Would you buy another PT?

[SpringHollow]

I must admit I got irrationally irritated by the 2 minutes it takes to swap powered attachments. I find that particularly funny since it took me 2 hours or more to do the same thing with my traditional CUTs. The newer ones with quick attach on their loaders certainly speed up that process on CUTs. I get much less irritated now that I added the additional hydraulic circuits. By turning off the tractor but turning the 12V back on, I can manipulate the loader valve which allows me to slide on the coupler with one hand.

But I do smile every time I swap between a bucket, forks, lifting boom etc.

Ken

 

[MossRoad]

Exactly. Do you even need to dismount to remove or secure a new attachment or is there a hydraulic lock on the tool carrier?

I want one. I'm gunna buy another lottery ticket!

Here's a video of me changing from pallet forks to a bucket in less than 15 seconds without getting off the tractor.
http://www.mossroad.com/PT425Videos/PT425_15S01.WMV

And here's one of me doing it again, only one handed while holding a camera. That took about 28 seconds. :laughing:
http://www.mossroad.com/PT425Videos/PT425_QAFromSeat.WMV

And if the attachment requires power, you have to attach hydraulic hoses, which requires you get off the seat and do that, about another 20 seconds.
http://www.mossroad.com/PT425Videos/PT425_PowerAngleHookup.WMV

Hope that clears some things up.

 

[MossRoad]

In that 2nd video at about the 25-26 second mark you can see the glint of the sun on the hydraulic ram that locks the implement in place on the quick attach.

 

[IslandTractor]

In that 2nd video at about the 25-26 second mark you can see the glint of the sun on the hydraulic ram that locks the implement in place on the quick attach.

So, why don't you guys just run the hydraulic connections on powered implements to where you could reach them from a seated position? I mean if we're going to be lazy about switching implements why not go all the way?

 

[KMA]

Using a mower as an example, the hoses are connected to the hydraulic motor on top of the deck and essentially just lay there until you attach up and plug them in. Even if the connections were reachable from the seat, you would still have to get up and grab the hoses after locking in the quick attach. For items like the mini-hoe that require both the PTO and the quick attach circuit (disconnect from ram and use for bucket curl on hoe), you would have to lock in, get up and grab the PTO connections, disconnect the second hoses for the quick attach lock and connect them to the mini-hoe.

In other words, no easy way to do it from the seat.

 

[IslandTractor]

Using a mower as an example, the hoses are connected to the hydraulic motor on top of the deck and essentially just lay there until you attach up and plug them in. Even if the connections were reachable from the seat, you would still have to get up and grab the hoses after locking in the quick attach. For items like the mini-hoe that require both the PTO and the quick attach circuit (disconnect from ram and use for bucket curl on hoe), you would have to lock in, get up and grab the PTO connections, disconnect the second hoses for the quick attach lock and connect them to the mini-hoe.

In other words, no easy way to do it from the seat.

Got it. Still, as we CUT guys have to do the same that is hardly a knock on the PT. Still want one.

 

[MossRoad]

So, why don't you guys just run the hydraulic connections on powered implements to where you could reach them from a seated position? I mean if we're going to be lazy about switching implements why not go all the way?

I can disconnect my mower deck from the operator's station while still in my seatbelt. However, it isn't really safe. I have to raise the FEL arms all the way up, then set the parking brake, then lean forward over the steering wheel and since the seat tips forward, it just comes with me. I can reach the main PTO hydraulic lines and disconnect the mower. Then I connect the two disconnected hoses together and toss them over the front of the mower, sit back down, drop the FEL arms and flip the quick attach lever. That being said, I cannot do it in reverse, as I cannot reach the disconnected hoses from that same position. And, its kind of dangerous, so I just don't do it. I cannot reach the aux PTO connections, which power the quick attach and or the hydraulic ram on the snow plow from that position. Also, its good to get off the machine and make a quick inspection of the powered implement before hooking it up.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I am so with Ken S. I actually plan my day out so that I am not having to get out of the seat to hook and unhook hydraulics and I have on man occassion stopped projects because of this. I AM SO LAZY. I watched my buddy with his BX unhooking his box blade and hooking up his 5 ft brush. It really took him half an hour and he had quick attach and he knew what he was doing.

