Buying Advice Yet another - what should I get?

[v11m]

It seems like a rite of passage for potential tractor owners to post here, so here goes.

Moved to a 2.5 acre sloped wooded lot about a year ago. I've been through all the seasons to know that I need something more than my assortment of hand tools.

I am drawn to the PTs due to their simplicity, ruggedness and DiY nature.

Short term I have a lot of dirt to move around (need to create some level space for the kids, my entire yard is sloped), trees to clear and brush to move. Some additional special projects will be assisting with a log cabin for the kids (potentially digging footers and lifting logs), spreading gravel for the driveway extension and clearing a trail through the woods. Maintenance will include mowing (though with the trees the grass isn't all that great), leaf pickup (a lot of leaves) and moving around mulch in the spring. Snow clearing is needed (150' driveway), though I have a snow blower for that - which I could sell.

I have the same challenges as most - 422 v 425?, to mini-hoe or not (I've broken multiple hand shovels, so why not)? Rent or buy some of the specialty implements, e.g. stump grinder, tiller, rake, etc.

I believe I'm good with the light material bucket, utility grapple and 48" mowing deck and forks. I'll probably also pick up a yard sweeper and cart.

I could also go used or with a different line - a new and delivered PT 425 is probably $15k+. It looks like a similar Kubota would be $18K.

Any words of wisdom from the forum would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[MossRoad]

Welcome to the TBN Power Trac forum! :thumbsup:

 

[MossRoad]

How many degrees are your slopes?

Digging footers would be cheaper with a weekend rental of a small tracked excavator. That's what we did for a 24x30 garage. 4' down 2-3' wide all the way around only took a couple hours in our sandy soil. Removed some small trees and returned the machine for a half day rental instead of the whole weekend rental! :thumbsup:

PT's excel at moving large amounts of loose material from point A to point B. Much faster than a conventional tractor of the same size. Way faster. Excavating virgin soil really depends on the soil. As I mentioned, I have sand. No issues at all. I can dig a massive hole in minutes with the large material bucket, or the small rock bucket with teeth. Several members have a ripper tooth that they loosen up hard soil with first, drop the tooth, grab a bucket and off you go. Repeat. That's one of the main advantages of the PT quick attach system. Changing implements without getting off the seat is like pulling a tool out of your tool belt. It's that easy.

Lifting logs you want to be very certain of weights. The PT has an 800# lift at the quick attach plate. You add forks and a foot out with a 12" log and you're realistically looking at 600#ish range. So be aware of that. However, parbuckling logs up the walls using the PT for motivation would probably be very doable.

Leaf pickup is a sticky issue. Since the mower decks are rear discharge and no leaf pickup option, you have to get creative. I use a tow-behind ground driven leaf sweeper and it works fine for us. Sometimes I mow as I sweep and I can get about 10:1 reduction in leaf volume and 90% pickup. I keep a rope tied to the hopper and right behind the drivers seat and dump without getting off. Works well for me.

I have a 60" power angle snow blade with gauge wheels. Works great for snow removal here. How much snow do you get in a season and what are your average snowfalls in inches?

If it's within your means, get the 425 over the 422. That will give you more hill climbing power with a 48" mowing deck running. I run a 60" deck, and PT said not to get the 422 for that size deck. Since you're getting a 48" deck, well, that's extra HP available for the wheels. Also, as I recall, the 425 has a higher lift capacity, two steering rams VS on on the 422, and it comes with the ROPS/Canopy standard. And, I think, but check to be sure, the 425 now comes with the Kohler engine. Cold weather starting issues have been mentioned with the Robin engines. I leave a Kohler in my 2001 model 425. Started down to -5F without booster assist. Did use carb cleaner as starting fluid, though.

I do not have a mini-hoe. But I think I could find many, many uses for it, like transplanting/removing shrubs and landscaping.

Good luck in your deliberations. :laughing:

 

[v11m]

Thanks for the reply.

