Is anyone else having lots of problems with an 1850?

[RegL]

OK, I sent the town an email to get me in touch with Chris Zern (the guy mowing the dam).

I need to get the PT straightened out, even the big JD is too slow in the rough stuff.

Great! Be sure to post any good stuff you find out. They are only 30 miles from me but I haven't got over there to check out that PT, or even if they still have it.

 

[J_J]

Just posted treadle cable problems bought 2003 have had problems since new!!!bad design??power trac changed design to hydro unit in 2004 and say nobody else is having problems???well see

Has anyone tried to retrofit the old Hydraback to the newer hydraulic treadle?

Is there anyone that can explain how the hydraulic treadle works, and show pictures.

My assumption is that when you push on the treadle, you are actually pushing on a hydraulic cylinder, and the force is transfered back to another hydraulic cylinder which moves the lever on the tram pump. These cylinders could be equal in displacement or one or the other could be smaller and could move the larger cylinder but slower. Sounds simple enough, but is it so?

 

[MossRoad]

J_J,
The treadle is a valve. The hoses go directly into the variable volume pump from the treadle assembly. No visible cylinders.

 

[weaver]

Starter problems.

Almost a year ago, I had similar starting problems on my 1445. Replaced the ignition switch, checked out the neutral switch, cleaned battery terminals. Replaced battery. When I selected start, the starter would try and motor , or just barely turn. I fixed my problem with a new wire going from the start terminal on the ignition switch to the start terminal on the starter. I haven't had any problem with the starter since.

Do a seach and look at almost had a sedgewood that may help I had duezt starter problems and wired all new The starter is like $600 with shipping

 

[AltavistaLawn]

The Paul Hart was nice enough to email me back..quick too. I have the contact ph number for the MDC, I'll call tomorrow.

Mine is operational again...but has a flat tire, hopefully I can fix that today.

 

[RegL]

I was traveling thru Barkhampsted yesterday so I stopped to take a look at the face of that dam. That sucker is steep and it's a long way down to the bottom. I wouldn't drive anything short of a zepplin on that slope. The guys that mow that must get a lobotomy first. Makes me feel like a sissy, puckering up on the little hills that I mow. Anyway, while I was in the area, I found the garage and got a quick look at the old PT1850 with cab. Didn't get much info as it was quitting time and I didn't want to be a pest. Sure liked that cab. All I remember is that it was made in Canada somewhere.

By the way, where's that spell checker again?

 

[AltavistaLawn]

I haven't been able to catch up with Mike (Chris isn;t there anymore) we've played phone tag.

Meanwhile the nightmare continues. I'm replacing the tires with 10 ply, two soo far, I'm tires of flats every other day.

Yesterday, we pulled up to a jobsite (a power comp.) cranked up the 1850 and it poured hydro fluid, all over their driveway. It had no steering or hydraulics, only forward and rearward motion. Because it was an energy plant, management has to file reports on the oil spill..if it had made it to the ground, they would have been fined! More than likely, because of that piece of junk, I'll lose that account!

It is leaking around the spring and plunger on the little box mounted behind the left rear tires.

I think I'm going to find out what payoff is on it, and get out before I lose any more money.

 

[AltavistaLawn]

You can get some A/C in that PT also when you get the bugs worked out. These guys in Barkhamsted don"t mention all the problems some have.


http://www.barkhamstedhistory.org/Diary September 2003.htm

Mike called me this morning, a very nice man, he was really helpful. They use three other slope mowers for most of their work, which have liq. cooled yanmars, and Do Not Heat.

He said they get about thirty minutes before the AC shuts off and the cab heats up...then the engine over heats.
They've had electrical problems too.

I'm calling now to get pay-off of that piece of junk.

 

[AltavistaLawn]

Well, Pay Off is too high, so looks like I'm stuck!

Oh, and Mike's exact words were "WEll, now I know we're not the only ones having problems with this machine."
!

 

[RegL]

Well, Pay Off is too high, so looks like I'm stuck!

Oh, and Mike's exact words were "WEll, now I know we're not the only ones having problems with this machine."
!

Gee! I wonder if they want to sell it? Seems kind of dum to keep using a machine for 8 or 10 years if they are having that much trouble with it. I can tell you that their other tractor is not your Daddy's Bota. It's one big azz Kutquick ( or something like that.) and if I had the bucks for one of those I wouldn't be looking at a PT for mowing either. Trouble is I think the other brand is is only made to mow so I guess I would need both anyway.

 

[AltavistaLawn]

Gee! I wonder if they want to sell it? Seems kind of dum to keep using a machine for 8 or 10 years if they are having that much trouble with it. I can tell you that their other tractor is not your Daddy's Bota. It's one big azz Kutquick ( or something like that.) and if I had the bucks for one of those I wouldn't be looking at a PT for mowing either. Trouble is I think the other brand is is only made to mow so I guess I would need both anyway.

Thats the same question I asked. He said the Quick-Cuts were not as good at finish mowing as the 1850, so they decided to keep using it, just for the more level areas (still slopes). he also said the quick-cuts are better on the steeper hills, greater than 45 degrees.
Overheating and electrical problems are the only problems they have had, it has around 600 hrs on it.

