PT 422 & 425

MossRoad · Jul 18, 2003

I would say keep them packed with the high speed grease every 8 hours and if it becomes a problem, then replace them with something tougher.

I don't like the rear wheels on the mower deck either. They will push the grass on tight turns instead of rolling over it. If I slow down in a tight turn, they will slide over the grass. But, I wonder how much it would cost to use something else. Maybe some wider solid rubber tires would be better. Of maybe they would gouge the grass even more? Casters would be nice, but they would make it hard to get near things if they were mounted to the side and they might not fit between the deck and the tractor if they were rear mounted. We'd have to take some measurements. Also, rear casters and height adjusters would add to the cost of the deck. I never change my cutting height on my lawn, so the lack of easy adjustment on the rear wheels is not a big deal to me.

Maybe some large rollers with rounded ends all the way across the rear of the deck would do the trick and make for nice striping as well. Then you could put three adjusters, one on each end and one in the middle all tied together to one lever for easy rear height setting. Just wonder if the clippings would shoot out over the rollers or get clogged up in there.

Oh well. Food for thought /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

smartguyz · Jul 18, 2003

I will pay homage to our buddy Ed Ambrose here. Here's a picture of a cool job he did on his 60" deck to solve the problem of those nasty gauge wheels and get a stripe out of the unit at the same time! Good job, Ed

-Rob

smartguyz · Jul 18, 2003

Here's another pic of Ed's Mod.

bmac · Jul 20, 2003

Maybe Buttenberg will chime in, but I belive he mentioned he was only getting 300-400 hrs of comercial use from his 60" deck before bearing replacement.


Let's see how this may translate for the average homeowner. We'll average Mr. Bubenberg's numbers to get 350 hours. Not knowing how long it takes each individual to mow their property, how about an average of 2 hours? If that is acceptable, then that means about 175 mowings before bearing replacement. I'll assume most folks mow 1 time per week and, for the sake of arguement let's say the average mowing season is 7 months. I know for those up north, this is too generous but, hey, this is just hypothetical anyway. So, 1 mowing per week (or 4 per month) times 7 months is 28 mowings per year. If you take the 175 two hour mowing sessions between bearing failure and divide it by 28 you get 6.25 years out of the bearings before failure.

Now, there may be one or more errors in my logic and/or calculations. But, if my assumptions and math are correct, this does not seem too bad to me. As this was just an exercise for me, I welcome comments and corrections.

johara1 · Jul 20, 2003

i guess if what your say obout mowing 1 hour a week is true, thats why they quit making the old gravleys. they had to mow fields, not manacured lawns.maybe home owners are just as hard on them if not harder than comercal use.those old tractors don't wear out .
the old l8's are used by xmas growers here to cut the trees,they cut a 1/4 of the deck away and put a saw blade on them. now thats a tank

Charlie_Iliff · Jul 20, 2003

they cut a 1/4 of the deck away and put a saw blade on them 

That circular saw was a normally available Gravely attachment. I can't remember if our first one even had a guard, let alone a mower-deck type shield. Tanks they were, and are. We still have a couple, but I don't think we still have an operable saw. I was convinced no one would have the nerve to offer anything like that ever again, for fear of suits, but Country Home Products sells a circular saw for their trimmer, called a beaver blade. Sort of a junior varsity Gravely.

MossRoad · Jul 20, 2003

If you take the 175 two hour mowing sessions between bearing failure and divide it by 28 you get 6.25 years out of the bearings before failure. 

While I agree with you that the bearing failure may take several long years, I think the point the (I'll take the heat for this one /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif) "old timers" are trying to make is, it should last longer. I have a 1969ish Simplicity Yoeman tractor that my dad bought used around 1989 that still has the three original bearings in the 26" mower deck. And these are the permanently sealed type with no grease zerks. 34 years on the same spindles!!! That's incredible. The spindles outlasted the deck. I had to have that welded 3 years ago. It only lasted 31 years /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

And the piece of junk motor only lasted 29 years. I was going to rebuild it but it was cheaper to replace the original 6HP with an 8.5HP. Remember that old Simplicity commercial where the old crabby guy was asked how he liked his Simplicity tractor and he complained, "Every year, change the oil. I never needed my oil changed." /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

johara1 · Jul 21, 2003

mr , you are right,but it takes the same amount of time to cut my grass 2.5 hrs. twice a week some times. don't use turff builder any more,so half the summer is 5 hrs. the rest 2.5, then the snow plow. for 17 years, one belt, one set of blades and one spark plug plus a front tire i ran a bolt through. durability is the key,i then sold it 2500. that is 70% of what i had in it, i hope thi 422 comes close. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Schultz · Jul 21, 2003

One big difference may be that the PT mower and many other new mowers now use relatively high blade speeds. I'll bet if you slowed it down to the same speed as your 69 simplicity they would last a lot longer.

johara1 · Jul 21, 2003

schultz,it was a gravley,1985 12g the main selling feature was the highest tip speed . if you ever get the chance take a look at the spindle on an old gravley you will see why they last.

