Late Model Brush Cutters

[SnowRidge]

At some point, Power Trac made a significant change to the brush cutter for the PT-4XX series. The older model has the motor mounted up high with an obvious Lovejoy coupler above the deck. The new model, which I have, has the motor sitting right on the deck.

We have info from Moss Road on what he found when he took his old style cutter apart, but as far as I know, there hasn't been anything on the new style's internals. Has anyone taken the new style's drum assembly apart? Are they still using an automotive hub under there? I would love to know before I have to tear into mine.

 

[MossRoad]

I'd like to see a shot of the motor area a little closer and from the front.

 

[SnowRidge]

I'd like to see a shot of the motor area a little closer and from the front.

I'll snap one a post it later today, if someone doesn't beat me to it.

 

[SnowRidge]

I guess it is later. Three views attached.

 

[KMA]

Mine is about a year old, but it looks a little different. The motor looks "taller" in my pic.

 

[SnowRidge]

Mine is about a year old, but it looks a little different. The motor looks "taller" in my pic.

The quick attach is different, too. Yours looks lighter, and it is bolted instead of being welded.

Which model PT is that, 418 or 422?

 

[KMA]

Which model PT is that, 418 or 422?

It's a 422 bought a little over a year ago.

 

[MossRoad]

The quick attach is different, too. Yours looks lighter, and it is bolted instead of being welded.

Which model PT is that, 418 or 422?

Notice how it has those two straps bolted on? They look like guides so that the unit can tilt side to side, but not flex the pivot joint fore and aft too much.

 

[MossRoad]

I guess it is later. Three views attached.

Thanks for the pictures. It is quite different from mine.

 

[J_J]

The quick attach is different, too. Yours looks lighter, and it is bolted instead of being welded.

Which model PT is that, 418 or 422?

It would seem that they are trying out new things, which means that they are not satisfied, or their supplier let them down. It seems like I have one of a kind PT-1445. My Tram pump is an Eaton, and the PTO pump is a Cessna, and the steering/lift pump is a Haldex. I believe that I have the only 1445 with a 4 cyl gas engine, with a radiator system. There may be some out there, but not logged on the web site.

 

[SnowRidge]

It would seem that they are trying out new things, which means that they are not satisfied, or their supplier let them down.

Or they are trying to cut their productions costs.

 

[SnowRidge]

Notice how it has those two straps bolted on? They look like guides so that the unit can tilt side to side, but not flex the pivot joint fore and aft too much.

They replace the welded on stops and let them use a lighter weight pivot shaft, you think?

 

[KentT]

I know that I appreciate the rubber Lovejoy in the drive coupling on the old ones... otherwise any shock to the blades is transmitted directly to the bearings and seals in the motor...

The limiters on the new QA/pivot do seem like a nice touch, though...

 

[MossRoad]

They replace the welded on stops and let them use a lighter weight pivot shaft, you think?

Could be. The pivot looks smaller than mine, but we'd have to measure to be sure.

 

[hogi]

I believe the new design is in response to some broken pivots on the old model. I know someone here posted on a broken pivot.

 

[Central_PA_Chris]

I have a new brush mower (mid-summer 07) for the 425. The possible angle of the tilt up and down mechanism makes it so you cannot tilt the deck up in the front. You can lift the whole deck straight up, BUT that's freaking scary, can't tilt/roll it 6" up in the front to hit larger brush at a angle, not so happy about that feature lack. A homemade removable stop will take care of that, but that seems like a pretty basic feature to lack in a brush mower.

 

[ponytug]

Dear Snowridge,

The new 1445 brush cutters look the same as your new 425. One caveat thought- since the mower is now 72", the pivot point is behind the center of gravity. If you go to lift the mower, you get a good view of the blades, which is never a good idea if the blades are powered up.

I also notice that the wheel hubs on the two 425s pictured are very different; the newer models have the hub much farther out, which should reduce the stresses on the hub from the wheel.

All the best,

Peter

 

[RegL]

I have a new brush mower (mid-summer 07) for the 425. The possible angle of the tilt up and down mechanism makes it so you cannot tilt the deck up in the front. You can lift the whole deck straight up, BUT that's freaking scary, can't tilt/roll it 6" up in the front to hit larger brush at a angle, not so happy about that feature lack. A homemade removable stop will take care of that, but that seems like a pretty basic feature to lack in a brush mower.

Is this tilted up enough? I think if you look at these pics and look at your brush hog, you will see how to lock it pretty easily to cut brush and unlock it for field mowing. The third shoot is of the rubber installed at the rear of the brush hog to make me feel safer and also keep most of the cut grass from coming back and getting caught inside the left front wheel.

 

[RegL]

I meant to say rubber skirt on rear of brush hog. Have to keep it clean around here.

 

[SnowRidge]