Pre buying Questions

[kjm3232]

Well after lurking around this site for a year or so. The wife and i finally decided to buy one at the end of the month. i'll be going down to tazewell and making the purchase.We're going to get a 1430, with a 4n1,mini hoe,stump grinder,tiller, and rake. Before i go down, is there anything else that possibly i should have installed or added on(ie treadle springs, spinner knob) stuff you normaly wouldn't think about unless someone suggested it beforehand?) Thanks to the many folks who helped make our decision on buying the powertrac 1430

 

[Spiffy]

A red one!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

If they don't have spinners, any farm store should for a few dollars. You'll want it, but no big deal finding one.

Can you relist or perhaps provide a link to your expected uses?

I've used the PHD (actually planter head) quite a bit, but a large expense if you don't need holes. The trencher is nice, but I think the mini-hoe will take care of most of those tasks for you. I really like the power rake; probably too aggressive if you're just raking leaves though. The leaf rake looks pretty weak in their pictures, but could be quite useful -not sure which you're getting.

Oh, just to taunt PT, you want to ask if they'll give you a manual PTO valve with variable control and reverse [AKA a 4way motor spool with detented forward, both, or all three positions]? So far I really like it on the PHD and it's been handy on the power rake too; haven't tried it yet, but think reverse will release rocks from the tiller. The only problem I've had is the heavy levers on the one I installed will snap out of detened positions [it has pretty stout springs for centering exagerting the effect too] if the machine is vibrating at idle.

 

[ClintBlake]

I have the rake for my 422 and it has to be the least used attachment I own. That said, you may want to consider the forks and trailer hitch receiver. Both have saved my back from numerous aches and pains. The brush cutter is another very handy attachment if you have any areas you maintain that are not manicured lawn.

 

[KentT]

I'd suggest you pick up a spare QA attachment plate -- because you'll likely find that there's something else you'll want to attach to the PT or have fabricated for it. It was relatively inexpensive for me to have a QA plate attached to an aftermarket boxblade, for example....

On that note, I also have an aftermarket Howse 5' rake mounted to a QA plate that came with my used PT package:

Picture of Howse landscape rake adapted tp PT

Though I haven't used it much (not yet to the point yet of putting in a lawn), the aftermarket ones appear to have several advantages:

1. There's guide wheels available for them to control depth and give a more even 'bite" -- you can use the wheels and "float" position rather than having to manually control depth

2. You can angle them to have the material you're raking up roll off in windrows to one side or the other

3. They're curved, spring tines yet they are also reversible so you can use them pulling or pushing

I've never used the straight-tine PT rake, and haven't used this one a lot, but those appear to be worthwhile features...

 

[toolz_not_toyz]

I would definitely add the treadle springs. A spinner you can always get after. I still haven't added one as I find my index finger makes a pretty good spinner too (the steering wheel is small on the 425 and steering is very light).

Absolutely get the forks. They don't cost alot and they are very useful. They were the first attachment I used as I unloaded three pallets of attachments from the truck using those forks. Others have used them to load their trucks at the local Overnite facility (the Overnite guys loaded for me).

I have the post hole digger but haven't tried it yet. Also have the tiller but haven't tried it either. Will be doing so over the next few weeks.

I think you should also consider the large bucket. I have both the 4n1 and the large bucket for my 425. The large bucket is, well, larger and if you ever have to move a lot of dirt around (last week I got 28 yds of top soil delivered) you will appreciate the extra capacity.

If you live close enough to Tazewell to drive, then you don't really have to panic about leaving stuff out. I'm past Seattle and so I didn't want to have to ship things as I needed them.

One of the things they really ought to ship with these tractors is a couple of cans of touch up spray (black and red or green). If you're shipping these tractors they end up getting quite scratched and scuffed up by the time you receive them. I'm sure PT knows this but whatever.

Hopefully they'll include you first hydraulic oil filter too. Make sure to ask just in case.

 

[Phils]

I'll agree with the above posts.

For sure get the treadle springs. If you don't like them, they are easy to remove. I like mine, having used the PT without them for months before calling Terry.

I got the pallet forks only because of the recommendations here. I use them. More importantly, I use them for moving pallets. I had a large carport erected to cover the PT and equipment. In that space I now also store my fifthwheel hitch (on a pallet), a 150 gallon water tank (on a pallet), assorted outdoor equipment (on pallets), and .... well, you get the idea. I don't have to manually hoist my hitch into the pickup bed, I just use the forkPT. When I need to haul water (a half dozen times per year) I put the water tank into the pickup with the forkPT. If a time comes where we need to use the carport for something else (as in an outdoor party during light rains) I could empty the thing in 20 minutes using the forkPT since it's all palletized.

Give consideration to reversing the rotation of the stump grinder. I still don't understand why it comes from Tazewell designed to fill your lap with debris.

I didn't get the box blade and grapple buckets on my initial order and had to wait a year to have them sent to me. Between the grapple bucket, the LMB and the 4-in-1 bucket -- tough decision. I'd like to have all three. I could have used the grapple bucket for carrying smaller loads instead of the LMB, but I couldn't use the LMB to grab piles of brush ready for the burn pile.

The box blade has made driveway maintenence and soil leveling a breeze.

I've seen no mention of anybody here having/using the cement mixer. I don't have any anticipated projects large enough to justify it either but I bet if I had one I'd have no problems finding cement work needing to be done for friends.

It's probably a good thing I don't live within a day's drive of Tazewell.

Phil

 

[Marks481]

Like others said, forklift attachment is a necessity. Even if only so you can unload the implements from the truck when you get them home.

Maybe I should give you a shopping list so you could pick up some stuff for me....

Spiffy, did I miss a thread somewhere where you described adding the 4way motor spool? Sounds interesting.

I have the 4n1, wish I had got the large bucket instead/too.

 

[toy]

I got the forks for mine, I didn't think I would use them very much but I find that I use them real often . They are a real back saver.

 

[kjm3232]

Some of the tasks that i plan on doing are 1) dig a burn pit and line it with rocks.I aready some ledge about 5ft tall that i will line the other sides with rocks. 2) drag and burn some of the stumps that were cleared already from our property that were pushed farther back onto our property. 3) use the stump grinder to grind down the stumps on our property that we had cleared. 4) after the stumps are ground down use the roto tiller in that area and other areas of our property to start a pasture for when we put up a barn in the future and put animals in there. 5) Level some the land where we eventually put up the barn. I think just these tasks will keep me plenty busy enough. We cant afford the forks at $1600 so we are going to pick up an extra QA plate and buy some forks used(I fogot to mention that and also we are getting a blade for plowing our driveway and my sister-in-law who lives next door) thanks for the responses.

 

[Marks481]

ouch. $1600 for forks? I see that the T12 class doesn't have the fixed forks for cheap like the others (T8 forks are $380). You might ask Power Trac if they would sell you the T8 forks mounted on a T12 quick attach plate.

 

[J_J]

If you have the opportunity to stop by a used or forklift repair shop, ask them for the price on a 16 in rack with 30 or 36 in forks. You might be able to get them for about $250 to $300. Just weld your QA plate to the back of the rack and you are good to go.
You can do lots of things with the forks, other than lifting pallets. I put a 2 in ball in the end of one of my forks, and move trailers and boats around. Wrap a chain around the ball, and you have a lifting unit. You can dig up plants by pointing the forks about 45 degrees in the ground and dig in and lift. If you put some weight on the rear, you might be able to pull engines from cars. Picture of my forks on a 1445.

 

[pajoube]

Congratulations, please keep us informed of the arrival date (picking up or having delivered?) and what you ended up getting.
PJ