Received PT425 Today

atwood · Nov 3, 2005

First I want to thank everyone on this forum. All of your posts were instrumental in my decision to buy a Power Trac. For several months I read many, many posts both on the PT and Kubota forum. My wife thought I was going crazy. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Anyway all is good now with the green machine in the barn. Special thanks to PAJOUBE for taking time to speak with me over the phone.

Wayne dropped off the machine today with a 4n1, LM bucket, blade, mini hoe, forks, 60" finish mower and 48" brush mower. All that should keep me plenty busy.

As Wayne was unloading (from his gooseneck trailer) the blade, 4n1 and LM bucket all on one pallet while using the forks, the PT pitched forward what I guess is known as the "PT pucker". He handled it well and was able to get the rear wheels back on the ground enought to drop the pallet safely. Of course later I had to experience this while trying to move all three attachemnts into the barn /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I did hook up the finish mower and tried to grind up the leaves on my lawn area. I noticed it mulched better in reverse. I didn't lower the deck, this might help?

Overall I'm pretty darn excited and can't wait to start using it. I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions.

KentT · Nov 3, 2005

Congratulations! You're gonna love it! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

We need pictures... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

MossRoad · Nov 4, 2005

Congratulations and welcome to TBN! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

One of the problems with the rear discharge mower is, well, it discharges very well. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif It does not keep the stuff under it long enough to mulch very long. I have found that going forward over the leaves, then backing up over them does a very good job. I try to work from the left of the yard to the right, as it seems that the majority of the windrow of chopped stuff will come out the right, rear corner of the deck when going forward. Then, backing up in the same path really gives them a good final chop and scatters the windrow. I keep my mower two spacers from the highest setting. I have never tried it any lower on the leaves.

Barryh · Nov 4, 2005

Welcome and Congrats on your new PT.

Wayne delivered mine also. He is a real Good Ol Boy isn't he? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif If it had not been so late at night I would have invited him in for dinner. Enjoy !

toolz_not_toyz · Nov 4, 2005

Sounds like what is needed here is a vaccuum deck that sucks up the leaves into a shredder and then discharges into a bag or covered wagon, etc! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

MossRoad · Nov 4, 2005

Yes. The problem is you have to have a tremendous hose going from the front mount deck all the way back to the rear cart bagger. And it has to be able to articulate with the unit. I was thinking that a hose straight up and over the top would work best to avoid snags, etc...

I was also thinking someone should take a snapper deck like the one in the boom mower thread and make a whole unit that sits out front, with a power dump bin, too(that's a project challenge, folks /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif).

atwood · Nov 4, 2005

I wonder if there is anyway to install baffles in the cutting deck? This, I think would help recirculate the grass or leaf debris so the blades would chop it finer which would decompose faster into the lawn area. Anyone ever modify the cutting decks to be more like a mulching deck?

Thanks for your input.

pajoube · Nov 4, 2005

What did you go with. the used 425 or a new one?
Also received a call from your friend in Whitefish, has he made any decisions yet?
MossRoad is correct regarding leaves, Just fiinished mulching (running in both directions) a yard that was 3 inches deep. Did a great job.
Congratulations again and welcome to the PT family.
PJ

atwood · Nov 5, 2005

I went with the new PT425. The used 425 had a few things that needed fixed like broken welds somewhere on the lift arms, rust on the bottom from using it with salt during snow clearing, etc. For peace of mind I felt better going new. The friend on mine in NW Montana (Fishhead) is still trying to decide which will be right for his application. He really likes the Toolcat. He'll be coming East in a few weeks so he will be able to play around with mine, that's if I'll let him /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif If he likes it he'll head to Tazewell to try the 1430.

Thanks again for your help.