What is wrong with this idea

Anonymous Poster · Jan 11, 2003

Wow I'm really surprised that even the 1845 rear end would come up - that machine is 3200 lbs - but i guess when you articulate - you really change the center of gravity as well as shorten the machine - you lose your leverage of having the
engine straight back opposite the load in the bucket

how does it do with the 18cu bucket - because that is the one I want - I am not opposed to adding weight - funny how the PT boys advise against adding weight - I was looking at their video the other day and - there was one of their machines with weights on the back moving soil around

as for the attachments - I will mostly go for new ones but a few I will keep and use on the new machine - instead of changing out the plates - I was going to use a simple plate adaptor for the ones I am keeping and do not use very often

- this way they can still be used on the small machine - wonder why they didn't make the plates universal - oh well

thanks very much for the input on the seat - I really thought that it would make it much more confortable for all the mowing - I sort of find myself hanging off my 425 opposite the slope while I am mowing - again was going to adapt to fit the 1430

Charlie - you really don't like it? - my slopes are up to 20 degrees

Anonymous Poster · Jan 11, 2003

Oh - charlie - i was talking about the tilt seat - -you don't like it?

Anonymous Poster · Jan 11, 2003

Hi Marrt -

No problem - re questions - I am always asking questions - great to answer a few

Couple of questions if you don't mind. I’m in almost the exact same situation as you. I would like to upgrade to a 1430 (or larger) from a 425. I have about 70 hours on my tractor and have had it about 9 months. My questions:

- Will PT take your 425 back in trade?

You can probably work out a deal with them - they usually will not take a trade - but with yours (as with mine it is basically brand new and they do want to move product - mine has 65 hrs) I happen to have a relative that wants mine - so instead of doing the deal with PT (which I had set up) he is taking it and I save a little on shipping it down to them - he saves because he was going to buy a new one and obviously mine saves him a bundle - plus I will deliver it - I can this way help him maintain it since I know the unit so well - we may share a few attachments which we don't use too often for further savings.

- Do you intend to use your existing attachments on the larger tractor (with some type of adapter on the quick attach)?

I plan on saving a few and instead of changing the plates - I am going to make an adaptor plate so the attachment will still fit the 425

I'
- Looking at your pictures, do you have both the 48” and 60” mowers or is the smaller mower a brush mower?

yes both - but the 48 is being returned when I purchase the new one - basically I bought that one first - it takes too long to finish with that one

- Also, if you don’t mind, what type of welder do you use?

arc and wire feed - i also get help from a guy (fabricator) I know - he does all the hard stuff

What are your experiences with the 425 ? - why do you want to trade up? - did you test both? re the 1430 and the 1845

I really wish the 1430 had the 45 hp because the decision would be easy for me - the rest of the features are not that important for my purposes - assuming the 1430 has the required power to mow and climb 20 degrees slopes - they say it is good up to 30 degrees -

but I am concerned with only 5 more hp over the 425
yet it weighs twice as much seems that 20 more would be more appropriate - I just wish I could talk to someone with a 1430

I may just call PT and ask if they know some customers that would talk to me who own a 1430

Anonymous Poster · Jan 11, 2003

Charlie - thank you very much for the input - the tilt seat is really a factor for me and I just assumed that it would be great on slopes - so tell me - would you go for the regular seat of you had to do it over

Anonymous Poster · Jan 11, 2003

Hey just an FYI for everyone on here - I was looking around at wheel motors while trying to identify the 425's and found something - one thing I thing PT should look at is making the units two speed - Char Lynn has 2000 series (the one on the 1430) in two speed version -

So in Hi the motors go to half displacement - twice the RPM and half the torque (that can be the 10mph max speed setting)

In LO they would be at full displacement with twice the torque and half the RPM - (say 5MPH max)

LO would provide easier hill climb capability when mowing steep terrain

have not priced them but plan on speaking to Eaton just to understand how you set them up

Anonymous Poster · Jan 11, 2003

Hey marrt

like the relocation of the lights - you kept the original ones as well - i was thinking that I would do something similar to that

I saw 55 watt halogens in the Northern catalog -

how do they work up there?

pajoube · Jan 11, 2003

marrt,
I would be interested in your 425 if you decide to upgrade.
I am not in any hurry.
PJ

Sedgewood · Jan 12, 2003

edambrose: Wow I'm really surprised that even the 1845 rear end would come up - that machine is 3200 lbs - but i guess when you articulate - you really change the center of gravity as well as shorten the machine - you lose your leverage of having the
engine straight back opposite the load in the bucket

Sure surprised me! The articulated deal I've done several times now but the straight on lift with the hoe sure took me by surprise.

how does it do with the 18cu bucket - because that is the one I want

I don't know, I don't have one. A heaping full 9 cu ft bucket of wet dirt is about all I'd want to carry and has to weigh at least the rated 1200 lbs.

- I am not opposed to adding weight - funny how the PT boys advise against adding weight - I was looking at their video the other day and - there was one of their machines with weights on the back moving soil around

Very interesting - they are quite set on not adding weight, at least not to the wheel assemblies, and someone made reference (Hans?) to the fact that adding counterweight to the back would increase the loads on the very expensive articulaion assembly.

I'm beginning to think our attempts to stretch the limits of these (and any) machines is a bit risky. As in "don't force it - get a bigger hammer" (er, tractor). Yeah I know, Hans, its the 48inch gates, stupid.

Or then we could just take on those jobs that need a bigger machine by taking smaller bites.

Sedgewood · Jan 12, 2003

(is it 116 inchs front of tire to rear)

yes, right on the money.

duane · Jan 12, 2003

Ed,

Now having a two speed wheel motor is a great idea. I'll have to visit eaton's website and find out how it switches between the two ranges. Any idea on what type of transmission pump the 1430 uses. If we knew the exact type wheel motor, tranmission pump and system relief pressure, perhaps could calculate the amount of wheel torque the 1430 could be expected to produce. Then could try and compare wheel torque per pound of vehicle weight. That would tell you whether the 1430 has more, equal or less wheel torque per lb of vehicle weight than your 425. (or maybe Power Trac could tell you the difference in wheel torque on a per lb vehicle weight basis)

I recall a thread where Sedgewood was on an incline and could not climb it, but had plenty of engine power remaining. Apparently the wheel torque needed to climb the incline was lifting his system relief valves.

Duane