New Owner 425

[TanSprFarm]

I discovered the PT and Tractorbynet while looking for Steiner info. After reading your posts for about 6 months I visited Tazewell last week and purchased the 425, with about 10 attachments. I am retiring (Pres of an engineering firm) soon and plan to expand our horse boarding operation and do lawn and landscape work. Starting small with hopes for growth. I selected the 425 because of its versatility. Last weekend I used the 60" mower on lawn, and the 48" bush hog in heavy pasture , and I am generally pleased with the results. Our land is very hilly. I am using the mini hoe and both the grapple bucket and the 4 in 1 bucket to tear out a concrete floor in the barn. The manuverability & power is awesome. Has about 15 hard hours on it, with no problems. No overheating, no vaporlock, no refueling issues, the Robin starts and runs like a top. Thanks for all of the info you shared over the last 6 months, it was key to my decision to purchase the 425.

 

[pajoube]

Great post, thanks for sharing and congratulations on your purchase. We love to hear from new owners and hope you will continue to share your experiences with everyone.
PJ

 

[smartguyz]

Congrats - and welcome to TBN. I enjoy the utility and versatility and FUN of my 425. What does your engineering firm do? (I am also a gear-head) Did you take any pictures yet?

Sincerely,

Rob /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MossRoad]

Welcome to TBN and congratulations on your purchase! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[FOURTEEN]

Welcome and congrats!! You have made a wise purchase! Any questions?? Just post!!

After you retire, you will work twice as long and twice as hard for half the money! Retirement isn't doing nothing, it's doing what you want to do when you want to do it!!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[TanSprFarm]

No pictures yet. I am retiring from an A & E firm in Lancaster Pa.

 

[FOURTEEN]

"" A & E ""


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[TanSprFarm]

Architects and Engineers, We specialize in designing food processing plants.

Joe

 

[dannygw]

Congratulations and welcome to the PowerTrac forum. I got my PT425 in May 2004 and I just love it. Every time I see a John Deere, Kubota or other CUT, I think how lucky I am to have my 425. Without the internet and this forum, I would never have known that the PowerTrac's existed. I have 55 hrs on my PT and I have used 8 of the 9 implements I purchased with the PT. I haven't used the snow blade yet, but I live in North Dakota, so just give me another month or two. All of the implements have exceeded my expectations with the exception of the rototiller. It works, but it is not quite as good as I expected. In keeping with the Olympics, I give my PT425 a score of 9.5 out of a possible 10.

 

[MuncyBob]

Ahhh yes, another Pennsylvania PT owner! Good to see you here. My future son-in -law lives in Akron(seems to be in your neck of the woods) and is a heavy equipment operator...was up here last week and used my 422 on our dirt lane.....was impressed what he could do with such a "small" machine! This week-end I will most likely be changing the hyd. filter(1st time /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif) and sharpening the mower blades(have hit a few things that I shouldn't have! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif).....this after I use the PT to help raise part of our deck so I can level it off(don't know who installed it but it's sinking!).

 

[Clarke]

I see you have the snow blower. There is a lot of chatter on the board about this attachment. Maybe this winter you can give us your evaluation of the unit. By the way my 425 resides in Willow Street.

sg

 

[cqaigy]

TanSprFarm, Welcome aboard!

Isn't the internet amazing? Back in the "good old days" most of use wouldn't have heard of PowerTrac much less bought one without all the info we've gotten from this forum. I've found my machine to be very powerful for it's size and manuverable.

 

[ernemats]

Welcome and congratulations on your purchase. I just wish I had purchased more impliments when I purchased my 422 four and one half years ago. One of these days I may have to make another visit to Power Tracs factory.

 

[dbetts]

Congratulations and welcome to the pt family. I too found out about pt while researching Steiner info on the net. Thought Steiner looked practically ideal until I saw PT. I have 235 hours on mine which I purchased in 09/03. It has been invauable in constructing 2 retaining walls- one 3ft by 75ft and one about 6 ft by 120 ft. The 82 lbs blocks would have been terrible for my back had the PT not done most of the work, not to mention at least 120 yards of gravel and fill dirt used on this project. The mini hoe has been favorably compared to owning a baby elephant when moving moderate sized logs, and is also great for digging trenches through very rocky clay. I've had three hydraulic hoses break - two were steering hoses which came apart under the front panel spraying hot oil all over my boots (don't drive a PT -or any other power equipment with sandals on). One hose broke in front whil I was maneuvering with a large tree root ball held by the mini hoe , I think I hooked it with one of the roots and pulled it apart at the fitting. The most serious problem I had was the lift arm assembly snapped in two. I had noticed that the welds were leaking some grease when I lubed them, and called Terry. He said it should be fine and I couldn't snap the 1-1/2 in steel bar running through it. Well I can break most anything . He sent me a new bar and the rocker piece and I paid ten dollars to have it welded into place. I've been meaning to give an update for a while, this seemed a good time to do it. I'll try to post a picture of me digging out a place for the steps.

 

[pajoube]

We are only days apart. My PT425 arrived 9-6-03 and like you have been working on retaining walls and many other projects. When I purchased my 425 I had three projects planned. One year later and over 15 projects completed and many more on the drawing boards. One tends to say I will do anything when you have a 425 to do the work for you. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
PJ

 

[dbetts]

Fortunately some are much better at posting pojects and problems than I am . Thank you and MR and all the other regulars who contribute consistently to this forum. I went to Bozeman once 25 years ago stayed at a place called Castle Rock Camp. That's beautiful country.

 

[dbetts]

I'll try again with a picture

 

[pajoube]

Castle Rock Camp is still there and doing well. If you get this way please let me know. I'm ready to meet some TBN'rs.
PJ

 

[TanSprFarm]

I remember seeing pics of some of your projects, great work!
So far the only problem I have had was popping the front inside tire valve while using the bush hog. I put the spare wheel on and kept going. I will be sealing that valve hole as described in others posts. Another item learned from you all was to put slime in all the tires, first thing I did. Should have sealed the valve hole too, oh well! The 48" bush hog has changed from previous models. It is now direct drive off the hyd motor. The hyd motor is much more substantial to take the load and there is no spindle to grease. The first oil change is in a few days, I use mobile one in all my equipment.

 

[MossRoad]

My brush hog is directly driven off of the hydraulic motor. It wa purchased in 2001.