What did you do with your Power Trac today?

[ponytug]

The 1445 I operated didn't have a brake tender. There was no input needed from the operator to set or release the park brake.

Yes, the 1445 is a bit different. Like semi trucks, the 1445 brakes default on, I.e. whenever the hydraulic pressure drops, or you flip the brake switch on the dashboard. (However, if you are rolling downhill when the engine dies, the wheel motors generate enough pressure to keep the brakes off until the switch is thrown.) When you start the the engine, the aux/FEL circuit pressurizes an accumulator that keeps the brake circuit over about 500psi.

Having rather steep slopes, the 1445 auto on brakes were a big, big selling point for me. Early in life, I nearly put a tractor over the edge of a ravine backwards in an event that would have been career (life) ending (mis-shifted into reverse instead of first in a very dicey location). Not having gears on steep slopes was another big plus for PTs.

All the best,

Peter

 

[joshlee]

How the brake tender works...

https://www.hydra-power.com/index_htm_files/Brake Tender0001.pdf

Thanks Mossroad, that was helpful.

 

[joshlee]

Peter, now that you say that I see the switch on the dashboard for the brake ( on the PT website.) Never noticed that before. I used that empty spot on my dashboard for a momentary switch to the relay for the glow plugs.

 

[ponytug]

Looking at the brochure for the Brake tender that MossRoad posted, it looks like the 1445 has the accumulator / brake release half of the Brake Tender, but not the pump/bypass assembly. I wonder what the logic is.

This is always the time of the year when I think about glow plugs, especially with a seven year old battery.

What did my 1445 do yesterday? Take out the manure, get hay and feed the cows, and the horse, and haul some heavy items around. Nothing special, but all very useful.

All the best,

Peter

 

[MossRoad]

My PT425 is going to dig out the two septic tank lids after lunch so I can get them pumped before the ground freezes.

 

[joshlee]

Looking at the brochure for the Brake tender that MossRoad posted, it looks like the 1445 has the accumulator / brake release half of the Brake Tender, but not the pump/bypass assembly. I wonder what the logic is.

This is always the time of the year when I think about glow plugs, especially with a seven year old battery.

What did my 1445 do yesterday? Take out the manure, get hay and feed the cows, and the horse, and haul some heavy items around. Nothing special, but all very useful.

All the best,

Peter

Hey Peter, how does your 1445 do for mowing grass? Do you think it is a heavy machine for driving through a yard? Where is the accumulator on your 1445? Just curious. Also, I wouldn't think you would need glow plugs. You live in California, right? Lots of questions :laughing:

 

[joshlee]

My PT425 is going to dig out the two septic tank lids after lunch so I can get them pumped before the ground freezes.

Hey Mossroad, are you going to use the bucket for removing the ground above your septic tank lid? I didn't know if you had a mini hoe or not?

 

[MossRoad]

Hey Mossroad, are you going to use the bucket for removing the ground above your septic tank lid? I didn't know if you had a mini hoe or not?

First, I used the small bucket with teeth to push down into the sod and take out two scoops of sod about 42" wide by 18" deep by 6" thick, leaving about a 7' by 18" hole 6" deep.

Then I switched to the wider light material bucket and scooped out the hole down to the tops of the tanks, about 18" down.

Finished off with a hand shovel.

Whole process took about 10 minutes from garage to garage. :thumbsup:

 

[MossRoad]

 

[joshlee]

View attachment 680388

The buckets sure were a handy tool for that job.