My non-wooded portion is more or less all gradually sloped (walk out basement) - losing 20ft or so over 200ft, so that would put me at a 10% slope. I wouldn't think there would be too much of concern. It is annoying to camp on however.

Sandy soil as well and partially the reason the grass doesn't stick (doesn't help that the dog rips out divots after she finishes her business). The potato digger would be a good addition - thanks.

I'm just outside of Chicago - so we probably had ten or so good snows this year at 6in+. It was colder this year, so a lot of it stayed around for a few months. I probably would have enough places to push it, though one side of my driveway is a retaining wall, so maybe I'm better off with the blower.

 

[MossRoad]

Another thing to think about...

Get a blank quick attach plate with your order. In the future, weld, or have someone weld for you, a 2" receiver to the blank plate. It's then really easy to put in a triple ball hitch for moving trailers, weld a cheap potato digger from Rural King onto some 2" stock, make a light duty boom pole, subsoiler, cable burying device, etc....

It's always cheaper to get as much as you can in the initial shipment if you go with a PT. Shipping individual items later ads up on shipping costs.

 

[Marks481]

If it's within your means, get the 425 over the 422.

I have the 422. I wish I had the 425. Well worth the extra money. "False floor" in the drivers cab is a PIA, single steering arm has a built in defect that (eventually) requires some substantial welding to repair. Not enough power to really keep my bush hog spinning while driving at speed. An extra 6" of lift height would be so welcome.

Swapping out for a bigger engine has been on my winter-to-do list for years now....

Mini Hoe is a must have.

Instead of buying PT's grapple, recommend you buy a Wicked Root Grapple or a Wicked Root Rake. If you ship them the adaptor plate, they will weld it on.

Sub Compact BX Tractor Mini Wicked Root Grapple 33"

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/power-trac/369385-demand-pt-grapple-2.html

 

[SpringHollow]

I find a mini hoe with thumb to be extremely useful for moving logs and cutting firewood in addition to digging holes and trenches. The mini hoe and snow plow are my two most used items. However, I have a larger PT and a swinging mini hoe which increase the usefulness. I do not believe I have used my grapple bucket since getting this mini hoe. The narrow 6" bucket on the mini hoe gives more room to get a chain saw in where you need it. I also have a fixed mini hoe that can dig down to 5' and has a 12" bucket. This one is handy for deep holes but also when you want to continually swap between bucket and mini hoe (the swinging mini hoe has 4 hose connections that need to be made).

Ken

 

[v11m]

Quick update - just 'checked out' and my order is being processed. Should be fun.

Ended up going with a 425, utility grapple, light material bucket, potato digger, forks, rake, & mini hoe w/thumb.

Now I just have to pick my first project - preparing the land for seeding, adding a 'shelf' to create a paver deck on my sloped back yard, remove some stumps, bring the logs to the future cabin site or clear out the brush to the burn pile.

 

[joshlee]

Welcome to the club! The 425 is a nice machine.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Hmph... Only 5 projects, clearly you haven't really thought this out. I would say you are staring at a good 30 or 40 projects by the time you think it out, and when you start rolling around there will be a never ending list. I have a note pad in my office, It is so bad I have to text myself while on the tractor, when I see something I need to do, then when I get in to the office I write it all down on the pad. pages and pages....

 

[woodlandfarms]

That said, I would start with the brush clearing. Bunch of reasons but the main one is that it the PT is not like any other machine. Brush clearing isn't very detailed (Shelf for Deck) so you can get used to how the beast steers, Stumps are boring (at least in terms of getting to know the machine). Food Plot work can come after you have moved debris (it doesn't matter if your food plot is on the other corner of the property, if you do it first some how or other you will have to drive over it and boy will you be chapped). Logs are also fun but clear the land first.

