Want to move from 425 to 1430 or 1845

[Charlie_Iliff]

Ed: I'm not sure I agree that customer service is a weakness at Power Trac, they just aren't set up to deal well with screwball customers like us who keep asking for engineering information.
When it comes to fixing something that breaks, a rare occasion, my experience and all reports have been that they get parts out fast and give good advice over the phone how to fix things. They're just not too keen on helping us modify their machines.
And if you go down there, they may buy you lunch, even if they don't answer your questions.

 

[hazmat]

<font color=blue>They're just not too keen on helping us modify their machines.</font color=blue>

You won't find many companies who are. If they help you fix it when it breaks, that's all we can expect.

At least you guys get to talk to an engineer at the company. I wonder what kind of mountains would have to be moved to get in touch with an engineer regarding a modification (not a problem) at New Holland et all.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Charlie - I agree with you - your right - and they have always been very helpful and pleasant with me when I was buying / servicing- etc
I guess Power Trac does attract customers like us - could you imagine calling John Deere and asking for engineering info to modify say the 400 series garden tractor
I don't think we would get very far

But still - I can't see why they won't provide basic information (ie model numbers) on off the shelf components - everyone else does that - I looked at various websites - and was able to obtain with ease basic components used in other tractors - (like trans pumps etc ) I just don't understand withholding the info if it is an off the shelf unit. If it was a custom unit fine - but they told me it is a standard item from Eaton - but Eaton does make alot of pumps.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

<font color=red>I can't see why they won't provide basic information (ie model numbers) on off the shelf components </font color=red>

I can't suggest an answer to that. When Bubenberg, Sedgewood and I were there, I suggested to Sean that Power Trac's true marketing plan was to sell the machines at a loss and make it up in hydraulic filter sales. Sean laughed, but didn't ask what I was talking about. He certainly knew about all of those repainted filters, with no crossover numbers.
I don't think that's still their policy, but they don't seem to have a table of crossover filter numbers for their various machines in a central place where people like Terry can get at it quickly. That'll all be cured, of course, when the new building opens up. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Also - I forgot to mention - lets face it - the service manual is a little light on info - So we do have to rely on the PT folks to fill in the blanks

- I owned an older cub cadet once and the manual was really comprehensive and very detailed with parts specs / make and model of components etc. - I guess I am just used to having access to that info - You were able to do a complete rebuild directly from the manual - including machining tolerances

 

[Anonymous Poster]

You know I didn't notice that - sounds funny - are they repainting Northern filters - the filters and housing do look like the one in the northern catalog

- I did have a fun time
matching one up - me and the parts guy at the local autoparts store finally chose a Fram that looked right -
I hope so because I used it

I also have not yet tried to find blades - I do like their thin design because I think it cuts cleaner - but I could not really get an easy answer from them on where to get them
I want to go to higher lift - The unit really does cut nice

 

[wasabi]

Ed,

For what it is worth, some time ago, whilst elbow deep in hydraulic oil and hoses, PT informed me they had a parts manual for the 2445. I ordered it, and though it is not in front of me right now, I vaguely remember detailed parts numbers for pretty much everything. Now, these may be PT numbers and not of much help, but you might check to see if they have something similar for the 400 series. Oh, be prepared, the parts manual was, I think, 25 bucks /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif. More recently, I was trying to track down the specs to replace the suction hose....they were kind enough to send me a handwritten fax (free!) of all the hoses including description of ends, size and length. What info you are able to get may depend in part, on who you speak with. I've always had good luck with Don.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Thats great - I didn't know they had such a thing - I will check
on mine -

Do you have the backhoe on your unit - if so how does it mount? - Is the backhoe itself alot bigger and heavier than the smaller green unit - how much does it weigh

Also do you know of a way to quiet down the engine

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

<font color=red>I also have not yet tried to find blades - I do like their thin design because I think it cuts cleaner - but I could not really get an easy answer from them on where to get them
I want to go to higher lift - The unit really does cut nice </font color=red>

If you look back in the archives, you'll see quite a bit on our work to find improved blades for the 72" rough-cut deck. We left a sample of John Coxon's best creation for the people at PT to look at. We found that they seemed fairly satisfied with what they were selling, even if we weren't, but maybe they're taking a look at it. The 60" deck should have a lot of blades that will fit the spindles. Ours were a problem because they are short, mounted on swivel bolts on the stump jumpers a la Meg Mo.

 

[wasabi]

Yes to the backhoe...pic attached. I have yet to remove it as it seems to serve as counterbalance...and I kind of like the rear weight, especially when moving dirt and rocks which is most of what we have been doing. Backhoe removal is via four pins and two hoses...not a big deal at all.

I'm not sure about weight, but would guess at least seven or eight hundred pounds. When removing, you just lower the standards so as to create a tripod with the bucket, unhook the hoses and pins and drive off. I'm waiting to finish the (in progress) shed so that we have a dedicated flat surface to leave it....would not want to try to muscle it around to line it back up to reattach.

Re: the noise of the diesel.......the main issue is that the Deutz is air cooled, so only so much can be done...even so, I thought of trying to do something with an additional muffler, but there is absolutely no room on my rig...the pipe is tucked up in the fender within a couple inches of the tire, and I don't want anything "outboard". I have found it to be not so bad....I just wear my "pro-ears" (per MChalkey's long thread on ear protection) and plug in "Dire Straights"