edambrose: <font color=green>when did you get it?</font color=green>
About April 1, 02 (nearly 300 hours ago)
<font color=green> - did you test the 1430?</font color=green>
No, in fact I pretty much relied on what I read here on TBN, compared PT's spec and price sheets to home in on what I thought would do the job for me, went down to PT, took a quick spin on the 1845, got the grand tour, and bought it. I did get to demo the PT minihoe when Hans, Charlie and I were down there last fall - that was on a 1430 and frankly I didn't really notice any size difference though I see in the specs the 1845 is about 4 inches wider than the 1430. Didn't find a length for the 1845 but I suspect the 1845 is about 1 Deutz cylinder longer than the 1430.
<font color=green>they at PT are pushing towards the 1845 - but I really would prefer the 1430 size - </font color=green>
Unless the 54 vs 58 inch width is a factor for you I'd lean toward the 1845. Even the 1845 has none too much power for mowing uphill at speed, at least with the 6 ft roughcut I have on it. There have been times I've longed the 1850's power, though without its size and $$.
<font color=green>I understand the differences - 1845 has 600 lbs more weight
the brake tender (does that only act as a park brake or does it also stop the machine, larger wheel motors & trans pump, larger engine and the tilt seat - </font color=green>
The brake tender is a parking brake and also an emergency brake - no hydraulic pressure - no go. Stall the engine & bump your nose when it stops! Forget the seat - see Charlie's post - that's a grand you can save.
<font color=green>probably well worth the extra $4 k - but the main thing I am interested in is the 45hp motor, trans pump, wheel motors
i think i can modify and put the tilt seat on the 1430 and the wheel motors are similar char lynn vs white on the 425</font color=green>
I think its definitely worth the $4k. The weight is a good thing when plowing snow and moving dirt. And of course the power is. It's also quieter than the 1430 though by no means quiet.
<font color=green>I think the 1845 is 12 inches longer which is alot
(is it 116 inchs front of tire to rear)</font color=green>
I'll tape it tomorrow, but if its 116 that's only 3 inches longer than the 1430's 113 I saw on a spec sheet.
<font color=green>how easy is it to turn around - </font color=green>
Easy. But I guess that's relative. Surely easier by a mile than anything else I've ever owned.
<font color=green>how does it deal with a full load of dirt in the bucket?</font color=green>
Just fine with the small bucket I have though you can do the "PT Pucker" if you cut the wheel too hard, especially backing up. There's a good part of a thread on that here somewhere.
<font color=green>I would imagine that with the longer frame and engine way back - the rear wheel must stay down</font color=green>
Yes - until you mount the minihoe, hook a root, then lift and back at the same time - then you can back the tractor right out from under the hoe and go airborn. An interesting variant on the PT Pucker.
<font color=green>how do you like the machine?</font color=green>
I love it. It has its quirks but then so do I! We get along just fine.
<font color=green>I would like to check it out if it is really OK with you</font color=green>
Sure. Send me a private message or email and we'll hook up. I'm the boss of this one man show and can be pretty flexible with the timing.
<font color=green>Well sorry for all the questions - I want to try and decide next week
thanks again</font color=green>
See ya next week maybe,
Sedgewood
Oh yeah, refresh my memory here guys, but isn't the Quick Attach plate bigger on the 1845 than on the 425 making attachments not interchangeable? And which size does the 1430 have - oh yeah - that's right, I bought the minihoe right off the 1430 that day last fall. Guess it's the same as the 1845. Duh. So am I correct in presuming you are selling the whole 425 kit and starting over from scratch with new attachments too?
