New PT-180 owner

[SpringHollow]

I bought a used Cheetah a while ago. Definitely exciting to use!!!

Ken

 

[m5040]

Before I bought a china brand cheetah that was on sale, I put a ball valve on the bottom of my air compress drain port and a 1 1/4 hose. I would dump the tank through the hose and it would actually work to seat the tire. But if you let go of the hose it would whip around. Make sure you where hearing protection!

 

[curtjeep]

Is it normal for your exhaust to turn red under normal use?

 

[airbiscuit]

I had a skidsteer with a Ford Industrial gas engine. A vacuum hose came off (the distributor) and retarded the timing. The exhaust manifold glowed bright red. Put the hose back on, and problem solved.

 

[MossRoad]

It's a custom exhaust manufactured by PT and has a right angle in it right at that glow point. Many of the PT exhausts that they make get really hot. It's another one of those quirks of their designs. The muffler sits outside the engine compartment. There's pictures somewhere on here.

I've seen many lawn tractors that have glowing mufflers. I had a couple Simplicities that did it.

My 2001 model year PT425 with the Kohler engine has a Kohler muffler. It gets hot, but doesn't glow red. It's also inside the engine compartment, so it's protected from brush and debris, and, likewise I can't touch it or any of the exhaust by accident unless I open the engine compartment.

 

[ponytug]

As MR pointed out, it is a common thing on the PT gas mufflers. Poor timing, and / or the wrong octane of fuel can make it worse. Some of my small engines run on 87, others on 89RM octane. Air cooled engines are generally quite sensitive to the octane of the fuel, and hot (overheated?) exhausts are a symptom.

All the best,

Peter

 

[curtjeep]

It's a custom exhaust manufactured by PT and has a right angle in it right at that glow point. Many of the PT exhausts that they make get really hot. It's another one of those quirks of their designs. The muffler sits outside the engine compartment. There's pictures somewhere on here.

I've seen many lawn tractors that have glowing mufflers. I had a couple Simplicities that did it.

My 2001 model year PT425 with the Kohler engine has a Kohler muffler. It gets hot, but doesn't glow red. It's also inside the engine compartment, so it's protected from brush and debris, and, likewise I can't touch it or any of the exhaust by accident unless I open the engine compartment.

Thanks MR.

Pony- I am going to try some mid grade in it. I honestly think the only reason why I noticed is because it was dark and I looked over my shoulder and wondered what the glow was, haha.

 

[m5040]

That is why you idle it for a few minutes before you shut it off. And make sure you keep all cooling fins and ports clean. Don't let grass build up. I think I would worry when you could see it in daylight. Here are some temps (so yours was around 800 deg.) {FYI diesel truck limit exh gas temp to 1275 deg}.
::C ----- ::F ---- Color

400 -- 752 -- Red heat, visible in the dark
474 -- 885 -- Red heat, visible in the twilight
525 -- 975 -- Red heat, visible in the daylight
581 -- 1077 - Red heat, visible in the sunlight

 

[ponytug]

FWIW: In general, higher octane will make the exhaust hotter. The higher octane burns slower, reducing the knocking, but burning slower means some of it can still be burning downstream of the engine valves, potentially heating the exhaust manifold.

All the best,

Peter

 

[woodlandfarms]

You guys are so wrong. As pt has no rear marker light they use the glowing exhaust port as a night marker so you don’t get rear ended.

 

[MossRoad]

You guys are so wrong. As pt has no rear marker light they use the glowing exhaust port as a night marker so you don’t get rear ended.

DOH! :mur:

 

[cqaigy2]

And your wife knows where you are, if you're back in the woods a ways. :laughing: Like m5040 pointed out, those temps, at least toward the low end would seem reasonable. I've seen numerous machines where the exhaust components will show some red in low light levels.

 

[curtjeep]

So,

Looking at installing a cooler for my lil 180. I have the cooler already ordered and was scouring the amazon for a fan. Found one that is an 8 amp draw. This seems high? I can't find something lower. Well, so far.

Also, anyone know which hose is from the float function? And does that see continual flow??

 

[m5040]

There are only 2 hoses that go to the control valve from the rear of the tractor, pressure and return. If the engine is running the pressure hose has flow through the valve and back through the return hose. The only time it stops is momentarily with you are actuating a loader function, even then the opposite side of the cylinder will be draining. All the other hoses go to the lift and tilt cylinders. The float is accomplished internally. I believe the engine comes with a 15 amp alternator, so a 8 amp fan will work if you dont put to many flood lights on at same time.

 

[curtjeep]

There are only 2 hoses that go to the control valve from the rear of the tractor, pressure and return. If the engine is running the pressure hose has flow through the valve and back through the return hose. The only time it stops is momentarily with you are actuating a loader function, even then the opposite side of the cylinder will be draining. All the other hoses go to the lift and tilt cylinders. The float is accomplished internally. I believe the engine comes with a 15 amp alternator, so a 8 amp fan will work if you dont put to many flood lights on at same time.

Thanks, I don't know why I said float. I meant the return line, haha. I didn't know if anyone knew which line it would be. I found another fan that is only a 4 amp draw, so it's ordered...

 

[agjones]

4a is about what I get running on an 8a rated one. Fans often spike at startup then drop. If they are very hot, the amps will creep up w resistance.

 

[curtjeep]

Well,

The cooler has arrived. It is smaller than I thought... View attachment 666159

 

[MossRoad]

It will make a good heater core when you build a cab....

 

[curtjeep]

It will make a good heater core when you build a cab....

But I live in FL and definitely don't need a cab for the two days we get in the 40's, LOL. I'm gonna slap it on and since the fan is only 4 amp and its 7 inches wide I should be able to fit a second one on there.

 

[MossRoad]

But I live in FL and definitely don't need a cab for the two days we get in the 40's, LOL. I'm gonna slap it on and since the fan is only 4 amp and its 7 inches wide I should be able to fit a second one on there.

Florida! DOH! :laughing: