Seriously considering PT . . .but

[MossRoad]

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 . . .

First, Welcome to TBN! :thumbsup:

Second, call Terry at Power Trac and ask specifically about the 3 pin implement hook-up VS the quick attach and what implements will and will not work on it, and if adapters are available. If the unit has only a MAIN PTO circuit, that will power a trencher, but it won't power a mini-hoe. You need the AUX PTO to power the mini-hoe, power-angle snow plow, grapple bucket, etc... here's how it works...

The MAIN PTO is a pump that pushes high pressure fluid at a high flow rate in one direction and has a built in motor spool valve that allows hydraulic motors to keep spinning once you shut off the power to them. Best example: mower decks. If you were to shut off the circuit to a mower deck, the weight of the blades keeps them turning for a while while the motor spins down in speed. If it were just and on/off valve, the motor would BANG to a stop. You don't use the MAIN PTO to power hydraulic cylinders on attachments(typically), although you could route it to a log splitter if you need high flow.

The AUX PTO is also a high pressure pump, but at a much lower rate, and it feeds the steering valve, through a power beyond port on the steering valve, to the Front End Loader valve, which may or may not have a 3rd valve called the AUX PTO valve, then back to the hydraulic tank. This is typically located by the operator's right knee. The AUX PTO valve is a directional valve, forward or backwards, that controls hydraulic cylinders, not motors. If the unit has a quick attach feature, it operates the cylinder that opens and closes the quick attach tangs. Once you lock an implement like a mini-hoe in place, you disconnect the AUX PTO hoses to the quick attach and connect them to the mini-hoe cylinder. The AUX PTO valve now controls the cylinder on the mini-hoe to curl or dump it. When you're done using it, you disconnect the hoses from the hoe and hook them back up to the quick attach so you can open the quick attach tangs and change implements. It takes all of 30 seconds to get off the tractor, swap hoses, and get back on.

So, for the most part, MAIN PTO is for hydraulic motors, AUX PTO is for hydraulic cylinders.

Does that make sense?

 

[MossRoad]

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!

I agree with renting more specialized equipment for one-time jobs. For example, digging out a foundation or a 1 time 1000' trench might be better accomplished with a mini-excavator over a couple days with a weekend rental rate of about $300.

As for ground clearance in a garden... a PT with a tiller in a garden is about as good as it gets! There won't be any ground clearance issues. I frequently take my smaller PT425 through very intense, thick brush and woods, over fallen trees and branches and rarely get hung up. Because it articulates left and right and also oscillates between the sections, there's a better chance of keeping all four tires on the ground than a standard tractor.

 

[Digger 258]

MossRoad, thanks for breaking it down "barney style" for me - I understand perfectly as you describe it. I will most certainly call Terry at PT, and will try to schedule a trip to Tazewell (where I suspect I am sure to get hooked). I am sure that my trenching will not be a one time deal, rather just the beginning of a bunch of other lines I will have to run, so I am pretty set on a trencher and a backhoe. I cannot decide if the mini-hoe or the actual back hoe is the way to go, I have many digging projects lined up, and knowing myself, I am the kind of person who wants to buy something once and keep it forever. I guess if I really need a mini-hoe, the natural conclusion is that a 3 pin PT won't do for me, I will need one with the aux PTO. I'll keep looking and learning!

 

[MossRoad]

I like to own as well. However, after slapping myself a few times, more times than not, it makes sense to rent for the odd jobs. I've rented a small tracked excavator to put in a small barn foundation. I took a two-day weekend rate rental hoping to complete the task in 48 hours. However, I finished the trenching in about 2 hours, pulled a bunch of small trees, dug out a bunch of bushes and ran out of things to do in 4 hours and returned it the same day for a sizable refund. It was a couple hundred bucks total. Job done. No implement to sit in the corner of the garage for years at a time between needs. More money for toys I can use more often! :thumbsup: :laughing:

 

[J_J]

MossRoad, thanks for breaking it down "barney style" for me - I understand perfectly as you describe it. I will most certainly call Terry at PT, and will try to schedule a trip to Tazewell (where I suspect I am sure to get hooked). I am sure that my trenching will not be a one time deal, rather just the beginning of a bunch of other lines I will have to run, so I am pretty set on a trencher and a backhoe. I cannot decide if the mini-hoe or the actual back hoe is the way to go, I have many digging projects lined up, and knowing myself, I am the kind of person who wants to buy something once and keep it forever. I guess if I really need a mini-hoe, the natural conclusion is that a 3 pin PT won't do for me, I will need one with the aux PTO. I'll keep looking and learning!

I don't know your skills, but you can build some of those hyd implements.

Surplus sells a lot of large cu in hyd motors for things like trenchers, stump grinders, hyd auger, etc.

If you have the 3pt set up, you can build the attachments plates for any implement you desire.

You can use things like hyd chainsaws, hyd pole pruner, hyd jacks, hyd well driller, hyd tree saw,etc.

All my implements are 3pt. I probably have the only dozer blade with hyd angle using the aux hyd.

 

[Digger 258]

J.J. I don't know anything about Hydraulics yet, but I really want to learn, and I just know I am going to keep running into tasks where I'll say "I wonder if I can make a tool for that . . ." I probably should start doing some reading on how Hydro systems work in the first place. I still framing the problem to determine if a PT is a good, flexible starting point for what I need to get done and you all have been most helpful. I have the wicked problem where the more I look a t PTs, the more attractive they become and the more I want one. Never owned a tractor before though, so I feel like I should gather as many opinions as I can handle.

 

[BobRip]

The trencher can be used for other things than trenching. It can be used to breakup the ground and then use the bucket to take the soil away. I used it to dig a small pond. Also your neighbors will love having you dig trenches for them. Approximately 2/3 of my trenching has been for others. This might be considered a negative.

 

[Digger 258]

A small pond done with a trencher and bucket? I never would have thought of that! Part of my problem is that I can only tackle the jobs at home in small chunks of time because that silly thing called work gets in the way, so rental units aren't ideal. I guess my most pressing need is to dig lots of trenches for utilities and lots of drainage, next is footings for a deck . . . If the collateral damage is a call to help my neighbors maybe I should do their trenches first until I fully learn how to use the implements? That's pretty neighborly, right?

I've got till June, when I take off the uniform for good, to make a decision so I'm gonna keep searching for used PTs in the meantime.

 

[BobRip]

By small I mean about 20 feet across. About 3 feet deep. A gold fish pond. Trenching is not difficult to learn.

 

[MossRoad]

J.J. I don't know anything about Hydraulics yet, but I really want to learn, and I just know I am going to keep running into tasks where I'll say "I wonder if I can make a tool for that . . ." I probably should start doing some reading on how Hydro systems work in the first place. I still framing the problem to determine if a PT is a good, flexible starting point for what I need to get done and you all have been most helpful. I have the wicked problem where the more I look a t PTs, the more attractive they become and the more I want one. Never owned a tractor before though, so I feel like I should gather as many opinions as I can handle.

Download this PDF to your PC and read it. The Army field manual for hydraulics....
http://www.derijcke.com/dl/manual.pdf