Questions about the PowerTrac 425

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Will be going to Tazewell Monday to see for myself, but in the meantime, a few questions. Mainly, I'm having trouble imagining how to do things without a tilt/angle/offset-capable rear blade.

1. I understand the attachments go on the front of a PT, but the 425 does have some rear hydraulics, right? Is that only for a backhoe, or can you either buy or mod some pull-behind attachments and if so, can you angle/tilt/offset them?

2. Can you tilt or angle the front PT attachments using the hydraulics? Any ability to offset for ditching? I need to do quite a bit of ditching. And speaking of ditching, how do you guys do it with a PT?

3. In terms of grading/maintaining all of our roads--long gravel driveway, rougher steep dirt road, and all the trails through the woods--what's the best way to create/maintain these with the PT?

4. Am planning on the stock bucket with tooth bar, box blade of course, maybe a brush cutter, and not sure what else. Anyone have the post hole digger, and how well does it work?

Thanks!

 

[ponytug]

Welcome! Have fun at Tazewell.
1) There are no rear hydraulics. That means that for box blading, you are mostly going backwards.
2) Some attachments have some ability to angle. No offsets that I am aware of, but ask when you are there.
3) There are non-PT tools, but the box blade and the 4N1 are both pretty good at maintaining. Creating...I'd read the forum on that one. Because you are going forward, you have to do it differently. The versions that come with a backhoe can do that, but you give up quite a bit of slope stability. Many folks have the mini-hoe which is similar to a backhoe, but not quite.
4) The brush cutter is a work horse. The post hole digger works, but try it at Tazewell to see if you like it. I tried it and didn't like, so I bought the post driver instead. It is fantastic for what it does, but not the easiest of tools on slopes.

Say "Hi" to Terry Estep from all of us.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Marks481]

Post Hole Digger works pretty good... it is handy because you can do a good job of controlling the list/tilt of the drill by the articulation motion of the tractor. The auger bits aren't much to write home about; probably something like this would work better:

Lowe Auger Bits, Extensions and Replacement Teeth : Lowe 6" Auger Bit SQ6

If you don't hit a rock, you can clear a 8", 30" deep hole in a minute or so. In VA, you should probably be okay.

My first use of it (in CT) I hit big rocks in half of my post holes... and most of the rocks were in the 100-200# range. In those type of conditions, the PHD didn't work well... most of those holes ended up being excavated with the mini-hoe... the rock below came out of a hole that started as a post hole.... and as a post that was supporting a size foot gate was critical.

And the mini-hoe should definitely should be on your shopping list. Good for digging ditches. Works on the PT-422/425/1425/1430, etc. It is simple in design, but the articulating nature of the vehicles gives you the ability to move from side to side to dump dirt. Power-tac has a lot of youtube videos; check them out to see how their attachments work:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBrG_keMUTc&spfreload=10

Also should be on your list: fork attachment.

Speaking of rear hydraulics... only the PT-2425/2430/2460 have "rear hydraulics", and they are dedicated to the (full) backhoe. No other attachments designed there.

Every other attachment is designed for the front lift arms, which have two hydraulic circuits routed for attachments: PTO (for spinning things) and a control circuit (for opening/shutting 4N1, angling the plow blade, etc). Just a note: some of the attachments that you would typically find on the rear of a tractor work better when driving in reverse: box blade, tiller, trencher, etc.

 

[jfischer]

To me it sounds like she is looking for a machine with a 3 point hitch that will drag things.

I have the 425 and live on a 1/4 mile gravel road and know that my machine would sure not handle much more then doing the snow on it. The box blade is great for dirt, and looser gravel, but I wouldn't want to be trying to maintain a road, as it sounds like she is wanting it to tilt to be able to cut a crown.

She could cut some small ditches, but I wouldn't try anything wide. I know that my ditches are wider then the machine and the ones that are 2 or 3 feet deep I end up dragging the dirt out, and then moving it.

Maybe one of the bigger machines would do better for her, but don't think a 425 is going to keep up with all the work she is going to want to put it through, but go down to Tazwell and try some out, I was just there this last week picking a few things up.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

To me it sounds like she is looking for a machine with a 3 point hitch that will drag things.

I have the 425 and live on a 1/4 mile gravel road and know that my machine would sure not handle much more then doing the snow on it. The box blade is great for dirt, and looser gravel, but I wouldn't want to be trying to maintain a road, as it sounds like she is wanting it to tilt to be able to cut a crown.

She could cut some small ditches, but I wouldn't try anything wide. I know that my ditches are wider then the machine and the ones that are 2 or 3 feet deep I end up dragging the dirt out, and then moving it.

Maybe one of the bigger machines would do better for her, but don't think a 425 is going to keep up with all the work she is going to want to put it through, but go down to Tazwell and try some out, I was just there this last week picking a few things up.