Schultz · Jul 22, 2003

Well I hope PT is reading these. It seems clear if they offered a "comercial" option with oversized tapered roller bearings on all their decks, they would sell them. It wouldn't be hard, they could OEM a casting from one of the big turf companies, even designing/producing a casting isn't all that bad.

FOURTEEN · Jan 18, 2004

( Hi, Yooper Dave,

My understanding is that, at a minimum, the PT422 and PT425 have the following differences - the PT425 has:

<ul type="square"> [*]Higher-torque wheel motors (Mine had no problems with a full bucket load, and assaulting a 25 degree incline) [*]8" more lift height (Outstanding - I can lift things in and out of the back of a pickup - I haven't tried loading from the side, though) [*]ROPS/Canopy (This is GREAT - I really like that it provides shade, rollover protection, AND "grab bars" for hilly portions) [*]Kohler Command Pro 25 engine (a BIG plus in my book - the PRO also has larger oil and air filters, an oil cooler, a low oil pressure alarm/shutoff, and high-performance plugs.) [/list]

That's a pretty good upgrade, in my book. I'm really glad I purchased the 425. I have put 26.5 hours on it in perhaps 5 days of hard tractoring, using the brush hog, the large bucket, the finish mower, and the power sweeper. I have already done three routine maintenances, changed the engine oil, fixed a loose wheel motor hose, and washed it at least 6 times with detergent, pressure washer and the blower. Awesome machine. The only thing I miss is my bagger, and perhaps I'd like to get the fertilizer spreader and the aerator, but can't justify the mondo-price-tag for those.

I'm one happy guy- and for me, I wouldn't get the 422. I don't think the wheel motors, lower lift, and less-powerful engine would do well for when I'm flogging the thing hard all day long. Just my 2 cents.

Sincerely,

Rob /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

Are you sure about the KOHLER PRO ???

There seems to be some /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif about PRO or not on new PT425!! PT salesman said not, but who knows, and how do I confirm before I buy??

I plan to get a PT425 soon. If I got the PT422, it might be just fine, but I would still probably say: "Gee, what I should have got was ..............." !!

pajoube · Jan 18, 2004

My understanding of the difference between the Kohler Pro and the non Pro is the size of oil filter and air filter. The Pro having the larger of the two. Wen you receive the 425 it states that it is a Pro engine. It comes with the larger (longer) oil filter (Pro). When you do an oil change and follow the manual from PowerTrac it gives the replacement number for the command oil filter (shorter). Actually both filters do the same job, one has engine compartment that is shorter and only the short filter will fit the other (425) will handle either filters.
Kohler also produces a Pro engine that does not have the oil cooler.
This is one tough engine.
PJ

MossRoad · Jan 18, 2004

Call Power Trac at 1-800-THE-YARD and ask them to tell you specifically if it is the COMMAND or the PRO engine. They are usually very helpful on the phone. Tell them you want to confirm it before you buy. If they can't confirm which engine you will get, tell them you won't buy it.

Mine is two years old and it is the COMMAND engine, not the PRO. I knew this before I purchased and am very happy with it so far.

FOURTEEN · Jan 19, 2004

I'm hoping to take the Tour next week. I'll grab someone and won't let go until I have the correct answer!!

I would be willing to pay a little extra for the PRO, but I'll have to take what's in stock since I don't want to make an extra trip.

Why settle for 95%, if 100% is available? Kohler should just make one CH730 with PRO features, or at least give the Command and Command PRO different Model numbers!!

Sorry, but I'm just kind of a perfectionist who finds nothing wrong with wearing a belt with my suspenders!!

smartguyz · Jan 19, 2004

Yes, I am POSITIVE it is the PRO engine. It is labelled PRO, it has the PRO spark plugs, air filter, oil cooler, etc.

-Rob /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

FOURTEEN · Jan 19, 2004

Thanks Rob,

From what I have learned about the qualities of these tractors I won't be surprised if you are correct.

Power Trac doesn't seem like a bunch of "corner cutters" or "good enoughers"!

Take their canopy. I believe that it is welded 3/16" steel plate! My neighbor has a 2003 New Holland TC45D Boomer tractor (NH's biggest, most expensive compact). Last summer he decided to push over a dead 6" pine tree with his FEL. Problem was the pine decided to snap in half instead! The top half fell back on top of the NH! The white PLASTIC canopy took quite a beating and his wife had his pants to clean out and launder, but, luckily, he was not seriously injured. He is thinking about his next tractor having a green welded 3/16" steel plate canopy on it!!!

The NH canopy is just a big soft sun shade. It cantilevers forward from the ROPS which is located well behind the driver. The PT's ROPS is in front of the driver. Of course you would be safer on the NH if a dead pine tree were to sneak up and attack you from the rear!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif