New to me PT425

[jwangelin]

So I’ve been lurking on the forum for some time now and finally decided to pull the plug and get a used PT425. It came with a bunch of attachments and I’ll soon be hooking them up. It will take a bit of seat time to get comfortable in it. It has the rare and desirable Subaru Robin (hahahhahahaha) in it. I did find out after mowing that the cooling fan is toast. It wouldn’t kick on and the blade bearings are stiff. Is there a common fan or upgrade that is available?

Thanks,
Jon in WNY

 

[ponytug]

Welcome!

My two cents is call Terry in service for the exact model fan. Power-Trac usually uses Spal fans. Occasionally, the temperature switch fails, so I would check that the fan does/doesn't function when 12V is applied directly to the fan.

All the best, Peter

 

[jwangelin]

Welcome!

My two cents is call Terry in service for the exact model fan. Power-Trac usually uses Spal fans. Occasionally, the temperature switch fails, so I would check that the fan does/doesn't function when 12V is applied directly to the fan.

All the best, Peter

Unfortunately the temp switch was tripped but nothing. Also, the blades are hard to turn.

 

[MossRoad]

Unfortunately the temp switch was tripped but nothing. Also, the blades are hard to turn.

Welcome to the PT world!

My fan, after sitting all winter, would not spin. I took a stick and rotated the blades around by hand many times in alternating directions until if freed up enough to spin with 12v. Had it not gotten free enough, it was gonna be new fan time.

Also, my thermostatic switch for the fan died about 15 years ago. I hooked up the fan to keyed 12v so it is always on.

 

[jwangelin]

Welcome to the PT world!

My fan, after sitting all winter, would not spin. I took a stick and rotated the blades around by hand many times in alternating directions until if freed up enough to spin with 12v. Had it not gotten free enough, it was gonna be new fan time.

Also, my thermostatic switch for the fan died about 15 years ago. I hooked up the fan to keyed 12v so it is always on.

Crud, I was ready to call in and order a new fan but now I’m second guessing myself. Hopefully that will work. Thanks!

 

[MossRoad]

Hey, worst case scenario is you still need a new fan and nothing has changed.

 

[MossRoad]

I also replaced the fuse in the fan line because it blew when the fan stuck.

I've also blown that fuse from a stick getting in the fan and stopping it.

 

[ponytug]

If the bearings are stiff, my experience is that doesn't bode well for longevity, though it depends a bit on whether the grease is old/missing, or there is gunk around the bearing.

Still, @MossRoad's zero dollar fix would be worth trying in my book.

All the best,

Peter

 

[PowerTracManiac]

Welcome and hope its the no budget fix, haha

 

[muncybob311]

If you are planning to use the PT to mow a lot I suggest you look into another fan mounted on the side of the engine cage with blades rotating to suck heat out of the cage. I had to have a valve job done around 900 hours and am convinced it was heat related. Since installing the fan have had no issues and it runs better with no run on at shut down(although non ethanol gas may play a part in that too?).