Hello Everyone

[ToolcatWonka5610]

Hello everyone, I'm sure you all remember me. Yes, I'm still around lol. I've just been busy with life. I'm about 3/4 of the way through my Junior year in High School and am 16 now (man where did time go?). I actually have checked on this place every now and then since I kinda "left".

Lets see.....things that have changed:

I no longer work for my father; as of late 2009 to 2010 he sold off his business. Not because of the economy but because of my fathers declining health (chrons disease and some depression covered up by alcoholism). He just isn't his old, strong self anymore. I haven't even since him since March of 2010 or heard from him in a few months. I don't really want to get into that, though.

BUT! My uncle whom I'm really close to is looking for a machine to maintain is 10 acres of land. He knows all about the PT (gee, I wonder how he learned about that machine? ) and has an interest in possibly getting one. He doesn't really have the money for a brand new but he might look into a used one if the price and everything else is right. If he got one, it would be a Diesel machine at least :thumbsup:

And we STILL haven't seen a PT around here, but then again we really haven't been looking much either.

But I'll still be stopping in from time to time, though

 

[ToolcatWonka5610]

I almost forgot, something else cool thats going on. As of September 2010, the start of my Junior year, as part of my school I'm taking something called skill center. Skill Center is a building they take you too that offers more, cooler classes and it takes the place of 2 of your regular school classes, so instead of 5 classes at school for me, I have 3. The way it works for me I have 3rd Session which is where I have 3 classes at my school, I leave from my 3rd hour early to have lunch, then we're taken by bus to the skill center, I'm there for about 2 hours then we're taken back to the school where we have about 15 minutes left before we get to go home. The class I'm taking at skill center is a Heavy Equipment Operations class. Let me tell ya, I LOVE it! We get to a bunch of different equipment, and here what we have:

2000 JCB 214E Series IV 4x4 Backhoe (I don't care for it, cheap made and underpowered)
1994 Komatsu PC90 Excavator (Good machine, has a lot of digging power)
2008 Komatsu D31PX Dozer (Nice machine, really smooth and sounds good too )
2008 JCB 406 Loader (My favorite machine. Very power, and smooth)
1998 Bobcat 751 Skid Steer Loader (Ok machine. Has the foot controls which I don't like and is pretty bouncy)
199? New Holland LS170 Skid Steer (Like it better than the Bobcat, even though it has foot controls also)
? Takeuchi TB007 Mini Excavator (Super Tiny but I kinda like. Its better than a shovel :laughing: )

The area we work on is a big dirt hill out back of the Skill Center itself. Its just a giant hill of clay dirt, about 10 feet tall by about 60-70 feet wide by about 100-130 feet long. Its very big, and perfect for what we're doing now which is our final project. We have to dig a 20 by 20 feet basement 8 feet deep with straight walls and bottom, next to it a garage foundation about the same size but 4-6 inches deep, and leading up to the garage foundation a sloped and level driveway. Also including trenching for utilities.

Hey heres something that might be of interest to you PT'ers. The JCB 406 Loader we have actually has an Air/Oil Cooled Deutz Diesel engine in it, 58hp. Before I was kinda leery of the Deutz since it was an Air cooled Diesel and after hearing all the over heating issues on here about them. But after using this machine a bit, I'm really liking the engine. Its a really good, smooth and powerful engine, and always starts right (even though thats after putting the glow plugs on for the right amount of time. Still..). So I'm pretty happy with the engine and the machine. It hasn't been very dusty thoguh because of all the rain lately here but once it dries up we'll see better how that engine does in dusty conditions.

 

[MossRoad]

Good for you. There area about ZERO vocational training classes around here any more.

 

[ToolcatWonka5610]

Good for you. There area about ZERO vocational training classes around here any more.

Yeah, I don't know of any training places around here. Whats best about this program is its part of my school so its free and counts as 3 easy credits. Basically all you have to do is show up and at least look like your doing something

The bad part is with 18 students in the class, theres not really something for everyone to do at a time. Kinda have to take turns on the machine which is no big deal.

 

[Gravy]

So when you can't be running equipment, watch your teachers and other students. Take note of what works and doesn't work between them. Adjusting to people will always be harder than adjusting to machines.

I'm still much better with machines. Maybe that's why I'm not rich.

 

[ToolcatWonka5610]

So when you can't be running equipment, watch your teachers and other students. Take note of what works and doesn't work between them. Adjusting to people will always be harder than adjusting to machines.

I'm still much better with machines. Maybe that's why I'm not rich.

