Power Trac PT425

[pajoube]

Two items:
I also live in cold country, are you having any problems starting or warming the oil? I was wondering if a magnetic block heater would work placed on the oil reservoir side?
Was the tractor and attachments strapped down to pallets or did they drive unit into truck? When you picked up at trucking company I assume you added gas and then drove it off and used the tractor to load the attachments in a truck.

 

[pajoube]

Looking back on a few posts, notice you have a PT tractor. What model do you have and are you happy with it? Would you have done anything different in regards to ordering a different model or attachments?
Paul

 

[MossRoad]

It is the PT425. The tractor was shipped by driving it onto the truck with the 60" mower deck attached. The 4 foot brush hog was strapped to a wood skid by itself. All of the other implements were strapped to a second wood skid. The folks at Power Trac told me that it would be shipped with just enough gas to get it on and off the truck, but not much more, as the trucking companies don't want the flamables in their trucks. They recommended that I bring a few gallons of gas with me when I went to pick it up. I did, but did not need to add any until I got home, when it ran out of gas in the driveway. It was so easy to operate that I just hopped in, started it up and drove it out of the trucking company into the parking lot. I took my time and used the quick attach to pick up all of the implements and load them onto the pickup trucks. It was very easy. It really helped that I had watched the video several times and talked to several owners. I knew what to expect when it got here and was not dissapointed. I took about a year to make my decision based on the tasks that I wanted this machine to do. Lawn mowing, snow plowing, landscaping, etc...(see previous posts). I really considered the Kubota BX2200. They are fine machines and I wouldn't have gone wrong purchasing one of those as well. The deciding factors for me were I wanted the implements out in front of me where I could see them, the quick attach is awsome(see my home videos if you don't believe it) and I wanted a gasoline engine for cold weather starting ease. The coldest that I have started it so far is about 5 degrees. I set the throttle to about 1/3 and the choke to about 1/2. It fired within 1-2 seconds. I suspected(from past experience with my hydro IH2500b) that the hydraulics would have to be warmed up before doing anything. I pulled the joystick back a little and the response was slow, but not bad. I let it run at 1/3 throttle for about 5 minutes while I hand shoveled the steps. When I returned the response was normal. As I used it, I noticed that the hydraulic tank got warm to the touch after about 1/2 hour of operation and the cooler fan came on and off occasionally.

As far as would I do anything different? I don't think so. I checked out JD, Kubota, NH and CUB. I found things that I liked and disliked on all. I read as much as I could, I talked to several owners, I sat on one and operated its hydraulics and watched an experienced operator tear up some sod with it and operate the quick attach. This is more money than I have ever spent on anything with the exception of my houses. I really wanted to get something that I would be happy with for many years. So far(I only have 7 hours) I can honestly say that this is a very tough, very well built machine that is easy to operate and maintain. The proof for me will be this spring when I start mowing the lawn with it. That is what I bought it for.

I have some modifications planned and will post that a little later, probably over the weekend. Nothing major, just lights, flashers, ramps.

Feel free to ask any questions. I'll be happy to answer what I can.

 

[pajoube]

You are most gracious to put up with so many questions. I appreciate your honest approach and will look forward to comments about your approach to each season.
Another question (they never stop) you mentioned you purchased and additional quick connect plate. Any ideas as to what you may do with it? I was thinking about getting one with a ball hitch for moving a trailer around in the back field.
Paul

 

[MossRoad]

Yes, I was thinking the same thing. Here's a list of attachments that I would like to make or adapt to the quick attach plate:

1. Weld a 2" receiver onto a plate about 6" square and bolt it to the face of the quick attach plate. That way I could remove it if I need the plate for another project(can't do this with bolts only, will need to investigate further)

2. I have a 5 foot box blade scraper that is for 3pt hitch. I would like to see if I can adapt it to that as well. It might be too big to be useful.

3. I would like to fabricate a very skinny bucket for popping out small trees<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kascomfg.com/rooter.htm> similar to this </A> only smaller. It looks like a good beginner project.

4. A small log grapple would be a harder project, but as I progress, that would be neat. I could just drive up to a log, grab it and back out of the woods.

5. The every popular Cad Digger backhoe kits. The one that I am looking at is the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.cadplans.com/821.htm> model 821</A>. It requires a ball hitch. I already have the hydraulics. That is a big project that will cost about $1500.00. It will have to wait, but I can plan it now. I have to contact Power Trac to see if it is suitable. It will not put any weight load on the PT425, as it is self supporting. The PT425 will just provide the hydraulics and a means to move it.

