Mowing PT 1850 Hillside Mower

AltavistaLawn · Jul 16, 2005

Hello everyone.
I'm selling my JD 4115, and getting a PT 1850. I demoed one last week at their plant...very nice people and an impressive set up. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I was just wondering if anyone here has a 1850, and what issues they have had with it.

It seemed to have plenty of power (air cooled deutz 65hp diesel), and stuck to the slope like glue.

The steering will take some gettin gused to though! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

-Billy /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Bob999 · Jul 16, 2005

(air cooled deutz 65hp diesel), 

Actually it is an oil cooled engine. There is an integral radiator that cools the oil. The radiator has a forced air flow from a fan mounted on the same shaft as the alternator.

blackwell · Jul 16, 2005

We bought an 1850 in 1998 and put over 4000 hrs on it mowing slopes, fencing with post driver, and using several other attachments. No major problems, however we do weekly maintiance on all our equipment. We purchased a new 1850 during PT open house and scraped out our old 1850. The new machine has many improvments over the older machine, better traction, smoother operation, wet brakes, more torque, and no wheel extensions.
We have never had a machine that will work on slopes like the 1850. I would hate to think of working on these slopes without it. Otherwise we would work a herd of goats! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

AltavistaLawn · Jul 17, 2005

Thanks Guys.
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

pajoube · Jul 17, 2005

Welcome to this forum.
Keep us posted on your progress with getting your new machine. What projects do you have planned?
PJ

AltavistaLawn · Jul 18, 2005

If things go as planned, I'll pick it up either Wednesdsay or Thursday this week.

I might scrath up enough money for the power rake..not sure tho.

We have a big bushhogging job lined up...used to take two days with a tracked skid steer...all over a man made retention pond. Going to look at another bush hogging job today.
Bidding on a new install, where a power rake is needed.
Have a 20MSqFt Lawn to smooth over, and replant.

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

pajoube · Jul 18, 2005

Keep us posted, thanks.
PJ

AltavistaLawn · Jul 27, 2005

Got it!
Here it is at the Walmart parking lot at Bluefield (my GF wanted to go shopping after I bought this. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I had them take the duels off, so I could get it as ar forward as possible. The bucket is under the deck, with two chains dogged down.
Ready for the 3 hour ride home.

AltavistaLawn · Jul 27, 2005

Here it is this morning, I was in the shop by 6:30 this morning - already very hot.

I went through the tires, added slime, and pumped them up to 10psi. Power Trac had already slimed some of the tires, or at least in some I could see it....but a litle extra won't hurt.

I had one small snag. The seat kept hanging. I called Terry at 8:00am, he had me remove this black thingy with a valve in it which was sticking....it fixed it, But the problem reoccurred, so I performed this process several times.
/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I then adjusted the wheels on the bush hog, and tried it out in my overgrown septic field area.

I left for the first site by 11:00

AltavistaLawn · Jul 27, 2005

I used it 4 hours pretty much non-stop..in 100degree heat. On some really steep hills...lots of crown vetch and horse weeds, really tough. It ran hot, but never over heated.

We've ran a Bobcat T190, in better conditions and it overheated!

I don't think its possible to turn this thing over unless you hit a big land mine! I was able to slide it side ways one time!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

The seat would act up occasionally..now it rotates over to one side or th eother and hangs...but the draft still works, so the "sun" valve isn't sticking. So I kept a 3/4" wrench with me and whe it done it, I unbolted the cycl. from the seat and rotated th eseat back and forth..until the cycl. started working again. It did it less and less.

Near the end of the day the seat was working much smoother and the draft needs to be "tightened up" so maybe its straightening out. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Over all, I'm really happy with this thing...as I told someone today, I never thought Bushogging could be fun!! But running it is fun.

I brought it back home, switched over to the bucket and took it to tomorrows location.
Cant wait!

pajoube · Jul 27, 2005

What can one say? it is BEAUTIFUL and not a speck of dirt to be seen.
Congratulations, keep us updated.
PJ

MossRoad · Jul 28, 2005

Sounds like a productive day of learning and working. Congratulations! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Highridge · Jul 28, 2005

Congrats! It looks awsome!

AltavistaLawn · Jul 28, 2005

Thanks guys.
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Charlie_Iliff · Jul 28, 2005

Sounds great.
Assuming the cooling system is the same as the 1845, you have to keep the oil cooler clean. I have insect screen over the back of the 1845 which slows the chaff buildup. When you clean the oil cooler, you really have to take the top deflector off and clear the chaff out with air blowing both ways.
(Careful with the top deflector. It's bolts hold the oil cooler on. Don't ask how I found that.)

AltavistaLawn · Jul 31, 2005

Next job..

Moved 2 ton of decorative stone and laid it on a 30 degree slope.

It started pouring rain...but the 1850 came up th eslope, no problemo. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

It works much better than the JD 4115 scooping out of the dump trailer.

tracdoc · Jul 31, 2005

( you really have to take the top deflector off and clear the chaff out with air blowing both ways.)

I've found that a backpack blower is a wonderful tool for cleaning up the PT. It really cleans out the grass, chaff and dust from the engine bay/tub, oil cooler fins, cockpit, etc. After a mow, I just lft up the engine cowl, and let 'er rip.

Charlie_Iliff · Jul 31, 2005

I use an electric leaf blower, -- also effective for most of the PT 1845 and mower. For the oil cooler on the Deutz, however, a high pressure line with a 90 degree nozzle is about the best because the passages are very tight and chaff plugs them easily. Every third or fourth cleaning I douse it with soap and spray water through - followed by more air.

RegL · Jul 31, 2005

"I had them take the duels off, so I could get it as ar forward as possible."

How much work is it to go from duels to single tires and and back. Does the outside wheel bolt to the inside? Thanks.

AltavistaLawn · Aug 1, 2005

( "I had them take the duels off, so I could get it as ar forward as possible."

How much work is it to go from duels to single tires and and back. Does the outside wheel bolt to the inside? Thanks. )

Pretty easy. There are a second set of lug nuts holding the inner wheels on. I use a 1/2 impact long extension (torque bar @120FtLbs)...after the lug nuts are off, then remove the spacer...then you're off.

Billy out.