 

[BobRip]

Thats the same question I asked. He said the Quick-Cuts were not as good at finish mowing as the 1850, so they decided to keep using it, just for the more level areas (still slopes). he also said the quick-cuts are better on the steeper hills, greater than 45 degrees.
Overheating and electrical problems are the only problems they have had, it has around 600 hrs on it.

What is the slope angle at which the 1850 overheats? What is the slope rating of the 1850? If my memory serves me right (the PT web sight is down right now), the 1850 is rated at 45 degrees.

 

[AltavistaLawn]

45 degrees. Slopes have nothing to do with it overheating, it will overheat on flat areas just as fast. It needs some kind of air filtration system for the oil cooler. Nothing else will fix it, unless I remove the engine, and replace it with a water cooled one.

Other water cooled equipment doens't over heat like this.

I have used a Bobcat with a bruch cat on the front to BH with b4 the 1850....it didn't overheat.

 

[Bob999]

45 degrees. Slopes have nothing to do with it overheating, it will overheat on flat areas just as fast. It needs some kind of air filtration system for the oil cooler. Nothing else will fix it, unless I remove the engine, and replace it with a water cooled one.

Other water cooled equipment doens't over heat like this.

I have used a Bobcat with a bruch cat on the front to BH with b4 the 1850....it didn't overheat.

I think that the various posts in this thread have pretty well defined the overheating problem:

First, PT is using an oil cooler core that is not designed for dirty situations like mowing.

Second, PT has not included an air intake filtration system to keep the oil cooler that is used from clogging up--with the resulting inadequate cooling.

So it seems that the solutions have been identified--either fabricate an air intake filtration system to catch the dirt before it clogs the oil cooler, or, replace the oil cooler coil with one designed to be used in dirty situations.

Charlie Iliff, Sedgewood, and I have gone for filtering the intake air before it gets to the oil cooler. It is a relatively low cost solution and, while it takes some continuing maintenance, it has worked for each of us. If I were using the PT daily in a commercial situation I might seek a more elegant solution that would cost more and have lower maintenance but for my private use the relatively frequent cleaning required for the intake screen is acceptable.

Also, I experimented with removing the air deflector mounted above the oil cooler radiator. I observed about a 10 degree drop in engine oil temperature as measured by the factory installed guage. I haven't left the deflector off but am considering modifying the deflector. On my 1845 the air deflector has a sharp turn and a relatively small opening to the side as compared to the area of the radiator. My theory is that air flow can be increased by either removing the deflector or modifying it to provide a larger effective opening and a more gradual turn--perhaps using turning vanes. The disadvantage of simply removing the deflector is that it allows the hot air from the engine oil cooler to pass through the hydrostat oil cooler and will presumably reduce the cooling of the hydrostat oil.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

I'll make the mount more permanent and test over the next month.

 

[BobRip]

I think that the various posts in this thread have pretty well defined the overheating problem:

oil.

Sorry, I had a senior moment and wrote too fast without thinking.
It bothers me that PT has not supported you and solved the problem. They sell a lot of machines on word of mouth, and this does not give them good words.

 

[AltavistaLawn]

Exactly, BR !

The machince does a fantastic job...it will go where no other machine will, and not even turn over a tire, I just mowed a ROW fence line, climbing up banksides (over 45 deg.). Last time we did it, it took 3 of us 4 hours with the JD4115, we did most of it by hand, 12 man hours. Yesterday with the 1850, it took less than 1 hour, by myself!

I'm going to try this:

New 10 ply tires (already have two, six to go).
Foam fill the BH fronts.
Exchange hydro filter every 25 hours instead of 50.
And build a compartment over the engine hood, relocate the oil cooler assmbly, and fab an intake up high to feed the fan at the rear of the engine.

 

[BobRip]

Sounds like you are taking the initiative to fix the problems. Go for it!
Send us pictures and as much detail as you are able so that others can fix their problems.

Oh, I put tubes in my bush hog tires about 4 years ago. No problems since then. Before that, I was not tires off the rims every five minutes when mowing my ditch.

 

[IrTxRx]

Dear list,

What seems to "dirty" up the oil filter. Is it dirt or mowing chaff or what?
Would the 1430 or 1445 be expected to have the same difficulty.

Charlie, what is that contraption and what is the title of the post where you discussed manufacture/assemby?

Charlie/Bob/others -- how much maintainence time does it require to clean your various filter contraptions?

Thanks

 

[Bob999]

Exactly, BR !

The machince does a fantastic job...it will go where no other machine will, and not even turn over a tire, I just mowed a ROW fence line, climbing up banksides (over 45 deg.). Last time we did it, it took 3 of us 4 hours with the JD4115, we did most of it by hand, 12 man hours. Yesterday with the 1850, it took less than 1 hour, by myself!

I'm going to try this:

New 10 ply tires (already have two, six to go).
Foam fill the BH fronts.
Exchange hydro filter every 25 hours instead of 50.
And build a compartment over the engine hood, relocate the oil cooler assmbly, and fab an intake up high to feed the fan at the rear of the engine.

I replaced the tires on my 1845 with 8 ply plus tubes (because at low pressure --5-6 psi--that gives best traction with the turf tires I use the old 2 ply tires tended to roll off the wheel on steep slopes when working cross slope). It solved my tire problems.

This is another area where PT original equipment simply isn't up to the use that the machine is sold for.

I also have foam filled tires on the mower and have no problems with the mower tires.