My ditches are only about a foot wide at most, and the same depth at most. The new road snaking down the mountain to the ravine/ponds/stream was cut by a huge excavator, but still needs a crown and a shallow ditch down one side for runoff. The other side is a steep drop-off.

The Mahindra Max I'm also considering would excel at the road maintenance, but would be far less handy on the trails, hills, etc. Guess what I really need is a little of both!

 

[SpringHollow]

If you get something larger like the 1430, then you have the lift capacity to buy a a 3pt adapter for a skid steer and weld on a PT attachment plate. Then you can buy standard 3pt box blades etc. Mine is made by Lackender and has some simple tilt capability. I have not looked at the other manufacturers. If you or someone you know likes to weld, you can have your own custom attachments made.

I had a bunch of road ditches put in by a guy with a dozer. For a couple of hundred bucks, he did in a few hours what would have taken me days. Sometimes it pays to hire stuff out. For cleaning out ditches, I have a blade that bolts on to the mini hoe bucket which is fine for a few hundred feet of ditch. Not what I would do if i had a mile of ditch to do.

PT's excel as loaders, decent mowers, very nice for mini hoes/grapples, stump grinders and pallet forks, marginal for box blade and rear blade type work. The toothed buckets do a have way decent job of digging. Mini hoe or the root tiller can do a good job of loosening soil.

Using my mini hoes, I have dug over 500' of trenches 4' deep or more, a fair number of post holes. Mostly in heavy clay with layers of thick shale. I was impressed. But I do have one of the larger PT's.

Ken

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Post Hole Digger works pretty good... it is handy because you can do a good job of controlling the list/tilt of the drill by the articulation motion of the tractor. The auger bits aren't much to write home about; probably something like this would work better:

Lowe Auger Bits, Extensions and Replacement Teeth : Lowe 6" Auger Bit SQ6

If you don't hit a rock, you can clear a 8", 30" deep hole in a minute or so. In VA, you should probably be okay.

Also should be on your list: fork attachment.

Speaking of rear hydraulics... only the PT-2425/2430/2460 have "rear hydraulics", and they are dedicated to the (full) backhoe. No other attachments designed there.

Every other attachment is designed for the front lift arms, which have two hydraulic circuits routed for attachments: PTO (for spinning things) and a control circuit (for opening/shutting 4N1, angling the plow blade, etc). Just a note: some of the attachments that you would typically find on the rear of a tractor work better when driving in reverse: box blade, tiller, trencher, etc.

You don't know Virginia....we always hit a rock! from fist-sized to huge boulders to plain old bedrock. Ya never know what you're going to hit but it's always something.

Yes, the fork is on the list too.

Thanks for clearing that up about the rear hydraulics. As for the front hydraulics, angle but no tilt. And no offset. That does limit things a bit.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

If you get something larger like the 1430, then you have the lift capacity to buy a a 3pt adapter for a skid steer and weld on a PT attachment plate. Then you can buy standard 3pt box blades etc. Mine is made by Lackender and has some simple tilt capability. I have not looked at the other manufacturers. If you or someone you know likes to weld, you can have your own custom attachments made.

I had a bunch of road ditches put in by a guy with a dozer. For a couple of hundred bucks, he did in a few hours what would have taken me days. Sometimes it pays to hire stuff out. For cleaning out ditches, I have a blade that bolts on to the mini hoe bucket which is fine for a few hundred feet of ditch. Not what I would do if i had a mile of ditch to do.

PT's excel as loaders, decent mowers, very nice for mini hoes/grapples, stump grinders and pallet forks, marginal for box blade and rear blade type work. The toothed buckets do a have way decent job of digging. Mini hoe or the root tiller can do a good job of loosening soil.

Using my mini hoes, I have dug over 500' of trenches 4' deep or more, a fair number of post holes. Mostly in heavy clay with layers of thick shale. I was impressed. But I do have one of the larger PT's.

Ken

I don't weld and don't plan to learn.... As for hiring stuff out, sure. I've spent a few thousands having the big stuff done--new road put in, large ponds dug, huge poplars knocked down and taken away, etc. Big excavators suck at fine grading/ditching though. The guy with a skid steer I hired afterwards was only a bit better.

Geez, guess I want a Mahindra Max 24 but crouched down low, with a wider stance, stable on hills. Or a PowerTrac with a rear 3-point w/ full hydraulics. Is that too much to ask?

 

[SpringHollow]

One tractor is never enough.

Ken

 

[woodlandfarms]

Ken said it best. You get two tractors and a dozer and track hoe. Tnen you are set. Its just money, can't take it with you when you are dead.

 

[SpringHollow]

You forgot the dump trailer and dump truck. A rough terrain man lift would be nice too.

Ken

 

[Marks481]

You don't know Virginia....we always hit a rock! from fist-sized to huge boulders to plain old bedrock. Ya never know what you're going to hit but it's always something.