 

[v11m]

That said, I would start with the brush clearing. Bunch of reasons but the main one is that it the PT is not like any other machine. Brush clearing isn't very detailed (Shelf for Deck) so you can get used to how the beast steers, Stumps are boring (at least in terms of getting to know the machine). Food Plot work can come after you have moved debris (it doesn't matter if your food plot is on the other corner of the property, if you do it first some how or other you will have to drive over it and boy will you be chapped). Logs are also fun but clear the land first.

Thanks - 2 hours in and I've pulled out some buck thorns with the mini-hoe and moved some brush with the grapple - I will say that my reverse is quite jerky and if I bang the forks on the garage floor or forget that I left the parking break on then something is going to break - but that's the fun.

 

[MossRoad]

Thanks - 2 hours in and I've pulled out some buck thorns with the mini-hoe and moved some brush with the grapple - I will say that my reverse is quite jerky and if I bang the forks on the garage floor or forget that I left the parking break on then something is going to break - but that's the fun.

View attachment 604729

See if there are springs under your treadle. The old machines like mine were cable operated treadles and quite smooth. The newer machines are hydraulic treadles and when they first came out were quite jerky. PT came out with a spring kit to install under the treadle to make it smoother and less jerky. See if your springs are under there.

 

[v11m]

So I am 15 hours in and thought I would share some observations and thoughts -
- Overall the PT is built like a tank and I am satisfied with the purchase. My property is hilly and woody and I have yet to get it stuck yet or question its abilities. I didn't get a chance to drive before the purchase (not really what I wanted), but my needs were better suited for a 'hybrid' machine rather than a typical tractor and the PT meets expectations along those lines.
- The treadle operation still needs work as I am still quite jerky - especially when I would require muscle memory (e.g. when I am tired or in a last-second reaction). I imagine time will assist here. I keep both feet on at the same time - I wonder if this is typical (I assume it is).
- Same goes for the arm controls (e.g. jerky). Would love it if the joystick had a thumb switch instead of the auxiliary being underneath.
- The parking break is terrible and I am waiting for it to snap (this seems to fit along with other threads). As I am constantly on an incline, I was engaging it when I needed to get off the tractor momentarily to prevent the slow roll (yes, it rolls slowly though I'm not sure it should). I never remember to take it back off and then I almost need a mallet to disengage it. Now I just prefer the slow roll.
- I often get an 'afterfire' - learning that I need to idle 20-30 seconds on the Kohler before I power down. Makes sense.
- What's the recommended lube intervals - I see that MossRoad has an 8 hour on his site - looks like I need to get my grease gun out already.
- Wasn't obvious to me (I am new to hydraulics so let the razzing begin) - but the cylinders should be disengaged (not extended) when switching out the hoses - otherwise they are hard to swap.
- For the mini-hoe, it is my most used attachment. Like most folks, I was on the fence here, but it has saved me a lot of time. Someone mentioned in the forum that if you use a hand shovel often, get the mini-hoe - that is what convinced me. I have pulled out all sorts of shrubs, stumps and rocks with it.
- Took awhile to get use to the grapple (I was trying to do too much), but this has been extremely helpful moving loads of brush to the burn pile as well as ripping out old fence.
- For the forks, I already bent one of them trying to dispose of a slab of concrete. Any idea how I bend it back? Heat and a BFH?
- The mowing deck will take some time to get used to (or I may need to figure something else out). I have a lot of medium patches of grass intermixed with trees. Adding the incline to the equation and a few off-camber spots, it makes for a very adventurous mowing experience where I am constantly raising and lowering the deck and causing a lot of damage to the grass with the front wheels. Straight lines are fine.
- Light material bucket is fine (but need some teeth for it) and so is the rake. Haven't used the thumb for the mini hoe or the potato digger yet.

 

[MossRoad]

Sounds like you're getting used to things.

I'd still check your treadle to see if there are springs under the pedals. If not, they should be there. If so, see if you can find some stiffer springs. Ask Terry at PT about that if you have to.

