Treadle problem

RegL · Jul 13, 2006

Over 600 hrs and no problem with the treadle cable yet. Now that I've said that, I may as well call and order up a new one.

BobRip · Jul 13, 2006

500 hours and no problems with treddle control. Crossing my fingers now.

Bob Rip

DHS · Jul 13, 2006

500 hours on my PT-422 without treadle problems.

Dale

KentT · Jul 13, 2006

Almost 400 hours on a PT-425 purchased in Dec 2000, with no treadle problems...

marrt · Jul 16, 2006

menchhofer said:
I cannot find the size of the original pin for a replacement, so I just keep a supply of the bolts on hand until the next one breaks.

What do you mean? Are you saying PT doesn't stock this pin? It sounds dangerous that the machine goes out of control when the bolt breaks.

menchhofer · Jul 19, 2006

I am sure PT stocks the pin..I cannot find one locally, so I use the bolts....$50.00 plus shipping for the pin would be a bit steep....but then maybe not considering the safety factor. The original pin lasted about 200 hrs.

BobRip · Jul 19, 2006

menchhofer said:
I am sure PT stocks the pin..I cannot find one locally, so I use the bolts....$50.00 plus shipping for the pin would be a bit steep....but then maybe not considering the safety factor. The original pin lasted about 200 hrs.

I think there is still something wrong with your treddle control. I would get a new pin from Power Trac even if you have to pay $50 plus shipping. There must be something else you need from them (oil filters, bush hop blades, etc.) This sounds very dangerous.
I suspect that the PT design is pretty good an evidenced from the positive comments here and the hundreds of happy customer, although it is not perfect. We need to isolate your particular problem. My philospy kicks in here. Fix what you know is wrong, (in your case the pin), then trouble shoot from there if the problem still exist. If there are two problems with something, one can mask or change the symptons of the other. Try to separate the sections of the treddle control and see if the friction or other problem is in one section or the other. Keep doing this till the problem is found. Also resist the desire to redesign the product. I doubt if PT would still be in business if this area was a really bad design. I am not against improving a design (I do it all the time, although sometimes I make it worse), but it usually takes a lot more effort than you originally think. If you make something work like it did when new and installed correctly, this is usually good enough. I think the value of people's redesign is adding features that PT never thought, and only occasionally fixing design problems.
I hope this makes sense. Best of luck.

Bob Rip

toy · Jul 20, 2006

menchhofer said:
I am sure PT stocks the pin..I cannot find one locally, so I use the bolts....$50.00 plus shipping for the pin would be a bit steep....but then maybe not considering the safety factor. The original pin lasted about 200 hrs.

My 425 pt doesn't have the hydraback so I don't have one to look at, but if it works the way I visualise it if I could get to where I could look where the cable connects to the hydraback. The lever that it connects to should self center for the neutral position and when you push on the treadle it should move the lever and the lever should have a spring that adds resistance in order to push the lever back to newtral when you let off the treadle there should be a spring for each direction and at neutral there shouldn't be any tension on the springs. If it wasn't too much trouble I would disconnect the cable from that lever and work the lever back and forth to see if it was working properly if it works freely then I would check to see if the treadle cable slide freely inside its sleeve and check to see if the sleeve is kinked or damaged in any way that would cause excessive resistance in the treadle. I would disconnect the cable from the treadle and see if the treadle pedal moved freely. I would make sure that both ends of the sleeve was clamped tightly to keep it from sliding when you push the tram pedal , cause if it slides it will cause you problems. All that being said I repeat that I don't have a hydraback on mine these are just some suggestions that I would look at if any of them were applicable to my machine , and you probably already checked these but incase you hadn't maybe someone else can give other ideas. Oh yea lubricate every thing up good.