PT-425 PROS & cons??

Barryh · Jun 1, 2006

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

>>>> after reviewing the last few months of postings, I don't see much new - mostly questions which have been already answered, some extensively, before!! <<<<

Ahh common, you love talking about your reversed wheels. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

J_J · Jun 1, 2006

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

If Fourteen ever broke a wheel motor I don't think he would tell us.

It just seems to me that if reversing the wheels is the best way to go , they would come from the factory that way. and they would place a warning placard that moving the wheels in closer will give a thousand more hours of useful life.

Do you all think that if you moved those wheel out another foot that it would be even better.

I am all for safety and stability. Just do what you got to do.

J_J · Jun 1, 2006

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

If Fourteen ever broke a wheel motor I don't think he would tell us.

It just seems to me that if reversing the wheels is the best way to go , they would come from the factory that way. and they would place a warning placard that moving the wheels in closer will give a thousand more hours of useful life.

Do you all think that if you moved those wheel out another foot that it would be even better.

I am all for safety and stability. Just do what you got to do.

KentT · Jun 1, 2006

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

JJ,

People have been adding weight and making wider tractor wheel spacing likely as long as there have been tractors....

Adding 900-1000 pounds of weight to the back of a traditional CUT to offset the loader also puts additional stress on wheel/axle bearings, differentials, transmissions, brakes, etc -- but people have been doing it for decades. Hanging a backhoe off the back or FEL off the front has similar effects, all by themselves. Similarly, spreading the wheels farther apart also increases the stress. But, the manufacturers have even facilitated making the wheels farther apart, by offering wheels that "spin out" and lock down in new locations...

If every tractor, vehicle or machine left the factory in the "optimum" configuration for each individuals' needs, there would be no need for an aftermarket, nor any need for all the modifications that owners perform to them.... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

IMO, the PT factory does what it does:

(1) to minimize the costs of warranty claims and repairs... and,

(2) to give satisfactory service with the existing size of attachments rated for these machines -- for example, if you reverse the wheels they're now wider than the buckets for the T-8 machines, the 48" brush cutter, 48" finish mower, etc.

I may put my wheels back in the stock configuration at some point, but for now I'm taking full advantage of having the wider stance... if my wheel motors get damaged, I'll deal with them then, and likely replace them with higher torque/lower speed versions at the same time....

BTW, Fourteen , it's great to have you back posting again -- you were missed! Hope your new "bionics" have solved any health issues... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

KentT · Jun 1, 2006

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

JJ,

People have been adding weight and making wider tractor wheel spacing likely as long as there have been tractors....

Adding 900-1000 pounds of weight to the back of a traditional CUT to offset the loader also puts additional stress on wheel/axle bearings, differentials, transmissions, brakes, etc -- but people have been doing it for decades. Hanging a backhoe off the back or FEL off the front has similar effects, all by themselves. Similarly, spreading the wheels farther apart also increases the stress. But, the manufacturers have even facilitated making the wheels farther apart, by offering wheels that "spin out" and lock down in new locations...

If every tractor, vehicle or machine left the factory in the "optimum" configuration for each individuals' needs, there would be no need for an aftermarket, nor any need for all the modifications that owners perform to them.... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

IMO, the PT factory does what it does:

(1) to minimize the costs of warranty claims and repairs... and,

(2) to give satisfactory service with the existing size of attachments rated for these machines -- for example, if you reverse the wheels they're now wider than the buckets for the T-8 machines, the 48" brush cutter, 48" finish mower, etc.

I may put my wheels back in the stock configuration at some point, but for now I'm taking full advantage of having the wider stance... if my wheel motors get damaged, I'll deal with them then, and likely replace them with higher torque/lower speed versions at the same time....

BTW, Fourteen , it's great to have you back posting again -- you were missed! Hope your new "bionics" have solved any health issues... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

tracdoc · Jun 1, 2006

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Hi FOURTEEN,

It's great to see you back on the Forum. Best wishes to you and the Mrs.

I have likewise not experienced any difficulties with the reversed wheel configuration. I measured the "track" before I switched (outside tire contact edge on one side to outside contact edge on the opposite side, with bar tires) and it was 46". After the switch, it increased to 52" as a result of inverting from a positive wheel offset to a negative wheel offset by 3" per wheel.

While a 6" track widening is not a huge change, I really appreciate it on hills, and in the woods especially. I've also eliminated the grass choke between the left front tire and the tub when mowing. I can see where wheel reversal would pose a problem for the 48" mower in trying to get close to edges and such, but not for any other implements that I have used.