You could add an electric selector valve to the QA circuit and put the button on the joystick handle. There's a few thread on here about that.

YES. The parking brake handle operation IS terrible. I always engage it each time I get off the machine. If I don't see the pins move in, I'll tap the pedals forward of backward until they pop in. Then, as you've found, it's hard to take them off. I rock the pedals while pulling the lever and it usually comes off during that operation.

Most of us were told to grease all fittings and lube all ball joints every 8 hours. Also, tighten the large nut under the bottom center joint fairly often for the first couple years. That's something that a lot of people don't know about or weren't told, or just forget.

If you don't know where all the grease fitting are, just ask. Mine had some in the manual that PT stopped installing, and there were a couple more that weren't in the manual.

I bent my forks several times. I used a large rosebud head on an acetylene torch to heat it up and bend it back with a large hammer. They aren't meant for prying, but I pry away anyway! Makes quick work of small shrubs and buried rocks. Your mini hoe would be better for those tasks.

Do you put the mowing deck into float?

 

[BobRip]

So I am 15 hours in and thought I would share some observations and thoughts -
- Overall the PT is built like a tank and I am satisfied with the purchase. My property is hilly and woody and I have yet to get it stuck yet or question its abilities. I didn't get a chance to drive before the purchase (not really what I wanted), but my needs were better suited for a 'hybrid' machine rather than a typical tractor and the PT meets expectations along those lines.
- The treadle operation still needs work as I am still quite jerky - especially when I would require muscle memory (e.g. when I am tired or in a last-second reaction). I imagine time will assist here. I keep both feet on at the same time - I wonder if this is typical (I assume it is).
- Same goes for the arm controls (e.g. jerky). Would love it if the joystick had a thumb switch instead of the auxiliary being underneath.
- The parking break is terrible and I am waiting for it to snap (this seems to fit along with other threads). As I am constantly on an incline, I was engaging it when I needed to get off the tractor momentarily to prevent the slow roll (yes, it rolls slowly though I'm not sure it should). I never remember to take it back off and then I almost need a mallet to disengage it. Now I just prefer the slow roll.
- I often get an 'afterfire' - learning that I need to idle 20-30 seconds on the Kohler before I power down. Makes sense.
- What's the recommended lube intervals - I see that MossRoad has an 8 hour on his site - looks like I need to get my grease gun out already.
- Wasn't obvious to me (I am new to hydraulics so let the razzing begin) - but the cylinders should be disengaged (not extended) when switching out the hoses - otherwise they are hard to swap.
- For the mini-hoe, it is my most used attachment. Like most folks, I was on the fence here, but it has saved me a lot of time. Someone mentioned in the forum that if you use a hand shovel often, get the mini-hoe - that is what convinced me. I have pulled out all sorts of shrubs, stumps and rocks with it.
- Took awhile to get use to the grapple (I was trying to do too much), but this has been extremely helpful moving loads of brush to the burn pile as well as ripping out old fence.
- For the forks, I already bent one of them trying to dispose of a slab of concrete. Any idea how I bend it back? Heat and a BFH?
- The mowing deck will take some time to get used to (or I may need to figure something else out). I have a lot of medium patches of grass intermixed with trees. Adding the incline to the equation and a few off-camber spots, it makes for a very adventurous mowing experience where I am constantly raising and lowering the deck and causing a lot of damage to the grass with the front wheels. Straight lines are fine.
- Light material bucket is fine (but need some teeth for it) and so is the rake. Haven't used the thumb for the mini hoe or the potato digger yet.

On the parking brake, without steering move the tractor uphill while pushing down on the parking brake handle. This releases the pressure and it is easy to operate. If you steered since setting it then do the same, but steer a little left and right.

 

[agjones]

Check the pins on the brake for wear, bite marks from being engaged and trying to drive. I found one of mine had a groove on the pin making it hard to release. A quick flapper wheel session was all it took