6. Log splitter.

7. Hydraulic winch <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.milemarker.com/> similar to this</A> for hauling out logs that I don't want to drive up to, although the PT425 is probably small enough to get anywhere in my woods.

I'm sure I can think of more, and probably will./w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

 

[pajoube]

You just made my day with your post, thanks. The links are very helpful.
I like the idea of the skinny bucket. I will be developing an arboretum with heavy planting and large rock placements.
I never cease to be amazed at the inovative ideas you and others have. I think along those lines but do not have the training to weld. Some of your projects include some very heavy pressure on the front plate. Is there any problem with putting to much pressure on the front end?
Paul

 

[MossRoad]

The lift is rated at 800 pounds. I figure that I will just have to gain experience as I go to learn what not to pick up. I don't think that the 800 pounds refers to the actual lift capacity of the loader, but the load that can be safely lifted by the tractor with out it possibly tipping forward or sideways. I almost did that with my larger tractor loader. The person that had it before me put larger cylinders on the loader in an attempt to get more lifting power out of it. Well, it was so powerful that I could lift the back end off the ground. This is an 8000 pound tractor. I had to learn not to do this, as it was dangerous to the operator and dangerous to the tractor. There really is no way to eyeball something and determine its weight. You have to learn through experience. As you get more familiar with the machine, you can tell if the hydraulics or motor are straining by the sound of the machine and the feel of the controls. But then how do you gain the experience? I guess you should get an 800 pound weight and play with it. Learn what the machine feels like under its maximum rated load, so that you will remember that feeling later.

The only thing that might put a lot of pressure on the unit is getting the bucket stuck under something and trying to lift too hard. As far as pushing or pulling something I think I would lose traction before I would break the lift assembly. Again, I will start small and slowly and determine what the machine is capable of.

I started a thread in the customization area and will add things as I go.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

MossRoad:
One mildly entertaining aspect of Power Trac is the specifications which are published for the machines. If you look on the website, the 1845, for instance, is listed as weighing 1800 lb. My guess is that it is actually near 3000. Even the wheelbase varies among publications. Kristie Asbury assured me that they are having a meeting next week for sure to start getting all that cleared up.
I have talked and corresponded with 5 or 6 400 series owners. Uniformly, they have said that the lift capacity of the machine far exceeds the published numbers. Terry, at Power Trac, told me that the capacities are calculated according to published safety standards (perhaps SAE, he wasn't sure). He said, however, that the relief valves were specified to open before damage was caused to the lift machinery. As a result, he said that he thought all the machines would lift the back of the machine if enough weight was in the bucket, and this was well in excess of the rating. He told me this along with a warning to observe the limits, although he said that he had lifted the back of various of the machines without any dramatic incident. I suspect you will continue to be pleased as you work up to the 425's limits.

 

[MossRoad]

There is a huge log laying in my back yard.
There is no snow on the ground.
It is snowing lightly.
I am bored.



Time to test the fork lift/w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

 

[MChalkley]

Oh no, just what the world needed, another art form: PowerTrac free verse. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

So, how did the fork test go?

 

[MossRoad]

I went outside and it strted turning to rain. Then it truned back to wet snow. I couldn't bear to get my Power Trac wet and dirty. So I waited until today. I dropped the snow plow and pulled out the forks and small tooth bucket. The tree was a large mulberry that we had taken down after storm damage several years ago. All that was left was the lower trunk cut into two pieces. The first piece that I attempted to move was 27" in diameter at the fat end and 24" at the narrow end and about 5' long with a big narly branch stub sticking off the narrow end about a foot. The forks pushed under it easily. As I rolled the forks back and lifted a little, all seemed well. I took it about 2" off the ground. As I started to drive forward at a gradual right turn I felt like I was slowly tipping forward. I was. I'm glad common sense had me stop the lift at 2". I was tempted to see how high I could lift it. Glad I didn't or I would have been testing the seat belt capacity to hold me in. So there I was with the back tires a few inches off the ground, and the back half of the unit cocked over to the right. Now all of this would have felt pretty rotten to a novice, but I used to drive an articulated wheel horse tractor with no front axle, the seat on the hood, the steering wheel between your legs and the attachment to move airplanes out in front(back of the unit) of you(it was called an air horse). It had a tendancy to do the same thing and I knew what to do to get out of it. So I turned the wheel back to center, the unit slowly sat back on all fours with the log still 2" off the ground. I lowered it to 1" off the ground and took it to the back of the yard with no troubles.