My class is fairly cooperative. There are though a couple ignorant people in my group (the class is divided up into two halves for our final project) that are quick to throw mean words if you make a mistake or doing something wrong even though one never really does much work. But other than that, things are working out really good :thumbsup:

Thats the nice thing about machines, they don't talk back or be uncooperative :laughing:

 

[MossRoad]

Yeah, I don't know of any training places around here. Whats best about this program is its part of my school so its free and counts as 3 easy credits. Basically all you have to do is show up and at least look like your doing something

The bad part is with 18 students in the class, theres not really something for everyone to do at a time. Kinda have to take turns on the machine which is no big deal.

Ah, weedhopper. It is not free. It is tax payer supported. So use our(your) tax money wisely and give us a return on our investment by doing well in class. :thumbsup:

 

[ToolcatWonka5610]

I've been brain storming lately on what would be a good alternative engine for a Diesel PT would be, like for a repower. Would a liquid-cooled engine be able to fit in a previously Deutz powered PT? I'd like to find one with a bad engine and repower it with something. I personally would love to drop a 4 cylinder 65hp Cummins into a 1460 or 1850 sized machine. Or even a similar sized CAT/Perkins. Thats just me, though

I just think putting a Liquid Cooled engine in like a Sloper Mower machine would really bring it to life, and eliminate overheating issues. I think its kinda dumb they put an Air Cooled engine in a machine that works in a potentially dusty environment and after many over heating issues they do nothing about it. Just my :2cents:

 

[Gravy]

I've been brain storming lately on what would be a good alternative engine for a Diesel PT would be, like for a repower. Would a liquid-cooled engine be able to fit in a previously Deutz powered PT? I'd like to find one with a bad engine and repower it with something. I personally would love to drop a 4 cylinder 65hp Cummins into a 1460 or 1850 sized machine. Or even a similar sized CAT/Perkins. Thats just me, though

I just think putting a Liquid Cooled engine in like a Sloper Mower machine would really bring it to life, and eliminate overheating issues. I think its kinda dumb they put an Air Cooled engine in a machine that works in a potentially dusty environment and after many over heating issues they do nothing about it. Just my :2cents:

Willie,

I don't know for sure, but I think the water pump and radiator would take up a lot more space, and would mean a major redesign.

I believe that PTs are built with the same components that work well in the LoTrac mining equipment that is the mainstay of the company.

 

[MossRoad]

I've been brain storming lately on what would be a good alternative engine for a Diesel PT would be, like for a repower. Would a liquid-cooled engine be able to fit in a previously Deutz powered PT? I'd like to find one with a bad engine and repower it with something. I personally would love to drop a 4 cylinder 65hp Cummins into a 1460 or 1850 sized machine. Or even a similar sized CAT/Perkins. Thats just me, though

I just think putting a Liquid Cooled engine in like a Sloper Mower machine would really bring it to life, and eliminate overheating issues. I think its kinda dumb they put an Air Cooled engine in a machine that works in a potentially dusty environment and after many over heating issues they do nothing about it. Just my :2cents:

Until your radiator gets plugged with chaf, then you have an overheated machine, just like the oil cooled engine.

Our late 70s IH2500b had a radiator and hydraulic cooler in the traditional place up front of the engine cowling. The hydraulic cooler was on a hinge so it could be swung away to clean both it and the radiator. When brush hogging our property I would have to stop every 1/2 hour and clear them both of chaf.

Weather your machine is air, oil or water cooled, in heavy chaf conditions you are just going to have to clean the cooling fins or radiators often. No way around it.

What you could do is work towards a modification that lets you clean them easier (hinges and wing nuts) or work towards sealing the engine compartment with cleanable filters that don't suffocate the engine and allow heat dissipation.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

I've been brain storming lately on what would be a good alternative engine for a Diesel PT would be, like for a repower. Would a liquid-cooled engine be able to fit in a previously Deutz powered PT? I'd like to find one with a bad engine and repower it with something. I personally would love to drop a 4 cylinder 65hp Cummins into a 1460 or 1850 sized machine. Or even a similar sized CAT/Perkins. Thats just me, though

I just think putting a Liquid Cooled engine in like a Sloper Mower machine would really bring it to life, and eliminate overheating issues. I think its kinda dumb they put an Air Cooled engine in a machine that works in a potentially dusty environment and after many over heating issues they do nothing about it. Just my :2cents:

Don't sell the Deutz short. In my 1845, the cooling problems have been solved by something as simple as insect screen, although I've also put a rotating drum filter on for more area.
In high-chaff operations in big-time haymaking, you'll see elaborate filters on all sorts of engines. Standard liquid-cooling radiators plug as easily as the Deutz oil cooler.
Two John Deere tractors, a Kubota-powered Jacobson mower and a Kubota tractor that I have had all have screens ahead of their radiators, which can and do plug up. The PT does it a little faster than all but the Jacobson, because the mower is out front and the tractor drives through the cloud it kicks up. Once you've mowed with the mower out where you can see it, however, you'll happily trade a little cooler cleaning for being able to see what you're doing.
On the 1845, you don't have to bleed the injectors after a filter change or running out of fuel. That's unlike the Deeres, Yanmars, Kubotas, Perkins, and Ford Lehmans I've had a little experience with. It cold starts, down to 14 degrees F, without heat or glow plugs.
The Deutz is in fact liquid cooled, using the oil rather than a second liquid. True air-cooled engines blow air over fins on the cylinders and head, which is light and simple, but difficult to control.
In short, I really like the Deutz, and wouldn't suggest going to the trouble to retrofit another engine, even one that's really good.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I would second my appreciating for the Deutz. Solid as a rock. Cooling is a bit of an issue but simple easy fixes seem to help. I will add that using Synthetic has helped reduce temps a few degrees and raising the air vent deflector had a major boost, keeping things a bit cooler but allowing me a longer time between cleanouts.

Also, 45 degree tilt. Not too many engines can say the same thing.

 

[ponytug]

A third vote for Deutz. You see the engines all over for good reasons. They are rock solid. I don't mow a lot with it, but cleaning the oil cooler on the engine is quick.

I second Charlie's comments; Deutz's work better than any other engine that I have had in the same environments.

Bottom line, it just works, and it is a well designed, reliable engine.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Bob999]

A fourth vote for the Deutz. I have reached a satisfactory situation on the cooling with two relatively simple mods--insect screen in the rear over the expanded metal where most air for the engine cooling air is drawn in and fabrication of a new air deflector that goes on top of the oil cooler to provide about 3" of additional height--with resulting increased air flow.

I really like not having to maintain a separate liquid cooling system--changing the oil regularly does it all.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Hey Bob. You got a pix of your mod to the top of the cooler. I am happy with mine (just raised it with some spacers) but love to see yours.

 

[Bob999]

Hey Bob. You got a pix of your mod to the top of the cooler. I am happy with mine (just raised it with some spacers) but love to see yours.

Here it is:

 

[BobRip]

Here it is:

Can you explain how this helps?

 

[Bob999]

Can you explain how this helps?

The stock air deflector outlet area is smaller than the inlet area. By building the deflector higher the outlet area size is increased to be equal to the inlet area.

 

[ToolcatWonka5610]

Well.....I didn't know all that my :2cents: on the Deutz would attract so much attention :laughing:

I think its just I don't have much experience with the Deutz engine, or any Air Cooled Diesel in general. The machines I've been around the most have had either a 60hp 4 cylinder Cummins, a 64hp John Deere Turbo Diesel, or a 40hp Kubota Diesel, all great and bullet proof motors. All had thousands of hours on them and all ran like a champ. The Air Cooled Diesel "concept" is still new to me. Although like I said I'm quite happy with the Deutz our JCB front end loader uses at skill center. A lot of times I'm too quick to judge things, I'll admit

I would give one a chance. But if I didn't like it, into the crusher it would go! :laughing:

Well, maybe this summer if me and the uncle travel up to Traverse City, maybe we'll see a PT up there in an auction or something. Theres just about anything up there for cool equipment. My uncle's even said he's seen a Unimog go through one of them auctions! Do you know how rare Unimogs are?! They only sold them here for like 5 years and they cost like $200k! :confused2: I want to see one BAD! :drool:

 

[Gravy]

Well.....I didn't know all that my :2cents: on the Deutz would attract so much attention :laughing:

I think its just I don't have much experience with the Deutz engine, or any Air Cooled Diesel in general. The machines I've been around the most have had either a 60hp 4 cylinder Cummins, a 64hp John Deere Turbo Diesel, or a 40hp Kubota Diesel, all great and bullet proof motors. All had thousands of hours on them and all ran like a champ. The Air Cooled Diesel "concept" is still new to me. Although like I said I'm quite happy with the Deutz our JCB front end loader uses at skill center. A lot of times I'm too quick to judge things, I'll admit

I would give one a chance. But if I didn't like it, into the crusher it would go! :laughing:

Well, maybe this summer if me and the uncle travel up to Traverse City, maybe we'll see a PT up there in an auction or something. Theres just about anything up there for cool equipment. My uncle's even said he's seen a Unimog go through one of them auctions! Do you know how rare Unimogs are?! They only sold them here for like 5 years and they cost like $200k! :confused2: I want to see one BAD! :drool:

Willie,

I think somebody else already posted this, but it bears repeating.

The Deutz is not air-cooled. It is oil-cooled.

Air-cooled engines rely on finned castings for direct cooling of the cylinder and head. An air-cooled engine can be splash-lubricated. Think Briggs & Stratton lawnmower.

Oil-cooled uses a pump and a fan and a heat exchanger/radiator. Although it doesn't use antifreeze and a water pump, it's more closely related to a water-cooled engine than to an air-cooled engine.

Make sense?