Some PT-425 videos

[KentT]

Have you taken the valve apart to see if there is any crud in the detent? If you don't want to do that, a bungee pulling the stick forward would probably help.

No, I haven't opened up the valve. It will click into float, but just from bouncing over rough ground the weight of the long, curved joystick seems to pull it back out of float. It's not a problem with loader work, for example, because you're only in float for a short period of time. But, when mowing you're in float as the normal mode of operation... and it just doesn't seem to want to stay there all by itself.

I need to do something, because I ended up having to hold it into float just to make sure it stayed there. That's a PITA when you're working on slopes where you'd really rather be holding onto the ROPS with that right hand...

 

[BobRip]

No, I haven't opened up the valve. It will click into float, but just from bouncing over rough ground the weight of the long, curved joystick seems to pull it back out of float. It's not a problem with loader work, for example, because you're only in float for a short period of time. But, when mowing you're in float as the normal mode of operation... and it just doesn't seem to want to stay there all by itself.

I need to do something, because I ended up having to hold it into float just to make sure it stayed there. That's a PITA when you're working on slopes where you'd really rather be holding onto the ROPS with that right hand...

Did you see my solution for this, a bungee strap (rubber truck one) and a homemade block of wood? I am very pleased with how well this works. It's easy to use and easy to disable. See attachments.

 

[J_J]

Bob, Is your detent not working?

 

[BobRip]

Bob, Is your detent not working?

It's very weak and pops out of detent with a little bouncing. There is an upgrade kit, but it was about $60 (if memory serves me).

 

[KentT]

Did you see my solution for this, a bungee strap (rubber truck one) and a homemade block of wood? I am very pleased with how well this works. It's easy to use and easy to disable. See attachments.

I probably did, but had forgotten about it...

Thanks!

Cheap, simple solutions are my favorites...

 

[Red Zebra]

I'm anxious to get the new 22.7 ci wheel motors installed. With twice the torque, I should be able to climb about any slope that I can get traction on...

Do you have an older 425? Are you referring to the motors used in the newer 425s?

 

[kmaz]

Hey Kent, if you look up past threads under my name...look for "pt 425 mods" and youll find pictures of what i did. A simple knob that either locks you in an d can also lock you out of float with a simple half turn.
Kris

 

[KentT]

Do you have an older 425? Are you referring to the motors used in the newer 425s?

My PT-425 was bought in December 2000. It has White RS series 12.5ci wheel motors. The new PT-425s have White CE series 14.3 ci wheel motors, as best I can tell.

I think the new PT-422 still uses the 12.5ci motors, but I'm not sure.

I'm putting Char-Lynn 22.7ci motors in it -- theoretically it will have roughly twice the torque and half the speed of the motors I have in it now. The White CE 14.3 ci motors in the new PT 425s supposedly have 40% more torque than my motors -- I'm going for 100% more torque. I don't need speed on my hillsides -- but I do need power to climb those hills. Once my house is built, almost my entire remaining property will have at least 15 degree grades, and some of it much steeper -- simply too steep to put a machine on...

 

[KentT]

Hey Kent, if you look up past threads under my name...look for "pt 425 mods" and youll find pictures of what i did. A simple knob that either locks you in an d can also lock you out of float with a simple half turn.
Kris

That looks neat, but I can't figure out how 1/2 turn would do it -- do you push it in and twist it to lock it, or something like that?

 

[kmaz]

That looks neat, but I can't figure out how 1/2 turn would do it -- do you push it in and twist it to lock it, or something like that?

Hey kent, i didnt anticipate it working as smoothly as it does either. The key is precise placement of the drilled and tapped hole. The threaded star knob is just shy of touching the steel block mounted on the underside of the joystick when its not being used. When you want to lock yourself in float simply push the joystick to float , turn knob a half turn and it cant come out of float because theres a bolt in the way.

Kris