The second piece of the log was 27" at the narrow end and 37" at the stump end. It was 53" long, but no branches sticking out. I did the same thing with this piece and had no problems. I videotaped the whole thing and will post it as time permits(probably tomorrow night).

I wish I knew how much these logs weigh. I have no way of estimating them. I know that I can barely rock one end an inch or so with a long steel pry bar and my 200 pounds on top of that. That is why they stayed there for the past few years. I couldn't get them off the ground to saw them up without driving the chainsaw into the dirt.

Anyway, I now know the limits of my little tractor. The hydraulics never strained and the engine made no complaints. So I am very happy. And the wife is happy that the logs are gone. I also popped off the forks and put on the small tooth bucket and leveled the area off where the logs were, so that grass can be planted there next year. Total time on this project(including camera work), about 40 minutes from garage door opening to closing.

 

[MChalkley]

MossRoad - Clearly, I need to offer you my condolences. First, for your finding out your PowerTrac has such wimpy hydraulics. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif And, second, and most importantly (as well as slightly more seriously), because it took you so little time to do the job. When you get that euphoric sensation of power, it's kind of a bummer when it's over so quickly... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Glad to hear the PT is working out so well - it's an amazing machine, for sure.

 

[MossRoad]

Yeah. I kind of messed up. Now my wife knows it doesn't take very long to switch implements, get a job done, put the plow back on and put it away. I now have fewer excuses for spending quality time on the tractor. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif NUTS!

 

[MChalkley]

MossRoad - Try this: Remember that you need to grease the FEL and other fittings every 10 hours, so make sure you do the maintenance either before or after getting the work done. That'll add to the time it takes to do things.

 

[MossRoad]

Yeah, uh, yeah honey. I needed to perform maintenance on the tractor. That's why I was driving around the yard and leaning over the fence shooting the bull with the neighbor. I was asking him about grease specifications. /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

 

[MChalkley]

MossRoad - Nobody ever accused you of being slow. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif You're definitely on the ball! I knew I was preaching to the choir in that last message... /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[MossRoad]

Here's the
It is in Windows Media Format.
It is 475K in size and took me 5 minutes to download at 28.8, so be fore warned.

The log is 27" at the narrow end facing the camera and 37" at the stump end. It is 53" long. Watch as I had little trouble pushing the forks under the log at a pretty good angle. The soil was not frozen under the log, but was frozen everywhere else. The turf tires spin a little on the wet and snowy grass, but not much. Listen to the sound of the hydraulics. Not much strain at all as I roll the forks back and snatch the log off of the ground. As I back up a little to clear a large clod of dirt that I noticed under the log, you can see how the right rear tire comes up off of the ground. As I turned the wheel back to the right and head forward the rear end came down. I moved forward a little, lowered the log to about an inch off the ground and proceeded to haul it off at a snail's pace for safety reasons. I would never attempt to move something this large any higher off of the ground than need be. If you had the load high off the ground and hit even the smallest object on the ground, you would, at best, tip the tractor on its nose, and at worst, roll over on your side.

 

[MasonDixon]

OK It's time for me to ask a question or two about the 400 series Power-Trac. I recently sold my place in town and bought a couple acres in the country where I plan to build a new house. There are several pole barns already on the property. I am need of a bigger tractor than the JD 265 mowing tractor that I now have. There is a really clean little Kubota 7100 w/ belly mower that is availabe here at a local dealer. I was searching for info on the Kubota when I came up on this thread. I am thinking now that the PT would a better choice for house construction and pole barn repair and mowing etc.
I am a tall (6' 5") long legged guy. My main concern is leg room on the PT. I have not seen one personally. My only reference is MossRoad's videoes. Is it possible for a person my size to be comfortable on the machine?

 

[MChalkley]

Cool, MossRoad! Amazin' what that "little" machine will do, ain't it?

 

[MossRoad]

I'm 6', 200 pounds. I fit nicely. However, if your feet are size 13 or larger, you might have some problems with the foot wells. When I get in or out of the unit, my feet will occasionally push or pull the direction pedals. If the tractor was running and the brake was not set, you could possibley run yourself over. Power Trac specifically tells you to shut off the engine and set the brake EVERY time you get off the machine with good reason. I had the oportunity to test sit one that belongs to a landscaper and everything fit well for me. I would not have bought it without first sitting on it.