Where is everyone?

marrt · Feb 2, 2003

Almost no posts this weekend. Come on guys.

OK. Here's what I did with my PT this weekend. With all the bad news, I find that seat time is a wonderful way to take your mind off things you can do nothing about. So, I decided to do a little maintenance on the PT. Now that I have the tach, I adjusted the RPM’s back up to about 3550 and greased everything.

I am building a deck on the back of my house and needed to excavate a little more dirt. I will eventually get a couple of pictures up of this project. The ground was in terrible shape. The top 4 inches were pure mud and the remainder was frozen. I decided to go at it anyway. I have to say that the traction on this machine is nothing short of amazing. I can go up and down muddy hills that I literally cannot walk on without falling (trust me, I tried it). I have the bar tires. I spent a couple of hours and excavated a decent pile of dirt. Had great fun.

One of the things that’s concerning me, though, is the amount of “play” in the articulating hinge. It seems to be getting worse. One thing I should mention is that I moved the seat back further than the stops set by the factory. I needed the extra leg room. However, this allows the tractor to “pivot” on the front wheels when using the bucket. In other words, the front wheels become a fulcrum between the seat and the bucket. This, in turn, puts pressure on the top link of the articulating hinge. Any “play” in this top link is magnified as I transverse uneven ground. It’s beginning to get a little irritating. When I greased the top link, a lot of grease shot out the side as if the bearing was worn. I’ll have to keep an eye on this link. Anyone else notice this “play” when using the bucket?

PTRich · Feb 2, 2003

I don't think /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I have any play. The top link may be squirting out grease because it is full. I don't think the seat placement would have any effect other than increasing your lift a little because of the added weight to the back of the machine. Perhaps you have a lose fitting some where?

pajoube · Feb 2, 2003

This past month has been a nightmare for me. Bought a Suburban (2001) on Ebay so flew down to Houston and drove it back to Minnesota. The week after I had to fly to Montana to help a friend in the hospital.
The stock market has given me a beating so am very worried about my plans to purchase a PT this summer.
On the good side we are all healthy.
PJ

MossRoad · Feb 2, 2003

Mine doesn't have any play either. If I accidentally lift the rear off the ground by using the front wheel fulcrum as you describe, there is absolutely no play in those joints that hold the front and rear halves of the unit together. Those joints will pivot left and right, and the tractor halves can roll in opposite directions +-12 degrees, but there is no up and down in those joints.

MossRoad · Feb 2, 2003

On the good side we are all healthy. 

Can't ask for more than that. After food, clothing and shelter, the rest is all gravy /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

ernemats · Feb 3, 2003

Mart:
Check the large nut on the top point of articulation joint. when I bought my pt they said to check it to make sure it does not come loose. It takes a 1 7/8 inch open end wrench.

bubenberg · Feb 3, 2003

you will find a way ... for allot of us things have not been as great as during "the other 8 years" ... am not starting a political war here ... and am self employed ... as it is my problem i will get out of it and back on "trac"

wish you all the best

pajoube · Feb 3, 2003

Thanks Hans,
I will be the owner of a PowerTrac in 2003. It is not confirmed if it will be a new/used unit or type as yet.
PJ

MossRoad · Feb 3, 2003

I will be the owner of a PowerTrac in 2003. 

You already have considerable equity built up in the Power Trac forums /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

When you get one, you will be so familiar with it that you will drive it off the truck and start running within minutes. A big smile will come upon your face and then you will put on the bucket and proceed to gouge a hole in the side of your garage like I did /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

OK... time for all of you Power Trac owners to fess up...

How many of you have put a hole in the side of one of your buildings, and, even better, how did you cover it up /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Me? I gouged the side of the garage with a tooth on the little bucket... peeled the siding right up. Looked around, made sure no on saw me, then I bent back the aluminum on the hole as close back as I could and moved the trash can in front of it. Told the wife that was the new location for the trash can as it was in the way in the old place. Never told her the truth... never will /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Charlie_Iliff · Feb 4, 2003

How many of you have put a hole in the side of one of your buildings, and, even better, how did you cover it up. 
No covering up the rain gutter removed by the canopy.
The fence posts, however, are just the result of deterioration over time. Lucky I found the bad ones, or the horses might have gotten out some night. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

bubenberg · Feb 4, 2003

i thought your place looks different since i was there the last time ... i am just kidding and am not joining this thread because it would end . /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif : /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif