PT 1845 & PT 1850

Charlie_Iliff · May 20, 2005

Dave:
Compared to a lawnmower, the 1850 is a big machine. I had hoped my 1845 would do my lawn. It did it, but I ultimately bought a 48" walkbehind, because I have a lot of fence, bushes and terraces which make my lawn tight to mow.
That being said, I was able to get a lawn-quality cut with the 72" rough-cut after experimenting with high-lift blades, deck height and deck tilt. You will find, however, that a 72" or wider deck will be a bit uneven if the ground isn't flat. It will scalp on humps, and leave it tall in the hollows. My lawn is not golf course smooth, so the PT was adequate. It isn't as good as the Exmark 48" hydro walkbehind, however.
The price is right, and of course the 1850 will do far more than mow. When PT equips the slope mowers with single tires, they are larger and wider than one of the duals. If you use only one of the dual set, you may have to check on load ratings for loader work, etc. You will also probably mark turf a bit more with the smaller footprint.
The 1850 will turn sharply for a vehicle its size, but can't compare with a ZTR.
At the price, you can get the 1850, several implements and an Exmark zero turn walkbehind like mine - and hire someone to mow - before you get to the new list price of the 1850. Unless there's something wrong with it, the price is a real bargain. If you don't buy it, you may find someone else on the board who is interested. -- Brian??

pajoube · May 20, 2005

That machine has everything, mirrors, extinguisher, rotating beacon, this looks like a great bargain.
PJ

yooperdave · May 20, 2005

The government bought it, used it for a season, then sold it to this guy in a auction. I think he got a good buy as well. He is now strapped for cash, and is liquidating several of his toys.

Yooper Dave

MikeOConnor · May 23, 2005

Sorry to chime in so late. I've been chasing other rainbows and letting my TractorByNet reading lapse.

I'm pretty close to you -- about 50 miles south of Eau Claire and would be happy to show you the 1850 if you're ever down that way on a weekend.

I'll second the comments in the thread -- it's a great slope mower, and gets into all kinds of places. Here is a page out of Marcie's blog that has some pictures of some mowing I did on a moderate (30-35 degree) slope earlier this spring.

Here's the link scroll down toward the bottom to see the "action shots." Note the last photo -- others on this board have seen this before -- it's my way of proving that the 1850 isn't a ZTR machine. I wound up cutting the tree down.

Here's a link to some pictures of the kinds of hills we clear with the 1850 (should look familier to a Wisconsin type guy).

I also used to to do some more traditional lawn mowing, and didn't think it did too bad a job. But I've got no real "lawn lawn" at this place -- i was just cutting much closer to the ground than normal in order to do some spraying.

I'm with Charlie -- this gizmo goes anywhere. And I also agree, I'd be edgy taking the outer set of tires off. It's easy to do, but I deflate the tires pretty regularly as it is, and I'd be worried about breaking things if all the weight was on just 4 tires instead of the 8. Not to mention how nice it is to have an extra tire on each corner to get home. I've made lots of journeys with only 6 or 7 of the tires inflated. I'd hate to be changing one on some of those hills.

yooperdave · May 23, 2005

Hi Mike,

Which options do you have for your 1850?

Powertrac has still not got back to me as to how much shipping would cost to get the other attachments from them.

I am really thinking about getting a Kubota L35 TLB in lieu of the 1850. Does your 1850 bottom out much driving over stumps in the forest? Can you drive through a marsh or swamp?

Thanks

Yooper Dave

Charlie_Iliff · May 24, 2005

Brian:

After short slope mowing test and look at a batch of attachments for the 1845 on Sunday*, how goes your quest? Ready to go to Tazewell, yet?

*After looking at the post pounder at the Glue Factory, Brian also got a bowl of jambalaya that just happened to be on Jay's stove. Bubenberg & Sedgewood have been there, but this is the first PT visitor to sample the Glue Factory cuisine.

MikeOConnor · Jun 9, 2005

Hi gang, sorry about the sluggish reply... Lots of stuff going on these days.

I've had a Kubota M6800 for quite a while -- used it for all kinds of projects that I use the PT for now. Slope mowing (I'm the nutcase that routinely mows 30 degree slopes with the 'Bota). Snowblowing still gets down with the Kubota (a heated cab is a Good Thing when snowblowing).

I was commenting to Marcie this weekend that the Kubota has seen hardly any mowing hours now that the PowerTrac is here. I probably put 5 hours on the PT for every 1 on the 'Bota these days. I have about 100 acres of prairie restoration that gets mowed several times during the summer and the (air conditioned) 'Bota is better for that. But for smaller mowing projects, the PT gets drug into service a lot more. And on slopes, it's no contest -- I go places on the PT that would roll the 'Bota for sure. 45 degrees (the rated slope for the 1850) is *steep*... Think, like as in the roof of your house...

Regarding your question about bottoming out -- yep, I've hung it up a couple times, but it's on stuff that would hang up the M6800 as well. I ripped the gearshift linkage and the fuel tank all up on the Kubota one time going over some stumps that I couldn't see. Sometimes I get a little too cocky with the PT 'cause it's so darn maneuverable. But unlike the Kubota, there's nothing much that can get hurt on the bottom of the PT so a little work with Mr. Chainsaw usually solves the problem.

MossRoad · Jun 9, 2005

The full skid plate bottom on the PTs is one big advantage over conventional tractors when working in hostile environments. I've gone places with the little PT425 that would rip out the hoses on our much larger IH. Just forced my way over some logs and stumps. Very nice machines for woods work.

FOURTEEN · Jun 9, 2005

( I have about 100 acres of prairie restoration that gets mowed several times during the summer )

 /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Why do you mow your prairie restoration several times during the summer??
I have about an acre that was ratty lawn that we are converting into a meadow/savanna/prairie area. For the last two years I have just mowed it once in December to knock down and mulch the tall dead forbs and grasses, and discourage the trees from taking over.
Should I be mowing it more often rather than just letting it grow 'wild'??
Have you done any planting, or are you letting 'nature take its course'??

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

cqaigy · Jun 10, 2005

For the last two years I have just mowed it once in December to knock down and mulch the tall dead forbs and grasses, and discourage the trees from taking over. 

I've been doing something similar, though more like once every 16-24 months. Believe it or not but there is prairie in south Puget Sound. I'm trying to leave food for the birds and things during the winter, let the native plants reseed but knock the trees down.