Strongly considering getting a PT425

[Blade Runners]

Has anyone used the aerator and can the 425 be used for light grading or leveling a lawn? Any power or traction issues?

 

[woodlandfarms]

Wel............. Go get one. Truly an amazing machine. Jack of all trades...

 

[J_J]

Look in the used section of the PT web site. You might can save some money.

Used Power Tracs

 

[Marks481]

Has anyone used the aerator and can the 425 be used for light grading or leveling a lawn? Any power or traction issues?

I don't have the PT version (the $1600 for the attachment plus shipping was $660 for shipping was a big turn-off), but do have a 3 pt land pride aerator that I put a quick attach plate on, and it works great. The PT version looks like it would work just as well.

This was much cheaper ($500 IIRC):

 

[Blade Runners]

I don't have the PT version (the $1600 for the attachment plus shipping was $660 for shipping was a big turn-off), but do have a 3 pt land pride aerator that I put a quick attach plate on, and it works great. The PT version looks like it would work just as well.

This was much cheaper ($500 IIRC):

View attachment 341412

That looks like a pretty heavy unit and a good idea to attach the QA plate to it. Are you able to apply down pressure with the PT for deeper plugs if need be?

 

[J_J]

Sure you can add down weight, but you should be careful how deep you want the spikes to go.

Don't go beyond the eject plug slot.

 

[agjones]

you can absolutely do light grading, lawn restoration and driveway/dirt road repairs etc. If it's your business, just be sure that the maneuverability matches your needs if you're doing smaller residential or commercial locations. This machine can easily be too large for 'city' sized yards. Even after you smash through the gate.

I wouldn't bother with the aerator from PT. Nothing against the implement, they're well made. But Craigslist is full of them made for various tractors and you can find a size/form you're happy w/ and customize a bit...$ave some. The power rake made by PT is a steal for landscapers.

 

[Blade Runners]

Good info. I have the Ryan Lawnaire 4 tow behind and I am sure it wouldn't be hard to add a QA plate to it. One thing about the PT aerator that I don't like is all of the tines lined up in a row. Most purpose built aerators have them staggered for bettr penetration. Maybe it work fine but it just seems it could be even better with just a slight design change.

The power rake is a good deal. I wonder how the teeth hold up though. Most have the carbide teeth and wear very well.

As far as size, our smallest properties are about 8k and we put 52" ZTRs on them that weigh 1200 lbs. I think we could probably fit the 425 on them for other jobs. Our 52s will fit through most of our gates too so I think the 425 would also.

 

[MossRoad]

My PT425 fits through a 48" gate. Its only 42" wide. However, the implements that are 48" wide or wider, do not fit through the 48" gate. UNLESS.... I put on the pallet forks, turn the wide implements 90 degrees, pick them up and drive them through the gate. That works just fine. :thumbsup:

 

[MossRoad]

...One thing about the PT aerator that I don't like is all of the tines lined up in a row. Most purpose built aerators have them staggered for bettr penetration. Maybe it work fine but it just seems it could be even better with just a slight design change......

I'm fairly certain they are only lined up for display purposes and each "wheel" of pluggers rotates independently on the shaft. If they didn't, the unit could not turn without digging trenches in the lawn. There's a youtuube video on the Power Trac channel that shows one working on a larger unit and they definitely turn independently.

 

[Blade Runners]

Gotcha. That's much better then. I can't watch any of the PT videos because I work in Afghanistan and the company net has all youtube vids blocked

 

[woodlandfarms]

You are going to have a **** of a time getting it trucked over ;-)

 

[Blade Runners]

LOL, maybe I'll just have it airdropped in. Let me see... one of these G-11s should do the trick.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I think you will not be able to see this, if not, we can describe.

Failed Air Drops - YouTube

 

[Blade Runners]

No, I can't. They have everything blocked over here. I couldn't even watch the PT vids on Moss' site. I'll be back to civilization in 2 weeks and I'll check it out.

I have personally witnessed a few failed heavy drops at Ft. Bragg. Saw an engineer 5 ton dump truck "burn in" (complete parachute malfunction) from 1100 ft. After it hit it was about 4 ft tall and drove the differentials through the platform it was on. During one of our Air Assault missions they cut sling load on one of our M198 howitzers (8 tons) and it stuck in the ground barrel first like a lawn dart That one was a good call by the pilot though because the howitzer was oscillating too much and pulling the Chinook with it.

 

[woodlandfarms]

So to your 425....

Its a very good machine. Jack of all trades. Things to know...

Powertrac provides no service centers. Either find a local mechanic (or be one yourself) or ship the tractor back to tazwell. But, PT's telephone support is beyond great. I have the home number of engineers in the plant, as well as the head of service.

Powertracs fit and finish is marginal. Generally it is nothing big, usually loose hoses or a bad weld. Don't have a clue why it isn't better.

None of the PT's are good for ground engagement (well, maybe the 1460). Meaning if you want to plow, pick a real tractor. If you want to pull, pick a real tractor. But that really doesn't apply to too many tractor owners unless you are operating a legit farm.

Traction is not an issue, but it is not a strength. There is not a ton of weight, and the tires are wide, so it is more like a skid steer than a tractor.

Upsides is the thing is a friggin swiss army knife, and once you try attaching and detaching implements, you will never go back. They are in my opinion far more stable than a skid steer.

Many implements you can make and or modify yourself.

This forum is as far as I know the best source of help outside of the factory.

 

[ponytug]

Thanks for sharing MR. It seems like such a simple concept: strap to pallet, rig chute, push out. What could go wrong?

Then you watch the videos. It is amazing that anything actually makes it down intact.

 

[ponytug]

I second MR's comments. The factory service and parts team have been fantastic, and I would not have bought the machine without this forum. The collective wisdom and practical good advice here are amazing, both real time and in the archive.

Because the way machines are hydraulically driven, they don't develop the low range HP that you need to plow or pull stumps. So, slope mowing, rototilling, earth/mulch moving, portable hydraulics are to my mind the strengths of these machines. The ground pressure is very low (great for lawns and wet soils), but it does mean that they can slide a bit on really steep slopes because they don't dig in. I have chains for slope mowing thistles; it was too slimy and slippery to feel safe.

That leads me to what I think is a prime point for these machines. They will get you out on slopes and keep you safe out there in a way that none of their US competitors can do.

I would definitely second these machines as the Swiss army knives of tractors. It is a snap to swap implements. Think of the tractor as a mobile hydraulic source. I know folks who use them to hedge mow, drive posts, platform for hydraulic limb and chain saws, pond draggers. Browse the forum for a bit, and I think it is hard not to come away amazed at what people do with the machines, green and red alike. After awhile, you forget how cumbersome traditional tractors are.

Manufacturing quality and build quality are third world. There is no other way to describe it. BUT, the darn things are so over-built with steel that mostly there aren't many issues. I spent the first couple of months tightening hydraulic fittings all over, but then things settled in. If you do buy one, keep the load and throttle down for the first ten hours, per the hydraulic motor manufacturers.

I have the following;

Attachment	Comment
Light material bucket	#1 most used
Brush cutter	Invaluable for slope mowing
4N1 Bucket	Great for earth moving
Trencher	Used to make terraces, as well as lay pipe/conduit
Rototiller	Makes quick work of bed preparation
Pallet forks	Portable platforms, loading/unloading, far more useful than I thought
Post driver	It will change your view of fence building
Trailer hitch	The obvious, and also used to pull 6x6" fence posts

Good luck.

All the best,

Peter