Power-trac Forum

ljh2 · May 1, 2002

> "Technically Earthforces are not articulated. They have crab steering instead. "

And not all of them have that. The EF-1 only has standard 2-wheel steering.

larry /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

MChalkley · May 1, 2002

they (EarthForce machines) have crab steering instead

And crab steering is sort of the reverse of articulated steering, if that were possible... Crab steering is when all four wheels turn the same direction, allowing you to move diagonally (sort of like crabs do...). What you're thinking of is four wheel steering. And technically, crab steering is also an option, not standard, on all machines except the EF-600 (where it's standard) and the EF-100 (where it's not available). Of course, since it's an option on the EF-500, mine has it... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

MossRoad · May 1, 2002

Of course /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

Griff · May 2, 2002

Glennmac Re: Power-trac Forum

Had my PT 422 back in the woods with the brush hog and I noticed some large trenches in a muddy area. As I go into it, went down in the mud to the belly, but waggled my way out without any problem. Found out later that my neighbor had been back there attempting to clear out the briars as well.... go his JD 735 stuck and had a devil of a time getting it out (accounting for the trenches I saw). I'm still trying to decide if I should remind him not to go back in the woods with his JD unless I'm home to pull him out with my PT.... /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Charlie_Iliff · May 2, 2002

Glennmac Re: Power-trac Forum

Thanks Griff

OK Glennmac, we've taken care of mud.
You're running out of reasons not to make your next machine a Power Trac.
A couple of people have mentioned the PT wiggling out of trouble. Somewhere in the past, that capability was described not only for a PT, but for a much bigger articulated machine. Where conventional tractors dig themselves deeper, turning back and forth gets a bogged articulated tractor moving again.

MChalkley · May 3, 2002

Glennmac Re: Power-trac Forum

Shucks, the only reason Glennmac doesn't have an EF-500 is that he unequivocally refused to vicariously particpate in the experience.

Charlie_Iliff · May 3, 2002

Glennmac Re: Power-trac Forum

Clearly Glennmac - a thinking man - will be the first on the board to have a Power Trac and an Earth Force. Since you know he relies on our advice, what size of each should we recommend he get?

glennmac · May 3, 2002

Glennmac Re: Power-trac Forum

You PT and EF guys have key qualities that I don't. But I would like to ask a question. Most of the clearing I need to do on my property I have done. I am now in field mowing-maintainance mode on several acres (complicated by the wetness issue). I use my 60" cutter for this. I would like to move up to a 72" cutter. Can either a PT or EF run a 72" brush cutter?

Charlie_Iliff · May 3, 2002

Glennmac Re: Power-trac Forum

Glenn:
Sedgewood and I both have 72 inch "Rough Cut" decks on our PT 1845s. They are three-spindle decks, like finish decks, but super heavy duty, and with stump jumpers and hinged blades on all three spindles. (I also have a set of finish blades, but haven't tried them.)
Most of my cutting is pasture, which it does well. I have driven into four or five foot high brush, with sapling trunks/stems in the 1" to 1 1/2" range, and it mulches the whole works pretty well. I haven't tried bigger clearing work, as opposed to mowing. (And we won't discuss the football sized light colored rock that looked like a mushroom in the grass.)
I saw Mark's Ammbusher deck in Baltimore, and it seems even heavier duty than the Power Trac unit. Mark will give details, if you ask politely.
I'll bet the Power Trac against the Earth Force in the mud, but the EF will probably clear bigger brush faster.

Sedgewood · May 3, 2002

Glennmac Re: Power-trac Forum

Glenn: Like you, I'm pretty well finished with the heavy clearing and am now primarily in mowing mode. I do have a few acres of 8-10 ft high multiflora roses yet to tackle though. I concur with what Charlie says about the 72 inch Rough Cut. 1" to 1-1/2" is about all the stem it will handle, primarily I think due to the limited mass out the blades. I've sensed no shortage of power so far but haven't gotten into any mid season full height/thickness growth yet but I don't expect any problems. It mows the roses without complaint though I'm still getting used to being down at their level where they can lash out at me! The Power Trac is low compared to my Int 484. I too find a "mushroom in the grass" now & then and alas the light blades don't fare as well as the Bush Hog's much heavier blades in dealing with them. I don't have enough hours in yet to know for sure but I think my productivity is nearly double what it was with the 484 and 60 inch Bush Hog, due in part to the mower being up front where I can see it, in part to the HST instantaneously "variable to suit the need of the moment" speed and forward reverse, and in part to the incredible maneuverability of the articulated tractor, especially around the trees. I love it.

glennmac · May 3, 2002

Glennmac Re: Power-trac Forum

You guys are getting to me. Spent lots of time reading these PT and even some EF threads. Also the PT site.A couple of questions. Can this "rough cut" mower be used for finish mowing? I have three acres of finish mowing and 4 or 5 of field. I see that PT has "commercial" decks that I assume are for lawns. Is there not a PT single spindle mower a la a brushhog?The PT site features the 1800 series as a dual wheel slope mower. Yet I see Charklie's machine does not have duals. So I assume that is an option. Actually, I'm thinking the duals might be useful to increase flotation in my Oozama.

