Seriously considering PT . . .but

Digger 258 · Mar 10, 2015

Just retired from the Marine Corps and am seriously considering picking up a PT for the 5 acres I have just settled on. I have little to no experience with tractors and other equipment heavier than hand tools, so I realize my frame of reference needs refinement. I picked up an old garden tractor (a really cool Bolens 1225) to carry me over until I make a long term investment and have really figured out what I need. I am wickedly attracted to the PTs because of their apparent versatility for what I need to do. I have my eye on a used 1430, but it has the 3 pin connection. This brings my first question: What can I NOT do with a 3 pin set up? Which attachments won't work? Should I avoid the 3 pin connection or modify it to take an aux PTO?

Here's what I need to do around my property in no particular order:
- Split and move lots of firewood
- Dig about 1000' of french drain
- Trench 800' to run power and water to the barn (3 feet deep according to code)
- Bore holes for footers (to make stairs up into the barn)
- Move lots of mulch, gravel and topsoil
- Maintain 1000' gravel driveway
- Clear snow
- Handle heavy stuff from the truck or trailer (55 gal drums, feed, pallet of cement, etc)
- String fence

My property is relatively flat, but really muddy when it rains, so hills are not an issue, while traction is - yet I would like to avoid tearing up the lawn too much . . .

I'd prefer to have one versatile piece of equipment instead of investing in multiples, which is what attracts me to PT, and of course since I sunk my life savings into this property, I am now happily cash strapped - which has me considering used PTs.

I'm also thinking of making the 5 hour drive to the factory, but I'm afraid what I will convince myself that I need!

I've been lurking in this forum for a few weeks now and I appreciate the well informed ideas here. I really appreciate all of your opinions and experience as it relates to my needs.

Semper Fidelis

sirmombo · Mar 10, 2015

I am not familiar with the 3 pin setup, but I bought a 1430 about a year and a half ago to help maintain an apple orchard and clean up after horses. I use it to mow, haul brush, power a log splitter, clear snow, load manure, and move many other things. I went with the ag or bar tires and purchased the grapple bucket, 9 cubic foot bucket, and the brush mower. The attachments are cheaper than comparable skid steer attachments, but still expensive. I would love a stump grinder, but can't justify the price. If you are only going to dig a trench once or not very frequently, it would be much cheaper to rent a trencher or have someone dig it.

strong points
Very capable commercial quality machine. The loader is much stronger and pushes into material much better than a compact tractor. The ag tires make a big difference.
Very little turf damage. It will leave marks if I drive it on very wet grass, but normally I can turn as sharp as I want without leaving a trace.
Very good fuel consumption. It uses less fuel than a 30 hp Kabota
Very easy to maintain. It's the easiest machine I've worked on. There are covers that can be removed to give easy access to nearly everything.
Much easier to climb in and out of than a skid steer
Overall operation position is very good, but seat could use more padding.
Engine starts very well in winter. It started last winter when it was -7. I added diesel fuel anti-gel supplement, but didn't use a heater.

weak points
You need to like to tinker. There is no dealer network and I don't think QC at PT is the best. I've had to repair a few broken wires and replace the throttle cable. These are all easy repairs, but it would be inconvenient and possibly expensive to take it somewhere. Nearly all the parts are off the shelf so it shouldn't be hard to get a service center to repair it if there's something I can't do.

Bill

Digger 258 · Mar 10, 2015

Thanks Bill. I should have added that I much prefer to tinker on things myself, and while I recognize I have absolutely no experience with hydraulics, there is probably no better way to learn than to plop right in the middle of a hydraulic system. It sounds like you have a pretty versatile machine on your hands, and I am discovering that it's the tasks that I have not even forseen yet that I need to be ready to handle. I was looking hard at the compact TLB lineups, but there is something in my genes that prefers a swiss army knife to a scalpel, and though they are shiny with nifty catalogs, I'm hesitant to spend so much $$$ on a TLB that won't most of what I need. Would really like to learn more about that 3 pin setup and what I can't attach to it.

Thanks!
Dan

J_J · Mar 10, 2015

Retired Navy here

I have a 1445 with 3pt type hook up.

I have a large number of attachments.

If you don't have any 3pt attachments, then just make an adapter to fit the new attachments.

They sell the connecting plates, and all you have to do is to weld on some 3pt connection points.

Digger 258 · Mar 10, 2015

Thanks JJ. If I understand this right, on the newer models, the "quick attach" is hydraulically driven, and that hydraulic circuit also powers some attachments. I assume on the 3-pin set up, since it is a manual attach, there is one less hydraulic circuit, which means something doesn't get power. Am I anywhere close in my estimate?

And I don't want to confuse a 3 point hitch on the rear of a conventional tractor with the PT 3-pin attachment, because they are completely different things right?. Just goes to show that I have a whole lot to learn. . .

Daver1963 · Mar 10, 2015

It seems like a very versatile machine with lots of attachments. However, if you want to just rent an attachment for short term work (ex: digging a trench once) it would probably be easier to rent an attachment to go on a conventional type tractor than the PT1430.
There are also attachments available on craigslist for conventional tractors that come in much lower than new price.
Plus it you ever want to do some sort of vegetable garden it looks to me like the PT1430 does not have the ground clearance needed to get too deep into the soil before it might become mired in that mud you have.
Aim High!

J_J · Mar 10, 2015

Digger 258 said:
Thanks JJ. If I understand this right, on the newer models, the "quick attach" is hydraulically driven, and that hydraulic circuit also powers some attachments. I assume on the 3-pin set up, since it is a manual attach, there is one less hydraulic circuit, which means something doesn't get power. Am I anywhere close in my estimate?

And I don't want to confuse a 3 point hitch on the rear of a conventional tractor with the PT 3-pin attachment, because they are completely different things right?. Just goes to show that I have a whole lot to learn. . .

The hyd part of the attachment is just for the locking pins.

You should have another circuit for the PTO.

My PTO valve is a variable speed control, whereas most of the PTO controls are solenoid operated and full on.

I can vary the speed on my PTO.

A three point reference is just for the older PT.

I have made an adapter plate for my skid steer to use my PT attachments. So it is a skid steer to PT three point adapter.

Digger 258 · Mar 10, 2015

Ok, that makes sense. So using a trencher or a mini hoe would be no problem on the older 3 pin PTs? If that's the case I might be jumping on one sooner than I thought . . .

J_J · Mar 10, 2015

PTO GPM should be about 12, and 2500 psi.

PTWannaHave · Mar 10, 2015

Welcome Digger 258,

Of the list of tasks you mention, the one that stands out to me where the PT is not ideal is maintaining that long driveway... That task is well-suited to a box blade being dragged (as you drive forward on an Ag tractor). With a PT, you'd have to drag the box blade while driving in reverse.

Hope this helps,