I guess it depends where in the state you live. I lived in Fairfax county, and didn't have as much problem there as when I lived in CT.

 

[Clumber]

Hi,
My wife and I live near Winchester VA near north Mountain in the GW National Forest on 42 acres with a mile long private blue stone road. I have a PT425 with many attachments. You are welcomed to visit and test drive the tractor with attachments. I have a special rake that adds on to the lite material bucket that I use to maintain the road. Send a private message if interested.

Recommend that you hire someone to do the ditches as the PTs are not designed for tilting. Maintaining the ditches with a 425 will be easy. Also, your road may need drainage pipes underneath tp prevent washouts as mine does. I have several neighbors with large to small equipment to cheaply do the stuff I need that I can't do with the PT.

Patrick

 

[Marks481]

Recommend that you hire someone to do the ditches as the PTs are not designed for tilting.

???

PT425 will handle a slope of up to 20º in comfort; anything more than that and you should be looking for a machine with dual wheels on each side.

Or are you saying that it would be difficult to cut a vee shaped ditch with the PT? You could by cutting it from each side with a bucket, you can angle the bucket down.

 

[jfischer]

Here is the ditch to the back of my side yard,and it almost has a slight uphill to it, so to make enough drop to let the water flow, I had to have a friend with a skid steer and LONG bucket flip it all up to the right, then I took my John Deere at the time and moved a lot of dirt and stumps and such, and now with the PT425 I have used the back blade to smooth things out and it flows right in the ditch from either side, and road does not wash at all. It also had a few trees that were in it, and we had to dig all the stumps and roots out of it.

Biggest thing was the road was washing further up towards the front of the picture, and coming across my yard, and drainage field, and was washing things pretty good when we got a hard rain. Also put in 2 30 foot culverts to drive across there, and as long as you blow the leaves out in the Fall it works pretty good. That PT will take the angle from the right side and drag things right out of the ditch, but it is too wide for me to straddle it with the machine to use the mini hoe.

 

[Clumber]

???

PT425 will handle a slope of up to 20º in comfort; anything more than that and you should be looking for a machine with dual wheels on each side.

Or are you saying that it would be difficult to cut a vee shaped ditch with the PT? You could by cutting it from each side with a bucket, you can angle the bucket down.

I meant the attachments, in general, do not tilt the way a grader's blade can tilt or rotate to create a slope or even a vee shaped ditch...

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Hi,
My wife and I live near Winchester VA near north Mountain in the GW National Forest on 42 acres with a mile long private blue stone road. I have a PT425 with many attachments. You are welcomed to visit and test drive the tractor with attachments. I have a special rake that adds on to the lite material bucket that I use to maintain the road. Send a private message if interested.

Recommend that you hire someone to do the ditches as the PTs are not designed for tilting. Maintaining the ditches with a 425 will be easy. Also, your road may need drainage pipes underneath tp prevent washouts as mine does. I have several neighbors with large to small equipment to cheaply do the stuff I need that I can't do with the PT.

Patrick

Thanks for the invite. That's very kind. Would like to see a picture of the rake. Does it allow you to maintain your road driving FORWARD?

"Hiring someone" sounds easy but isn't around here. We have one traffic light in the entire county, no McDonalds, no Walmart, no hospital or other medical facility. In short, sparsely populated with very few businesses. The few good contractors are booked year-round (took us 2 years to get the electrician to come out). The companies from nearby cities always say they never go "all the way out there." It's the price you pay for living in the boonies. I could tell you stories of attempting to get workers--the yahoos who don't know what they're doing, the scary ones with ******** tattoos or who are on drugs--but I won't. So yeah, "hire someone" is a good solution....in theory.

This is one reason for buying some kind of tractor; to be less dependent on hiring this stuff out.

I'm pretty disappointed the PT can't pull any rear attachments. Seems like a major missing feature. And I can't see driving a box blade BACKWARDS up our roads, with a ditch on one side and a steep drop-off on the other. Have realized tractors aren't really designed for rough steep property like ours. Will have to think about this some more.

It's obvious that anything will be a compromise. Just have to figure out what makes sense.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

I guess it depends where in the state you live. I lived in Fairfax county, and didn't have as much problem there as when I lived in CT.

I used to live in Fairfax County. Go a bit west of that, into the mountains, and there's rocks a plenty.

 

[SpringHollow]

I recently saw someone here who had a Bobcat "tractor" of some sort that was like a cross between a skid steer and a tractor, could be had with 3 pt on the back. No idea how good it is on slopes.

Ken

 

[woodlandfarms]

As noted, there is a lot wrong with the pt... I love mine but it is not my first choice. This is...

http://www.antoniocarraro.it/na

Sold in the USA and hugely expensive. Like marriage tractor ownership is about compromise