I am lazy.... It takes me more time to hook up the implement to the quick attach than it does for me to hook and unhook hoses.

The only real problem in all honestly with the PT is that on all of the machines there is a PTO circuit, and a Hook / unhook circuit that doubles as an open close for grapple and back hoe attachments. I have to shut my tractor off to make this swap. I have seen the upgrades but have not made them yet. Probably should. It is this hooking up and unhooking that I shy away from.

 

[cqaigy2]

Man, im the same way. I get irritated at having to get off my a** to unhook a couple of quick connects. I guess it's a good thing, at least i get a little exercise. :laughing: I've used, admittedly a long time ago, farming and construction tractors/equipment and changing out different implements was quite a job. Unhooking my buddies backhoe is a real pain, and it really needs to be on level ground, then getting the brushhog on is a pain too and it really wants to be on level ground, which i have very little.

 

[MossRoad]

I am so with Ken S. I actually plan my day out so that I am not having to get out of the seat to hook and unhook hydraulics and I have on man occassion stopped projects because of this. I AM SO LAZY. I watched my buddy with his BX unhooking his box blade and hooking up his 5 ft brush. It really took him half an hour and he had quick attach and he knew what he was doing.

I am lazy.... It takes me more time to hook up the implement to the quick attach than it does for me to hook and unhook hoses.

The only real problem in all honestly with the PT is that on all of the machines there is a PTO circuit, and a Hook / unhook circuit that doubles as an open close for grapple and back hoe attachments. I have to shut my tractor off to make this swap. I have seen the upgrades but have not made them yet. Probably should. It is this hooking up and unhooking that I shy away from.

How is yours different from the 400 series?

 

[SpringHollow]

I do not think they are in that regard. Adding the extra circuits means I can keep the auxillary PTO just for the quick attach plate. That is a nice mod

Ken

 

[MossRoad]

Gotcha.

 

[KentT]

Well, I'm approaching 1,0000 hours on my CH-25 powered one, similar to what MossRoad has. I'll have to say that it is the single best investment in tools that I have ever made. There's no way I'd attempt to maintain my current hillside property without one...

I'm waiting on someone to install and try one of these Chinese twin cylinder diesels, and report back:



22HP V Twin Small Diesel Engine $1499 New Air Cooled 1" Shaft 2XPOWER of 10HP | eBay

My Kohler is still doing fine, but operating on these hillsides, outside it's design spec, it's now starting to blow a puff of white smoke on start-up. There will come a day when I pay the price for abusing it -- just as I have had to pay the price of increased torque from my huge wheel motors... :laughing:

 

[KMA]

I'm waiting on someone to install and try one of these Chinese twin cylinder diesels, and report back:

View attachment 357292

22HP V Twin Small Diesel Engine $1499 New Air Cooled 1" Shaft 2XPOWER of 10HP | eBay

Didn't look at the actual dimensions, but at first glance it looks like it could fit in the PT4xx tub. Pretty cool.

 

[J_J]

Just curious.

R2V840-Q diesel engine, View Diesel engine, WINSUN Product Details from Nantong Winsun Power Co., Ltd. on Alibaba.com

No where on their page does it say 22 HP

Can they obtain 22HP from a 60 lb diesel engine?

Compare that to the 45 HP diesel in the Power-Trac. Both are air cooled

One add says peak 22 HP, but is that like peak watts on speakers, and is that like avg power = .707 peak power.

 

[KentT]

I'm guessing that is 60 kilograms -- roughly 132 pounds... in fact the Net Weight spec is labeled 59 kg.

As far as peak power, that's common for what's reported on small engines.

 

[J_J]

I believe you are right about the kg.

1 kg = 2.20462 lbs, so 60 kg= 132.27 lbs