How come nobody hasn't widened the stance?

pequeajim · Jun 8, 2005

How come nobody hasn\'t widened the stance?

I am wondering how come someone has not tried to widen the stance of a 425 by building standoff boxes that attach between the body and the wheel motor bracket?

J_J · Jun 9, 2005

Re: How come nobody hasn\'t widened the stance?

One reason might be that some of the implements are made to match the width of the tires in the present configuration.

JerryG · Jun 9, 2005

Re: How come nobody hasn\'t widened the stance?

High stress on the motor bearings?

Spiffy · Jun 9, 2005

Re: How come nobody hasn\'t widened the stance?

For standoff boxes, I'm thinking you mean between motor and frame, so no extra stress on the bearings. There would be a bit extra frame stress; likely nothing it couldn't handle. Longer hoses maybe?

As far as matching attachment width, it probably depends on your desired uses, but that's out of my league! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

JerryG · Jun 9, 2005

Re: How come nobody hasn\'t widened the stance?

They had some like that at Surplus Center a while back. But, I don't know how one would be able to mount them the way the PTs are made. I am sure that it could be done.

pequeajim · Jun 9, 2005

Re: How come nobody hasn\'t widened the stance?

Yes Chad, that exactly what I mean, (between motor and frame). I had not thought about the extra width affecting the implements. My mower deck is 60" so I guess that would be ok?

Phils · Jun 9, 2005

Re: How come nobody hasn\'t widened the stance?

How wide do you want the stance? Reversing the wheels has been mentioned slightly more than once in this forum. Wider than that?

I've not even reversed the wheels since I carry the PT in my pickup to do jobs at friend's and club projects. I haven't measured, but it's a pretty close fit with the stock width and I doubt it would fit between the pickup wheelwells if it was much wider.

Phil

bubenberg · Jun 9, 2005

Re: How come nobody hasn\'t widened the stance?

Jerry is correct any changes to the present stanza will void all warranties of the wheel motor.

FOURTEEN · Jun 9, 2005

Re: How come nobody hasn\'t widened the stance?

 How come nobody hasn't widened the stance? 

 /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif WARNING!! WARNING!! DOUBLE NEGATIVE!! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

This question actually asks: "How come everybody has widened the stance?"!!

The answer to that question is: "Not everybody, just the wise and the brave!!" /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Gravy · Jun 10, 2005

Re: How come nobody hasn\'t widened the stance?

The warranty issue varies. Terry OK'd limited use of reversed wheels with the current wheel motors where needed for safety, as when mowing across steep slopes. He did say to change them back for all other uses.

I'm with PQ - I think it makes more sense to move the wheel motors farther out. If the frame shows signs of stress, it would be easy to reinforce.

Gravy

MossRoad · Jun 10, 2005

Re: How come nobody hasn\'t widened the stance?

I'm more of the mindset to buy a machine designed for the slopes we have rather than modifying one that is not. I know, I know... but think about it... these little dudes just don't have the weight to hold the hills and we are pushing our luck modifying them to hold steeper and steeper slopes. We all know that it's human nature... we have a machine that we feel a little squirrelly on when we get to the pucker point, so we modify it to get more comfortable... but then we push the envelope again to the new squirrelly point instead of staying at the old point. Same thing goes for increasing the lift capacity. We can add weights to the rear, put on larger lift cylinder, adjust the bypass etc... until the thing snaps in half or someone gets hurt. Off my soapbox now... be carefull. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Charlie_Iliff · Jun 10, 2005

Re: How come nobody hasn\'t widened the stance?

David:
I'm not sure I can agree with your assumption that more weight would be better to hold hills, but I do agree that modifications may induce us to be overconfident and increase risk. It's undeniable that if you're going to do sidehill work, wider is safer. And dual wheels give more traction, so probably would be safer, despite the excessive load on the 425 wheel motors. Fortunately, most of us reach our pucker limit before the PT reaches the edge of its capability.
One problem: dreaming up modifications is just plain fun. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Gravy · Jun 10, 2005

Re: How come nobody hasn\'t widened the stance?

Charlie,

For me, that hits the nail on the head. We've had a number of discussions in our household about which is more fun - using our PT or planning and building attachments. We haven't decided yet... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

pequeajim · Jun 12, 2005

Re: How come nobody hasn\'t widened the stance?

( How wide do you want the stance? Reversing the wheels has been mentioned slightly more than once in this forum. Wider than that?
)

Thanks for the comment Phil. I don't want to reverse my wheels, especially while my tractor is under warranty. I had asked Terry about it and he OK'd it for limited use, but I expect that if I have a failure of one or more of my wheel motors, I will eventually hear the question, "are you running with reversed wheels?"

Anyway, I don't want to get into a discussion about reversed wheels, as you have said, that has been posted on here numerous times. I WAS interested in finding out if anyone had mounted standoffs?

I know the issues with the versatility of the current width, but I have no need to put my PT in the back of my truck as I have a flat bed trailer, and my property does not have an obstacles that the PT could not get through even with a 72” width.

I was thinking about widening the stance about 8 inches with blocks.

pequeajim · Jun 12, 2005

Re: How come nobody hasn\'t widened the stance?

Thanks for the input MR, but I don't think I agree with that statement. That is kind of like putting the wider stance issue in the same category as adding wheel weights to the back of the tractor. I think they are two different issues.

I am considering this because the slope that I ALREADY mow on gives me an unsafe feeling of tipping, not because I want to mow on greater slopes. If the PT was going to slip down the hill, then it would do so now when I mow; so I don't think that widening my stance will contribute to that issue any more than what is happening now.

I just wanted to be clear about my intentions. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

FOURTEEN · Jun 14, 2005

Re: How come nobody hasn\'t widened the stance?

( the slope that I ALREADY mow on gives me an unsafe feeling of tipping )

 Have you tried the "park and push" method to determine just how tippy it is on your worst slope!!?? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

pequeajim · Jun 15, 2005

Re: How come nobody hasn\'t widened the stance?

(
 Have you tried the "park and push" method to determine just how tippy it is on your worst slope!!?? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

)

No, not yet... I'm a little afraid of what I would do if I actually tipped it over. How would I pick it up?

BobRip · Jun 15, 2005

Re: How come nobody hasn\'t widened the stance?

Better to turn it over when you are not in it and it is not running. I think you would not have to actually turn it over.

Bob Rip

BillCroasmun · Jun 15, 2005

Re: How come nobody hasn\'t widened the stance?

I think the point Fourteen is trying to make is once you stop it and get off you may not be able to budge it let alone have it tip on you. Even if it is close to tipping you should be able to see if some pressure lightens the uphill tires way before pressing hard enough to turn it over.

If your so close enough to tippying that a slight pressure makes it go then count your blessings that it flipped without you! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

FOURTEEN · Jun 15, 2005

Re: How come nobody hasn\'t widened the stance?

( I'm a little afraid of what I would do if I actually tipped it over. )

You don't push it over!! You just push it hard enough to see if it is anywhere near its balance point!

My bet is that you won't be able to come anywhere near its balance point, on your slope, no matter how hard you push!!!! But, if it starts to get light on the uphill wheels, STOP PUSHING!!