade away from the front of the PT.

Procedure:
1) Remove the 4 bolts which attach the cutter blade to the hub.
2) Flip the cutter blade over.
3) Reattach the cutter blade with the 4 bolts.
4) Exchange the male and female connectors on the PTO hoses going to the Stump Grinder motor.

Result:
The teeth of the cutter blade now throw the chips away from the PT. The PT and I remain clean. The cutting area at the stump is clear of chips so my progress can be easily viewed from under the Stump Grinder with the cutter blade fully lowered.
By positioning the cutter blade on the far side of the stump the teeth cut downward splitting off larger chips. The blade is slowly moved from side to side while slowly moving the PT in reverse. A tarp may be placed on the ground at the far side of the stump to collect most of the chips.
The Stump Grinder motor is fully reversible, and has functioned flawlessly with full power. After grinding more than a dozen large stumps with their attendant rocks and dirt, the teeth are still as sharp as new! A great attachment, after alteration!!

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FOURTEEN · Jul 4, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

PRO: Light Weight

Although the PT-425 only weighs about 1500#, it has a low center of gravity and excellent lift capacity, both weight and volume, with the LM Bucket!!

Here is my wife, a 70 year old retired school teacher, helping unload mulch. I know she wouldn't be doing this with a typical CUT!!

The trailer is single axle, no brakes, 3000# capacity, and cost ~$700 new. It hauls the mulch, or the PT, or both, with ease.

The PT climbs right into the trailer bed to get every bit of mulch, which we unloaded and spread in less than two hours.

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Bird · Jul 5, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

( I know she wouldn't be doing this with a typical CUT!! )

Maybe she wouldn't, but I sure did a few loads that way with my B7100; both from my 5' x 10' tiltbed trailer and from two 6' x 16' tandem axle non-tilt trailers.

FOURTEEN · Jul 9, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

CON: The hidden zerk grease fitting.

Problem: A zerk fitting to grease the linkage on the PT-425 is located where two cover plates meet. It must be removed to reinstall the covers.

Solution: Grind a slot in the horizontal cover large enough to accommodate a 90 degree zerk fitting when the cover is in place.

Since this photo was taken, I have rotated the zerk 90 degrees to face toward the rear of the PT. By just loosening the two mounting bolts the horizontal cover can be slid rearward to allow the grease gun to connect with the zerk!!

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MuncyBob · Jul 14, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Many solutions to treadle based on the person....for sure! Was about to run to Wal Mart and follow 14's suggestion with the cords the other day.....but I happened to be wearing an old pair of sneakers rather than my work boots when taking out the PT....I found that I have a better "feel" for thr treadles with the sneaks on....seems to have been my solution. Guess I'll hang onto those old sneaks a while longer! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

RegL · Jul 18, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

I'v Planed to do this mod for some time on the pt1430 stump grinder so today I got out the wrenches. Switched hyd lines and tested motor in reverse. It seemed to run fine. I than removed cutter wheel to reverse it and ran into a snag. The five bolts holding the cutter on are actually tapered lug bolts, same as used on the PT's wheels. The outside of the holes in the cutter are chamfered to match. The insides are not. I may check with a friend who is a machinest and see if he can chamfer the holes, but for now , I put it back original. To much steel spinning to fast to not get it right.(
con: Stump Grinder Rotation

Problem:
OEM rotation of the cutter blade is from the bottom of the blade toward the front of the PT.
The first stump I ground resulted in chips and dirt flying back at the PT and me in a shower that filled the entire front area, the seat, the foot wells, and even the canopy! My clothes and face were pelted and covered with dirt and chips!! I used a 12” x 18” piece of Plexiglas to partially hide behind long enough to complete that stump. It took longer to clean the PT and myself afterward than it had taken to grind the stump! Grinding the front of the stump or rear made little difference!

Solution:
Reverse the rotation of the cutter blade, so that the rotation of the blade is from the bottom of the blade away from the front of the PT.