Charlie_Iliff · May 3, 2002

Glennmac Re: Power-trac Forum

Glenn:
Glad to hear our persistance is paying off.
The rough cut mower actually does a decent finish mower job. It doesn't have much lift in the blade shape, however, so you sometimes get stripes where you mow over the grass that the guide wheels have knocked down. As I noted, I have a set of finish blades. It is a bit of a chore to change them, so I will keep doing my lawn with an old Jacobsen Turf Cat II, which has a 72" finish deck. I haven't tried the finish blades yet, and haven't lowered the rough cut deck below about 4 1/2 inch cut height.
PT does offer a 60" rotary mower, but don't list it for the 1800 series machines. Sometimes they have things not on the list, or will adapt something, so you need to talk to them.
I didn't get the dual wheels just because they take a bit more space and looked to make handling slightly clumsier. I tried to argue that the single turfs should be cheaper, but wasn't persuasive. You can get single turfs, single bar or dual bar treads, at least. The dual bar treads are a bit smaller diameter, at least on the machines I saw. I agree that the duals probably would give great flotation in soft stuff.

MChalkley · May 3, 2002

Glennmac Re: Power-trac Forum

Charlie - Clearly Glennmac - a thinking man - will be the first on the board to have a Power Trac and an Earth Force. Since you know he relies on our advice, what size of each should we recommend he get?

I think you've definitely hit upon the right combination here. Clearly, it would not make sense for him to get a large PT and a small EF, so I propose that he get something along the lines of 1430 PT and an EF-500. That way, he could take care of all the turf and soggy ground stuff with the PT, and have the larger, more powerful EF for the "rough stuff". This is an area in which I think we need to be careful though - we shouldn't feel like Glennmac's money is our own to spend. So, if he wants to go a size larger or smaller with either/both the PT or EF machine(s), I think we should let him, and without recrimination. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

MChalkley · May 3, 2002

Glennmac Re: Power-trac Forum

Glenmac - Can either a PT or EF run a 72" brush cutter?

If you're still listening to me at all after my last attempt to spend your money for you, I can tell you that the EF-500 with 72" Ammbusher will flat-out-boy-howdy-honey-hush mulch some brush. Up to 4" stuff, in fact. The only fly in the ointment for brush cutting is this: Because machine ground speed is dependent on engine speed ("automotive" speed control), and so is the cutting power of the hydraulically powered brush cutter (because of implement pump flow), you have to occasionally cycle the direction speed lever into neutral to stop forward travel when you get to really big stuff. The EarthForce engineers are now working on a combination automotive/"typical CUT" ground speed control (where ground speed can be controlled independently of engine speed). It works ok in most situations like it is, but it'll be a lot better when they've added the new option.

MChalkley · May 3, 2002

Glennmac Re: Power-trac Forum

Charlie - I'll bet the Power Trac against the Earth Force in the mud, but the EF will probably clear bigger brush faster.

I wouldn't bet against you on either of those - you're dead on, I think.

bubenberg · May 4, 2002

ladies and gentelpters, ohiolawnguy has joined our ranks during an extended negotiation period in the early hours of today. he suffers under the same syndrome of too much work in spring.
he has over 300 hrs and one year of owner/operating experience.
welcome ohio lawnguy .... now my dear lawyer friends do you think we can negotiate a tiny articulated tractor forum for us..... hint...hint...hint, mohammed

have a great pt weekend and many mower ... ah, i mean more

the east cost pt test pilot ... no charlie i have not flipped it in a month!

glennmac · May 4, 2002

Glennmac Re: Power-trac Forum

If you spend my money for me it won't take you very long.

I did read enough of the EF-Frankenstein thread to see that Mark has gotten stuck at least twice in the mud. I did empathize, vicariously. I also noted that he got out with his backhoe. Aha, another backhoe justification for me.

Speaking of stuck, I think at least some of the times I got buried, there were moments I could have gotten out if my front tires had differential lock as well as 4wd. Do either the PT or EF have front diff lock?

Charlie_Iliff · May 4, 2002

Glennmac Re: Power-trac Forum

Do either the PT or EF have front diff lock? 

PT doesn't, since it has no differentials. Each wheel has its own hydraulic motor, so all pull all the time.

MChalkley · May 4, 2002

Glennmac Re: Power-trac Forum

Glennmac - The EF-500 has limited-slip diffs front and rear, but full lockup diffs (selectable, of course) are an option. I didn't get the option (I unfortunately let them talk me out of it), but I've asked for info on adding them myself. They weren't a very expensive option, when ordered with the machine, at least.