PT stork delivery to Argyle, NY for Model 422

[MuncyBob]

I do not have the brush hog but I'm sure the same principal applies with the mower...........run at full(or near full) throttle for the best cut. Sorry to hear about your stalling problems.....I have just over 55 hours on my 422 now and no engine problems at all...just wish I had a building that size to store it in!!

 

[Schultz]

Sounds like PT should do an hour run in prior to shipment, kind of like when they put cars up on rollers and run them through the gears.

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue"> If I were a betting man (and I am not) I would bet that the problem is more heat related. </font>

I'd tend to agree. From all the past posts, this seems the most likely cause.

As for brush hogging and lawn mowing, I use full throttle.

Check your engine statistics to see how much current(amps) the alternator can provide. My Kohler on our PT425 only puts out 15 AMPs. I frequently run 4 lights and have had no problems with the battery staying charged. This will be the fourth winter for our battery, so we'll see how things go this year. It isn't easy to change in my model. You have to remove the muffler! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif But, I knew that before purchasing, so I wasn't surprised. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[jol1269]

welcome to the family here at tbn as well as the pt family ,...... m.r. you said you run 4 lights i like that idea but what lights are you running and where did you get yours i too have a 425 but noticed the lights dont really help alot like many others have found out and what wattage are they pulling / amps

 

[Tak]

Steve,

Need a bit more detailed information. However, based on what you indicated, I had a similar problem. Everyone bear with me Let me share the symptoms in case others run into a similar problem.

Tractor would run fine at idle and high speed and start up every time without a miss. After running for a while (enough to get tractor hot), tractor would die on. Trying to start it up immediately was not successful. After waiting a few minutes, it would start fine but then die shortly thereafter. The longer I waited to start it up, the longer it would run before dying again. It died like it was starving itself of fuel. However, it would never do it when 1st starting or during initial operation. Therefore, it seemed to be a heat related fuel problem like vapor lock which someone mentioned. A couple times I ran it in the shop 1/2 throttle sitting still for over an hour and no problem. Conclusion at that point was it wasn't heat related. Maybe 2 out of 30 times, it died within 10 minutes so that also confirmed that it probably wasn't heat related.

Solution explanation

Problem was a small amount of floating debris that was in the fuel tank. Depending on where the debris was when the tractor was started, sometimes debris would be in the tank and sometimes it would be in the fuel line at the bottom of the tank. Of course, when I checked in the tank, debris was in the line so it couldn't be seen.

When tractor was sitting still AND debris was in the tank far away from the fuel hose, tractor could basically run until all the fuel was used up. When tractor is moving, the fuel sloshes around and the object gets sucked down the fuel hose when it passes nearby. Since that is a random occurence, it appears to take a while and thus it seems heat related. It is similar to a bathtub draining. Anything close to the drain will get sucked into the drain and possibly clog it up. If the object is far away, it may never clog up the drain. We cleared the line and ended up using a tower type filter so even if there was debris, it wouldn't clog the line in the future.

This may or may not be applicable in this case. However, just wanted to mention it because intermittent items that cause problems are the hardest to diagnose as they mask themselves well. Also, you mentioned that you did see some debris in the fuel filter. At the least, blow out the fuel line.

 

[Tak]

Steve,

Arch building - can I get more information? company name? quality? ease of construction? etc. Am considering purchasing one also.

MR, should this be another thread?

Lance

 

[J_J]

I would like to suggest another check one might do to check fuel line vapor lock. Remove hose from fuel pump and plug line. Take a separate gas can , fill with gas and run a hose to the fuel pump, remove the hose to the carb and put into the same container to check fuel pump operation. Crank engine, If the flow is ok, hook the hose back to the carb, crank it up and let it run for as long as you want. If it can run for several hours, it probably is vapor lock, and the line must be rerouted or insulated. Check and see if you can put a filter in the gas tank to eliminate any crud from being sucked up in to the line.

 

[MossRoad]

I picked up two 35W headlights that are nearly identical to the one's mounted on the PT from the factory. I think I picked them up at an auto parts store or TSC, but can't recall. I mounted them uner my canopy on a piece of square tubing that I welded to the underside. Here's a link to a thread where I mounted the light bar. There are some pictures in the first few posts and some more down further with pictures of the lights. It also says that I bought the lights at Auto Zone for about $10.00 a poke(good thing I wrote it down, huh?! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif).

I have not mounted my switch box yet, so I just wrapped a wire around on side of the ROPs and used a wire tap to tap into the existing headlights. All four work on the same switch for now. I went with the square tubing welded underneath the canopy just because I wanted a cleaner look. Anyone with a drill could do it much easier and skip the tubing. I just wanted a cleaner look and a place to mount things, rather than have bolt heads sticking through the canopy. I could have used stainless steel caps or rubber boots on top of the bolts and it would looked just as clean.

In past discussions just about everyone agreed that if someone opts for the ROPS/Canopy option on a 422, or gets a 425 with standard ROPS/Canopy, Power Trac should just automaticall mount the lights up underneath it. They really are much more functional up there and eliminate the shadow that is cast by the lift arms on the quick attach area.

Also, further down in the post, BEBSTER asked me if I had any concerns about the alternator being big enough for the load. Here's what I replied with:

<font color="blue">It is supposed to be a 15 amp alternator and the 4 lights will be pulling 35W each. So, if I got this right, 35Watts X 4Lights = 140W total. I think 140W/12V=11.7A. That leaves about 3 amps to charge the battery, run the spark plugs and the electric fan on the hydraulic cooler. I don't know how many amps that thing pulls. Add in a 35W reverse light and I'm looking at a dead battery by the end of a long evening of plowing. That is why I want to put everything on different circuits. If I don't need things, I'll turn them off. If it becomes a real hassle, I could order a 25AMP alternator kit for the Kohler, but I think I'll use my $15.00 motorcycle trickle charger on it all winter and see how things go. I never have to plow for more than 5 or 10 minutes right now anyway. When it is cold, I let the tractor warm up longer than it takes me to plow! </font>

I haven't had any problems yet. We'll see how it goes this winter.

 

[FOURTEEN]

"" I'll turn them off ""

You could use a single pole double throw switch to run EITHER the upper or lower lights!

Or just move the lights up>>

PM V502HF Flood Beam Utility & Tractor Lights which are 3"x5" rectangular, modern, bright 55W halogen lights, available at Wal-Mart.

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

 

[scarg]

Well- I found that if I bush hog at 3/4 throttle the unit runs great for hours and the mower still cuts the same from what I can tell.

On a side note- the right side hydraulic hose that runs the attachment clamping mechanism somehow popped a hole in it.

Power trac immediately sent replacement a hose to me under warranty. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Also - while doing some rock removal on a slope I had the left front tire go flat. I knew I should have put fix a flat as soon as i received the unit. Not sure where the hole or leak is yet as it was dark out.

Steve