Snow Blade and the wheels

[joshlee]

Haha, yeah, my hat goes off to whoever engineered the PT QA system; its awesome visibility to see it attach and detach from the operators seat too.

There would be enough room up there for the hydraulic cooler; I'll keep that in mind. I was sort of thinking about just unbolting the ROP and making different cab for the winter, but I have more steel laying around than what most folks have that I used to bring home from work if there was material left over. I noticed how the rear corners of the roof are right at the imaginary turning radius line, but the rest of the roof is recessed in more. So, I'm thinking I could make a more spacious cab for the winter. Then there would be more volume to inside to heat though? Weighing out the "pros and cons", oh my..lol.

Yeah, I've touted the Power Trac quick attach since the first time I saw it. After battling a 3pt hitch for 10+ years I was pretty much in shock at how stupidly easy it is to change implements on the PT. Made me want to slap myself silly! :laughing:

I forgot about you not being able to feel your feet. I guess you'd have to take precautions to prevent freezing more than I would and that may be tough when the mercury creeps towards anything below 15-20. I warm up mine by moving them, but never thought about how it would be if I couldn't.

As for heating the cab, there are several options. You could put a fabric tunnel over the existing cooler fan on top of the engine compartment and blow it into the cab. The fabric would flex plenty for movement side-to-side. If you hooked an always-on switch to the hydraulic fan you would be good. Just let the thing run at 1/3 throttle for 10 minutes and the hydraulics will be warm enough to provide heat, I believe.

Other option is 12v electric heater, but those are kind of wimpy and the electrical system doesn't provide enough amps to run it without killing the battery, I believe.

Third option is like I mentioned... get a small hydraulic cooler with a small 12v fan and mount it on the ceiling as far towards the front as possible. I've seen some hydraulic coolers that are about 5" wide by 15" long by a couple inches thick. I bet if we put one up under the front of the canopy and put a couple 12v computer fans on it, it would be enough to defrost the windshield and provide heat in the cab yet not pull too many amps. I'd have to experiment. But I think the oil returning from the steering/fel/aux PTO circuit would flow through nicely with low pressure. I'd have to put a pressure gauge on that return line to measure it to be sure the cooler could handle it. And of course check the flow specs. Summer's the time to do these things. :laughing:

 

[joshlee]

Josh, and M R, I wear a pair of the heavy hunting socks, along with large shoes or boats of some type when I am out there, as I am like Josh and don't know, or can't feel any of the lower portions of my body. Also bought some booty style things that zip up the back and come up and cover the bottom of your pants a year or so ago that a lot of hunters use that zip over top of your shoes, and that along with quilted pants seem to keep me good for 4 or 5 hours, that is about as long as I have been out plowing at one time.

There was someone just recently telling me about those things that pull over your boots. All that stuff is definitely worth me trying.

 

[MossRoad]

I mentioned to someone at Power Trac one time that I thought there was potential for them to make a 3pt version of their quick attach system and market it to all the unfortunate souls with conventional tractors. There's a similar unit called a "Delta Hook".
Delta Hook

 

[MossRoad]

One thing I've noticed on my 2001 PT425 with the factory seat and armrests is that I can get to a full turn in a place with great undulations in the ground and the rear of the armrests will hit the front of the engine compartment cover. Don't know if the geometry is different on the newer design PT425s or not. Just be wary of that if you decide to build a cab. Run it through all the possible turns lock-to-lock and run the front right tire up on a block while running the left rear up on a block to make it fully oscillate while fully turned to the right and left. And put the seat all the way back, too. You can then measure the clearances.

Also, its a possible pinch point, if, for some reason, you stick your fingers or hand back there while turning and going over uneven terrain.

 

[jfischer]

Josh, I think I got mine at Cabela's or one of the Sports places online. I think a lot of the Duck hunters, or people that sit around waiting for things, and not walking around seem to use them, or wear them, but work out fine for me. Only thing is the PT is kind of tight where your feet go, but hope to find out this Winter, as I used them a lot on my JD, and they helped when it was raining, or snowing.

There was someone just recently telling me about those things that pull over your boots. All that stuff is definitely worth me trying.

 

[MossRoad]

Try this link. Is this what you're talking about....
https://www.google.com/search?q=cab...a=X&ei=_VgvVYPsHs67ogSX_IG4DQ&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg

 

[jfischer]

M R, I think this is the style that I got, and are pretty warm, (or my feet feel like it when I take them off)

ArcticShield™ Boot Insulator with Zipper - 207319, Boot & Shoe Accessories at Sportsman's Guide

 

[MossRoad]

I've never seen those. Interesting... thanks.

 

[joshlee]

I'll be looking into them. There's definitely allot of good things said about those boot covers.

Josh, I think I got mine at Cabela's or one of the Sports places online. I think a lot of the Duck hunters, or people that sit around waiting for things, and not walking around seem to use them, or wear them, but work out fine for me. Only thing is the PT is kind of tight where your feet go, but hope to find out this Winter, as I used them a lot on my JD, and they helped when it was raining, or snowing.

 

[joshlee]

Wow, those things do look warm! I'm for it!

M R, I think this is the style that I got, and are pretty warm, eet feel like it when I take them off)

ArcticShield™ Boot Insulator with Zipper - 207319, Boot & Shoe Accessories at Sportsman's Guide