Proud new owner..................422 arrived today

[MuncyBob]

only had time to run home and pay for the delivery and then back to work again! Looking forward to putting the PT thru some work tonite and looking forward to having more time to myself now that I have a loader. I'll be checking all the fluids..but other than that anything else I should be doing with a newbie PT? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[MossRoad]

Congratulations! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Like you said. Check for fluid levels. And check it again often as you break it in. Break in the engine according to the engine manufacturers recommendations. Have you checked the Robin website for manuals?

Don't work it too hard right off the bat. Take a few hours to get use to it. Go slowly, as the articulation makes you feel like you're driving a centipede. You want the bucket to go left, so you crank the wheel and it feels like you're moving right. It becomes second nature pretty quick. Backing up in tight spots is the trickiest. Practice makes perfect. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

With the loader, remember the PT Pucker that we have talked about. I encourage you to find some heavy loose material like gravel or dirt and test it out for yourself. If the bucket seems heavy, keep it low to the ground and while standing still, turn the wheel full lock to lock. The unit will become more nose heavy and may even lift the rear. You need to know this so that you don't find out when you have the bucket up too high to recover. Always transport the load as low as possible.

Good luck and have fun getting use to a very capable machine. Your back will love you. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[davesisk]

I'll re-iterate what MR said: carry loads low. Always. As the orientation of the machine and it's wheelbase shift, a load that isn't heavy enough to tip it forward can suddenly become "heavy" enough to tip it forward. Examples include:

1) Doing a sharp turn with a heavy load.
2) Starting down an incline with a heavy load.
3) Running into a hole with a heavy load.
4) Backing over a log, blocks, etc., with a heavy load.
5) Getting off the seat with a heavy load.
6) Running low on gas with a heavy load (hey, I'm just trying to be thorough here! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif)

You get the idea. Burn this into your mind: CARRY LOADS LOW .

I'd run it about half-throttle until you get used to driving it...the articulation takes a little bit of getting used to (but not much!).

Happy Tractorin',
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gifDave

 

[MossRoad]

Oh, yeah, buy a spinner knob for the steering wheel! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[pajoube]

To get the experience you just need to put lots of seat time in. Nothing fancy but lots of fun. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
PJ

 

[MuncyBob]

must have read my mind...stopping at TSC to pick up a spinner on the way home. Carrying loads low will not be a problem...actually I got kinda nervous /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif when the guy unloaded the PT with the mower deck raised all the way up...but before I could say anything he had it off the trailer....guess he's done it enough times! I'm outa here in an hour and off to PT land(wife already knows we won't be seeing much of each other till after dark...LOL!) /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[FOURTEEN]

"" Check for fluid levels. ""


Don't forget the other "fluid", air!

Check the tires often. A small change in pressure effects ride, handling, load carrying capacity, wear, and stability!!
I run 11# in the front and 7# in the rear. If they won't hold constant pressure, Slime them!!

Check the air cleaner often!

Use air from your leaf blower to quickly clean your PT between washings!

Have fun!!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[toy]

Go over the machine to familarize yourself with the grease fittings. Especially check the center section under the covers. Mine came without a grease fitting in it., and I think that someone else said that theirs didn't have one in it. Mine had been greased when I received it but the fitting was gone. I wonder if anyone else had that grease fitting misssing if so let us know. Also someone that has a brush cutter for 425 how many grease fittings do you have on the spendle. Is there just one onit plus one on each of the front wheels and one on the swivel part of the quick attach on it?

 

[MuncyBob]

Followed all you advice and so far so good. Spent apprx. 2.2 hours on it last night(right up until dark) and got about 2.2 days worth of manual work done! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Brand new hyraulic fittings are a breeze compare toi the old rusty ones on my F250 snow plow! ...maybe it's time I changed them! While cuttinmg some grass I thought...man, my ground is awful bumpy...time to get a rollers or something...then I realized my foot was kinda bouncing on the treadle...LOL!! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif It seems to cut better with the throttle open all the way...but I wonder if this is a good idea on extended cutting time(like over an hour at a time)???Love the FEL work that can be done...no more back breaking shoveling for this ole man! The downside here is with all this efficiency I will be running outa excuses in getting the homey-do list done!....I think tonite my homey will get her 1st lesson on the PT.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Enjoy. It'll even get better as you find how versatile the beast really is.