Pulled the Trigger and bought it!

[Trebor]

A new PT425 that is!! After months of research, questioning, frustration, and concerns about what I really needed vs what I might dream about needing, I placed my order yesterday for a new PT425. Included with my purchase are the 4in1/w teeth, minihoe, rake, snowblade, 10cu.ft. bucket, bar tires, and arm rests. I feel great having finally made this choice. All the other compacts and sub compacts gave me signifcantly less bang for the buck for my application and restricted budjet. After testing so many different tractors (all really nice -green, red, blue, and 2 orange), it seemed the PT425 made the most sense for me. Hopefully some day I will be add a couple more tractors.

I probably will be asking a lot of questions from you PTers in the future. For now, my biggest dilemma is waiting till the first week of May for delivery. I can only look at the pictures for the moment. Also, all of the bush and weeds I plan to tear out are beginning to turn grreen. Hope to get it immediately when my PT arrives.

Talking to Scott at PT, I put in a strong reccommendation for a swivel on the shears (another attachment I could have really used.) I know you guys have thought it neccesary also. Scott said they were reviewing the design and possibly might have it on a miniboom extension. My concern, considering the capabilities of this shear, was the lack of protection for kicback. I didn't want a 20 ft tree getting hung up and taking me or the PT out. However, it does certainly sound like a great tool. (supposed to available in about 2 months).

Thanks to you who responded to my first post about what to buy.

Regards,

Trebor

 

[Rip]

Although I was not the first to respond to your initial request, let me be the first to congratulate you on your new acquisition.

Sounds like you made a good choice for your application and I am sure you will get many years of good use and practical enjoyment from it.

Rip

 

[smartguyz]

Welcome to TBN, and congrats on your new purchase! I'm sure you'll be astounded by how much this little guy can do!

Be sure to get yourself a spinner knob for the steering wheel!

-Rob /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[dannygw]

Trebor,
Congratulations. I too pulled the trigger this week. I will be making the 1400+ mile trip to Tazewell on May 5 & 6. I am getting the PT425 also, plus attachments. I have already listed everything in another thread, so I won't repeat them here. I plan on taking pictures of the visit to Power-Trac and will post them here soon after I return.

 

[Trebor]

Smartguyz:

I was in Pep Boys Thursday looking for bullet tailights and a spinner but I couldn't find any. Where did you get yours?

Dannygw:

Your going to Tazewell the same time I am going to receive my PT. I wanted to go there really badly, but wasn't able to arrange the time to get away. Take some pictures of the service routine and location of all the grease points if you can. It would be helpful to me as I understand from some of MossRoads postings that these have been relocated several times. It is nice to know that now there are a couple of us with the same production run PT425.

Have a great trip down there. I hope to make it there later in the summer and "get the training". Until then, I guess I'll be relying on you PTers for your help.

Trebor

 

[pajoube]

I bought my spinner knob at a major tractor impliment dealer which carries high quality spinner knobs that should hold up for a lifetime.
PJ

 

[pajoube]

If you can spare an extra half day, take a drive around the Tazewell area. It is in a beautiful valley that is worth seeing.
PJ

 

[smartguyz]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Smartguyz:

I was in Pep Boys Thursday looking for bullet tailights and a spinner but I couldn't find any. Where did you get yours?

Trebor )</font>

Hi Trebor,

Don't know about bullet tailights - do you mean something like these at JCWhitney.com? Click Here

As far as the spinner knob goes, I bought mine at the local tractor store. Spinners are only available for off-road vehicles. Mine was in green, which matched the PT425 paint very well. I found one on JCWhitney - Right Here - but I'm willing to bet any local tractor store has them.

Have fun with your new toy - eh- I mean tool.

-Rob /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[dannygw]

<font color="red"> </font> I was in Pep Boys Thursday looking for bullet tailights and a spinner but I couldn't find any. Where did you get yours? <font color="black"> </font>
Tractor Supply Co. (TSC), if you have one in your area, has green spinner knobs.


<font color="red"> </font> Take some pictures of the service routine and location of all the grease points if you can. It would be helpful to me as I understand from some of MossRoads postings that these have been relocated several times. <font color="black"> </font>

I will try to get pictures of the service training if I can. If time does not allow, I will take pics when I get home and post them.

 

[Sedgewood]

<font color="red"> I bought my spinner knob at a major tractor impliment dealer which carries high quality spinner knobs that should hold up for a lifetime.
</font>

I'm using the Deluxe Steering Wheel Spinner from Northern Tool (here) and have found that having it mounted outside the rather small diameter PT steering wheel a major advantage. Of course it's not holding up a lifetime - the knob is pulling off its stem /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I may have to get out the gluepot soon.

Before mounting the knob I wrapped the wheel with a cheap steering wheel cover. That gave a much better grip to the wheel but alas that didn't hold up a lifetime either. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif When it started coming apart I overwrapped it with a layer of stretchy self - fuzing rubber electrical tape. That has worked great and seems to be holding up fine.

Before these simple mods I was having trouble with my hands aching from trying to hang on to that darned skinny little wheel.

Sedgewood

 

[jol1269]

i too used the spinner knob from northern and tried the tape the steering wheel cover to no avail then i used a lil bit of putty steel to place a ring around the steering wheel and immediately placed the spinner in the stuff and tightend it up and let it set for an hour or so now its almost permanet unless i decide to saw it off to replace /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[pajoube]

I remember my first few hours on the PT. Both ankles hurt because they were not used to the treddle height and movement. My wrist gave me problems until I bought the spinner knob.
Now, I have my left hand on the spinner and the right hand on the attachment hydraulic lever. When not moving the hydraulic lever the right hand is holding on to the ROPS bar.
At first I thought my ankles would never get accustomed to the treddle height, now I never think about it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
PJ

 

[MossRoad]

Yeah, I put about 5-6 hours on the PT at the church yesterday. First time in months. I was a little stiff, but not as sore as those other guys using shovels and rakes! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[smartguyz]

PJ is right - We almost universally agree that a spinner knob is really a huge improvement. I usually have one hand on the knob, and the other one either on the joystick, or more-often - on the ROPs bar. It provides a great place to stabilize yourself. In fact, I have been considering whether I should place 'gripper' material on both sides - I have been wearing the cheezy paint off.

Sincerely,

Rob /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[pairodime]

Yours is a fine looking machine /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Terry used yours to do the maintenance "show and tell" as they are out of stock. I envy you /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif