PT 1845 & PT 1850

yooperdave · May 5, 2005

Other than engine, what are the major differences between the 2 slope mowers?

I get the feeling that the PT 1850 is a real beast!

The ground clearance is so low I would not feel comfortable working in the woods with it.

I am surprized that the lift capacity is only 1,200# for something so big.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thank You

Yooper Dave

blackwell · May 5, 2005

The 1845 & 1850 are slope mowers first, but will also run other attachments. If you want more lift capicity go to the 1460 which has the same engine/pump package as the 1850, but has the heavy frame, large lift arms, high ground clearence and other changes to make it a wheel loader first, but it can also mow. The same comparsion can be made between the 1845 and the 1445. If the 1845 & 1850 were not made of lighter material and low to the ground they would not be great slope mowers.
AS to the differences between 1845 & 1850, the 1850 has larger wheel motors, wider tires, more horsepower, larger pumps, and is stably on 45 deg slopes. The 1845 is only 70" wide and can run a 72" mower on a 40 deg slope. The 1850 is used mostly rough cut mowing, post driving ,etc. The 1845 is used mostly to finish cut in tighter places. I understand the 1845 is sold mostly to parks, colleges, golf courses for roughs, while the 1850 sells to mow highways, dams, fencing contractors, etc.
We have both the 1850 & 1460 and find very different uses for each. We have never put the 1850 an any condition it would not pull itself out of. We have never owned any other rubber tired vehicle that will go into and work in the places we use the 1850. The newer models of 1850's are much improved over the first 1850 we owned.
EB

BrianSouthernMD · May 16, 2005

Can the PT-1845's 3-blade 72" finish mower be easily modified to be a rough cut mower by changing spindles and blades? Can the PT-1850's 3-blade 90" rough cut mower be easily modified to be a finish mower by changing spindles and blades? What are the potential problems with using either the 1845 as a rough cut mower or the 1850 as a finish mower?

Charlie_Iliff · May 17, 2005

<font color="red"> potential problems with using either the 1845 as a rough cut mower </font>
I can speak to that one directly. When I got the 1845, I got a 72" rough-cut mower. It has stump-jumper spindles, with short cutting blades mounted on swivel bolts on the stump jumper disk, 2 per spindle. Thus each of the three is a small brush hog.
Sedgewood and I did some experimenting with blades, since the factory set were thick, with little lift. We cut and drilled higher lift, thinner blades, primarily to get more mulching and to eliminate an uncut stripe that both of us were getting at about the right mower wheel. The blades did a cleaner job, but I ultimately concluded that mower deck height and tilt had as much effect as the blade choice. (Low deck with the rear slightly higher than the front gives the cleanest cut.)
PT offered a finish blade set for the 72" rough-cut which was a setup with four blades welded to a ring, which bolted to the stump jumper. It did a decent job, but with a big cloud of chaff that quickly plugged the engine oil cooler. On my lawn, I got it into a hump and tore a blade off the ring. I fixed it, but haven't tried it since.
My rough-cut and the current 72" finish mower look alike. I would think the stump jumper spindles could be mounted. Similarly, finish spindles could go on the bigger one. For that, you might have to hunt around for the right size blades.
I do pastures with the 72" deck. I got a lawnmower for the lawn when the PT proved just a bit too big for the job.

BrianSouthernMD · May 17, 2005

Thanks, Charlie. The 1850 would need three very long finish blades. I'll head to Tazewell to see what the 1845's 72" finish mower with three standard spindles and blades can do.

I'd like a setup where the 1845 would handle mowing my sloping lawns, pastures and more woodsy brush acreage. If I needed different spindles, I'd consider getting both finish and rough cut 72" decks. But maybe I could get by with just changing blades on the currently offered 72" finish mower.

BillCroasmun · May 17, 2005

This conversation fits in line with a mess up I had with my PT180 being delivered. I ordered my 180 with the 42" single blade deck. When it arrived I did a "quick" look at everything and then started mowing (It was going to rain for the next couple of days and the yard had already went all year without being mowed). The deck cut OK but seemed to be a bit noisy at times. When I was done I went to raise the deck to hose it down and... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif That's the 42" brush cutter! Turns out they shipped me the wrong deck! Looked at the paperwork and they had the right model number written down but must of just grabbed the wrong one off the shelf.

Called Scott the next morning and he said they'd ship me out the proper deck, I ask him if they could just send me the blades and spindle plate and I could send him back the brush cutter blades and plate. He checked with their service guys and it turns out it's not that simple, they use a different size spindle and a different hyd-pump on the mower. He said the mower pump has a higher RPM for one. So last Wednesday they dropped off the mower and took the brush hog back. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I hate saying good bye to equipment once it's in my hands but I was already stretched too tight to get both.

As an FYI, I cut half a field (about 12" to 15" of grass) with the brush cutter and the other half with the mower. Mind you I'm not the pickiest of people but there was not a big difference in the two. The brush hog did leave more grass rows on the ground (windrow?). Also, the mower was cutting down more than it should of been so I might have noticed a bigger difference trying to maintain an already cut yard with the two.

Charlie_Iliff · May 17, 2005

<font color="red"> I'll head to Tazewell to see what the 1845's 72" finish mower with three standard spindles and blades can do. </font>
I'm near Annapolis, so if you'd like a look at mine and try it on a hill, let me know. Most weekends and some evenings I do something or other with the Power Trac.

BrianSouthernMD · May 17, 2005

Charlie, I'll take you up on your offer (Sun May 22 or after, as we'll arrange). In addition to seeing what the 72" rough cut mower can do with your blade mods, I'll be interested in looking at your other Power Trac and third-party attachments for the PT-1845.

Charlie_Iliff · May 17, 2005

Sunday afternoon works.
I sent you a PM
Warning: I will not clean up the equipment for show and tell.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

yooperdave · May 19, 2005

I can buy this used PT 1850 for $13,500 delivered to my door.
It has less than 250 hours on it.

It only comes with a rough cut mower. I would still need to buy $10,000 worth of attachments for it to do chores around the farm. I still would not have a finish mower.

Will this thing still turn fairly sharp with the dual wheels? Can I take off 1 set of tires to skinny it up? I do not want to buy this AND a seperate finish lawn mower.

Any comments or suggestions?

Thanks

Yooper Dave