PT422 on hilly terrain

JamesR · Feb 24, 2006

Hello:

I went to Tazewell today to get a first hand look at the Power Trac machines. The sales and maintenance folks at Power Trac were very courteous, patient, low (no) pressure, and answered all our questions. Overall, I was very impressed with their facilities and friendliness of their employees.

Incidentally, with a visit to the facility, Power Trac is offering a 5% discount on cash/check purchases until March 15. The regular 2% discount for up to 6 months after the visit still applies, but the 5% discount expires on the 15th. Scott said the discount was only started yesterday.

With that said, I was wondering how folks felt about the PT422's ability to mow on slopes around the 20% limit. Does it seem to easily handle the slopes with a 48" mower deck running? Any problems associated with mowing on slopes unique to the PT?

I'm sure this topic has been discussed at some point in this forum, but any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks,
James

MuncyBob · Feb 25, 2006

I will mow the steeper slopes that I have while the fluid is still cool...seems I get better traction/mower power then. If I have steep slopes to finish after the fluids have become hot I either cut downhill when not able to go uphill or traverse the slope or I will back up a slope..I think the rear engine weight givesyou some better traction that way. If you try to cut up a steep slope with the fluids hot you will probably not make it all the way up before it bogs down..mower slows to almost a stop...then you need to kill the PTO and go up the slope. At first I was unhappy with this situation but now that I have my cutting "routine" down(mow 3 acres in season) it doesn't bother me at all and is a trade off for all the other things I can do with it. Hope this helps.

BobRip · Feb 25, 2006

For those kind of slopes you should definately go with the 425. It has 50% more wheel motor torque and the 3 extra horse power to get you up the slope.
I have a 25% slope (PT422) and I have to get a running start to mow up it, and then I don't make it to the top. The slope is only about 10 feet long.
Go with the 425.
Bob Rip

SnowRidge · Feb 25, 2006

A 20% slope isn't very steep at all. It is only around 10 degrees. Any PT should be able to handle that without any problems. Even if it was a 20 degree slope, the PT-422 should handle it. On the steeper slopes, the operator may have to back off the forward speed some so that enough power is available to the mower PTO, but that is normal with almost all tractors.

SnowRidge · Feb 25, 2006

Bob, what happens if you try to creep up that slope while the mower is running? I'm talking about just a tiny bit of forward pedal. I'm really curious about this hill problem you and Farmall140 are experiencing.

JamesR · Feb 25, 2006

SnowRidge:

I did post the slope wrong. It is 20 degrees, not 20%. There are some small stretches that are around 23 degrees, but not that much.

I did see where you thought the PT422 should handle the 20 degree slope.

Thanks for the info.

James

SnowRidge · Feb 25, 2006

Since I have a PT-425, not a 422, I'm not the most qualified to speak on the latter, but I'm having a hard time understanding why some folks are having problems on slopes. On my steep slopes, and I have a lot of them to mow these days, I just back off the right pedal until the mower stops bogging. I do the same thing on my gear tractor by shifting down to a lower range. (The pedals on the PTs are really infinite transmission range controls. All the way down is high gear, while just barely down is the lowest range.)

The older PT-425s did not have the high torque wheel motors of today's models, but I don't recall anyone having major problems with hills. I don't think the additional 3 HP would make that much difference.

MuncyBob · Feb 25, 2006

Most hills in the area that I cut grass are not a problem and I do have to let off the treadle to creep up all the way....I was thinking of STEEP hills when I mentioned some problem getting up.....I'm not sure what the grade is of the few really steep hills that I have but I would guess approaching 30-35 degrees?? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Bob999 · Feb 25, 2006

<font color="red"> .I was thinking of STEEP hills when I mentioned some problem getting up.....I'm not sure what the grade is of the few really steep hills that I have but I would guess approaching 30-35 degrees?? </font>

STEEP has different meanings to different people.

I have an 1845 with dual wheels so stability on slopes up to 40 degrees is supposed to be satisactory according to PT specs. However my experience is that I run out of traction long before reaching 40 degrees. A slope of 25 degrees can be difficult unless conditions are dry. At 30 degrees I find that even with dry conditions that side slipping is a problem when mowing cross slope and a spinning wheel is a problem if working up slope.