Procedure:
1) Remove the 4 bolts which attach the cutter blade to the hub.
2) Flip the cutter blade over.
3) Reattach the cutter blade with the 4 bolts.
4) Exchange the male and female connectors on the PTO hoses going to the Stump Grinder motor.

Result:
The teeth of the cutter blade now throw the chips away from the PT. The PT and I remain clean. The cutting area at the stump is clear of chips so my progress can be easily viewed from under the Stump Grinder with the cutter blade fully lowered.
By positioning the cutter blade on the far side of the stump the teeth cut downward splitting off larger chips. The blade is slowly moved from side to side while slowly moving the PT in reverse. A tarp may be placed on the ground at the far side of the stump to collect most of the chips.
The Stump Grinder motor is fully reversible, and has functioned flawlessly with full power. After grinding more than a dozen large stumps with their attendant rocks and dirt, the teeth are still as sharp as new! A great attachment, after alteration!!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

)

FOURTEEN · Jul 18, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Sorry to hear about your snag!! My experiences and suggestions are based upon a late model (2/4) PT-425.

I would most likely just reverse the nuts as I have done without incident when installing custom wheels without chamfers on my ATV 250X. Maybe even add a drop of Locktite for insurance. However, it is your machine and your decision!! But for me, using my Stump Grinder with OEM rotation is not an option!!

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RegL · Jul 19, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

(

Sorry to hear about your snag!! My experiences and suggestions are based upon a late model (2/4) PT-425.

I would most likely just reverse the nuts as I have done without incident when installing custom wheels without chamfers on my ATV 250X. Maybe even add a drop of Locktite for insurance. However, it is your machine and your decision!! But for me, using my Stump Grinder with OEM rotation is not an option!!

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No nuts, The blade is attached with bolts with tapered heads, same as the wheel bolts. The purpose of tapered heads and chamfered holes is for proper alienment. I agree that the oem rotation is not fun and that is why I'm going to try to get the holes chamfered on the other side. Glad to here yours worked out. Did yours just have regular bolts and no chamfered holes? Lock washers? )

FOURTEEN · Jul 19, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

"" No nuts ""

You are right!! Last night my memory wasn't fully engaged! Tonight I looked and sure enough they are bolts! I don't recall if the other side of the blade, which is now against the hub, was chamfered or not.

I do recall that we removed and reinstalled the bolts with an air wrench. (NO Locktite!) After several months of use, they have not loosened at all, and will require the air wrench again if I need them loosened!

Because the bolts are chamfered, they will self align even in the unchamfered holes. At the slow speed at which the blade turns balance is not an issue.

I would not go to the bother and expense of chamfering the holes, but again that's me!! You won't know if you don't try!!

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FOURTEEN · Jul 28, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Parking Brake Operation

Problem: Parking Brake is difficult to use.

Solution:
Loosening the nut that holds the handle on will make moving the handle easier. Then, when you move the handle, see if the cables are moving in and out of the cable tubes. The handle only needs to be tight enough to avoid inadvertent movement! At 8 hours lube the cable tubes with spray lube like silicon that will lube but not attract dirt.

When you need to use the parking brake: do NOT move the steering wheel, lift the parking brake handle, shut off the engine, then get off the PT.
(The pins will only move into the brake plate slots if needed. If not needed the pins can be more easily retracted from the face of the brake plate later.)

To release the brake: get on the PT, start the engine, do NOT move the steering wheel, lower the parking brake handle, gently move forward and reverse to verify that the brake is released while NOT moving the steering wheel!
(Moving the steering wheel can result in one pin becoming trapped on the forward side of it's slot, while the other pin is trapped on the reverse side of it's slot! If this happens, a combination of forward - reverse, AND left - right movements will be needed to clear the pins!!)

Rather than using the parking brake, it is often adequate to just turn the steering wheel hard to one side. If the PT were to move, it would just roll a little in a tight circle, then stop!!

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