Spring has Arrived!

MossRoad · Apr 9, 2004

Now go mow the lawn! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

It's that time of year again. Time to pull the mower from the rear of the garage and put the plow in its place. Change the blades. Do a lube job and enjoy the sunshine on my little slice of earth for a few minutes.

With this being my 5000th post, I'd like to thank all you folks in the Power Trac forum and the rest of TBN for the great conversations, the lessons that you have taught and the friendship that you have given me. I look forward to the next few years with a smile on my face. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Golfgar4 · Apr 9, 2004

Dave,

Yup, I was planning on doing the same thing - pull out the mower, the edger, the weedeater, etc. I always look forward to the first time, but after that, I'm ready to be done with it!

Hey, 5,000 posts! Cool /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I would thank YOU for all of your insightful contributions, your fair mindeness and willingness to cooperate, and especially for your sense of humor. You have that ability to inject a bit of humor at just the right time to help keep things on an even keel. That's a true gift!

And I'll be right there with you, smiling away! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

pajoube · Apr 9, 2004

Received snow today and looks like turning to rain which we very much need. This will give the moisture we need to get the grass growing big time. I have not used the mower as yet but lowered the wheels for the first mowing which should be real soon.
David, I have seen a number of posts in which you and Charlie foam filled your mower deck wheels. I looked in the store and only found the slim type which you half fill and then add air. Is this the type you guys were talking about?
5000 posts and all very positive and helpful.
PJ

Charlie_Iliff · Apr 9, 2004

5000th
No wonder you haven't had time to finish the grapple. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
(And no, I don't need your 5001st to remind me of the boom mounted string trimmer I've never finished /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif)

Charlie_Iliff · Apr 9, 2004

Paul: My local outdoor store sent the bare wheels off to a tire place that put on a tubeless tire filled with fairly hard foam. It seems pretty hardy compared to the foam in an inner tube that came from PT, which rolled off the rim. John Coxon posted a while back his replacement of the wheels with solid ones. A search should turn it up.

johara1 · Apr 9, 2004

MR, i have cut the high stuff for the second time. i did a couple little mods. this year,changed the air filter over to a kohler,($5.00 instead of $20.00) tubes in those little tires that go flat. made a flap that hangs down the back of the mowers discharge, no more grass on me or the 422 /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif a couple more mowings to see if i still like it /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif i've put 168 hours on this 422 in one year and it was down with that little problem for almost two mos.

MossRoad · Apr 9, 2004

Garry,
thanks for the kind words. I hope to see you and everyone else here for a long, long time. You've got that sense of humor, too. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I mowed today. Man, was it dry. Dust all over the place. We need rain, bad.

Paul, I have slime in my front tires on the tractor because they kept going low. Haven't had a problem with those since. The little wheels on the brush hog went flat first. Ripped right off the rim. So I went to a local dealer that specializes in casters and industrial wheels. I took my tire and rim and they found a solid rubber tire for a hand truck cart of the same width and diameter, but the axle hole was too large. No problem. They stuck a bushing in it and all was well. No more flats. Then the tires on the snow plow went flat. So, instead of fixing them, I just pulled the linch pins and swapped the entire caster assembly with the brush hog. Then the mower deck tires went flat. They use the same casters as well(gotta love those interchangeable parts), so I again pulled the pins and swapped them. However, I don't like the solid tires on the mower deck. They will make marks if I turn too fast and tight. So, I plan on tubing the tires on the mower deck and keeping them inflatable.

Charlie,
I forgot all about that trimmer. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I looked through my Bailey's catalog today and think I found a suitable cylinder for the grapple and came up with a mounting solution in my head, so I will probably order the cylinder in the next few days. I'm going to use a 6" stroke with a 3" bore. This will give incredible power on the close stroke. It will be a little slow, but that will keep me from chomping things in half. And it should have plenty of holding power.

James,
I only have about 133hrs in two full years. The lawn only took me 15 minutes today. Only the little front yard needed mowing. I should get some hours on it in a few weeks. We have a playground rebuild day planned for the gradeschool and I've volunteered the PT's services for two days... read that as I want some seat time! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

smartguyz · Apr 10, 2004

David,

You have been so helpful to me and to the other PT owners, both before and after acquisition. Some day, it would be a treat to meet everyone from the TBN/PT forum. Congrats on your 5000th post, and know that there are those of us here who have read nearly every one of your posts over the last couple of years, and have benefited from them. Thank you for your selfless energy and giving nature.

Your TBN friend,

Rob /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

MossRoad · Apr 10, 2004

Thanks!

I'll tell you who I like to pick for information.... Hans! He makes a living with the same machine we use. Commercial use puts way more demands on a machine than most of us homeowners will ever do, with the possible exception of Paul /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Really, all the folks here at TBN have been so helpful. The wealth of information here is increadible. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

FOURTEEN · Apr 10, 2004

.

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Congratulations!! The first 5000 are always the hardest!!! See, you're up to 5007 already!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I have over 50 hours on my PT-425 in two months with NO snow or grass to deal with!!!! If it wasn't for April 15th looming near, and if I got myself going before Noon, I'd have a lot more hours on it!! Painting, customizing, cleaning, maintaining, TBN posting, and head scratching hours do not register on the hour meter!! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Attachment: Part of the woods we have cleared of ice storm damage, and the new scenic driveway we are building.

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