Terry on using the Treadle

[SnowRidge]

There appears to be some difference in the hydraulic plumbing of the different machines. On my 1445, all four wheels turn the same but if one of them is off the ground, I lose traction, because the hydraulic fluid goes to the path of least resistance. It would be nice to have posi-trac, but is not available.

Can you replumb it so that the front and rear wheels on each side are fed in series, while the two sides are fed in parallel? That's how the PT-425 is plumbed, and it works well.

 

[BobRip]

There appears to be some difference in the hydraulic plumbing of the different machines. On my 1445, all four wheels turn the same but if one of them is off the ground, I lose traction, because the hydraulic fluid goes to the path of least resistance. It would be nice to have posi-trac, but is not available.

Do you loose all traction when one wheel is off the ground? This happens often if the ground is real uneven.

 

[J_J]

Can you replumb it so that the front and rear wheels on each side are fed in series, while the two sides are fed in parallel? That's how the PT-425 is plumbed, and it works well.

Some time ago, someone had considered changing the flow. I think they gave up due to the excessive plumbing that would be required. I would think a better solution would be to limit the spinning tires with , say a built in brake that you could activate independently. I remember when if one of your car tires were spinning, you could apply some brake, and that would limit some slip, probably enough to get out of a situation.

I believe there are some new systems out there that monitor and will limit slip automatically, but the system would be expensive.

Now, if each wheel motor had electric brakes, you could just activate the brake on the spinning tire to achieve traction.

I am not sure if a bypass circuit would be required to bypass the fluid in the wheel motor.

 

[MossRoad]

On our 1970 Nova we had that setup. If one tire started spinning, most of the power would go to the spinning tire. If you just stepped on the brakes lightly while giving it gentle gas, that was usually enough to keep the tire from spinning wildly and you could make it off the ice or out of the mud.

 

[SnowRidge]

On our 1970 Nova we had that setup. If one tire started spinning, most of the power would go to the spinning tire. If you just stepped on the brakes lightly while giving it gentle gas, that was usually enough to keep the tire from spinning wildly and you could make it off the ice or out of the mud.

That's the standard technique with any vehicle with a plain differential.

 

[BobRip]

That's the standard technique with any vehicle with a plain differential.

I have seen a dune buggy where they split control of the parking brake, so you could have two handles and could apply parking brake to only the wheel that is spinning.

 

[MossRoad]

I have seen a dune buggy where they split control of the parking brake, so you could have two handles and could apply parking brake to only the wheel that is spinning.

One of the main uses for a split parking brake setup is similar to a tractor... turning brakes.

 

[FOURTEEN]

On my PT-425, the wheel motors will not stall before the engine.

How old is your PT425?

My PT425, since new, built in 2/2004, has always stalled the wheels, the lift arms, or the PTO without noticably reducing engine speed, and certainly never stalling the Kohler engine!!

If I try to push too hard, lift too much, or stump grind too hard, the PT425 will just not move, not lift, or not grind! The engine runs about the same with only a slight drop in RPM!!