I would hazard a guess that there might be more "closet wheel reversers" out there, and that as members of a wonderful, collegial group, we would share the negative as well as the positive. Next thing you know, we might hear from Charlie Iliff telling us that HE reversed his wheels! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

tracdoc · Jun 1, 2006

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Hi FOURTEEN,

It's great to see you back on the Forum. Best wishes to you and the Mrs.

I have likewise not experienced any difficulties with the reversed wheel configuration. I measured the "track" before I switched (outside tire contact edge on one side to outside contact edge on the opposite side, with bar tires) and it was 46". After the switch, it increased to 52" as a result of inverting from a positive wheel offset to a negative wheel offset by 3" per wheel.

While a 6" track widening is not a huge change, I really appreciate it on hills, and in the woods especially. I've also eliminated the grass choke between the left front tire and the tub when mowing. I can see where wheel reversal would pose a problem for the 48" mower in trying to get close to edges and such, but not for any other implements that I have used.

I would hazard a guess that there might be more "closet wheel reversers" out there, and that as members of a wonderful, collegial group, we would share the negative as well as the positive. Next thing you know, we might hear from Charlie Iliff telling us that HE reversed his wheels! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Phils · Jun 1, 2006

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

I'd reverse mine immediately if it would still fit in the back of my pickup. That's the only "down" side that I see.

Phil

Phils · Jun 1, 2006

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

I'd reverse mine immediately if it would still fit in the back of my pickup. That's the only "down" side that I see.

Phil

MossRoad · Jun 1, 2006

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

I'm sticking with J_J on this one... do what you want with the machine, it is yours to use as you see fit... however, be prepared to repair it when it breaks from using it for things it was not designed to be used for.

That is the beauty of the PT design. Slap some more steel on it, modifiy it to your heart's content, play with it and get it to be the machine you want it to be. Just don't whine when you break it. Document the failure, share the experience, get made fun of a bit(good natured, of course), rethink your design or application, rework it and try again.

I really think the lot of us PT owners have some crazed scientist bottled up inside. That's why we all enjoy these machines and experimenting on them so much. Igor, pass the wrenches!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

MossRoad · Jun 1, 2006

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

I'm sticking with J_J on this one... do what you want with the machine, it is yours to use as you see fit... however, be prepared to repair it when it breaks from using it for things it was not designed to be used for.

That is the beauty of the PT design. Slap some more steel on it, modifiy it to your heart's content, play with it and get it to be the machine you want it to be. Just don't whine when you break it. Document the failure, share the experience, get made fun of a bit(good natured, of course), rethink your design or application, rework it and try again.

I really think the lot of us PT owners have some crazed scientist bottled up inside. That's why we all enjoy these machines and experimenting on them so much. Igor, pass the wrenches!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

KentT · Jun 1, 2006

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

( I'm sticking with J_J on this one... do what you want with the machine, it is yours to use as you see fit... however, be prepared to repair it when it breaks from using it for things it was not designed to be used for.
)

Does that include backhoes on PT-425s? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

KentT · Jun 1, 2006

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

( I'm sticking with J_J on this one... do what you want with the machine, it is yours to use as you see fit... however, be prepared to repair it when it breaks from using it for things it was not designed to be used for.
)

Does that include backhoes on PT-425s? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Barryh · Jun 1, 2006

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Well, I guess I'm on the fence for a while on this one. I also have to consider the smaller wheel motors of the 180.

I'm sure the 425 also has a beefier wheel motor, shaft, and bearings. Do the 422 and 180 have the same wheel motors?

Barryh · Jun 1, 2006

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Well, I guess I'm on the fence for a while on this one. I also have to consider the smaller wheel motors of the 180.

I'm sure the 425 also has a beefier wheel motor, shaft, and bearings. Do the 422 and 180 have the same wheel motors?

MuncyBob · Jun 1, 2006

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

( Igor,
pass the wrenches!!!!

)

Will that be a 1 13/16" master? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

MuncyBob · Jun 1, 2006

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

( Igor,
pass the wrenches!!!!

)

Will that be a 1 13/16" master? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

bbabineau · Jun 1, 2006

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

MR, by the looks of the front/back hoe that you are building, you may want to consider /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif reversing your wheels to gain a bit more stability. I think there are a few people who know how to do it and can give you some advice when the time comes.

bbabineau · Jun 1, 2006

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

MR, by the looks of the front/back hoe that you are building, you may want to consider /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif reversing your wheels to gain a bit more stability. I think there are a few people who know how to do it and can give you some advice when the time comes.

KentT · Jun 1, 2006

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

( Well, I guess I'm on the fence for a while on this one. I also have to consider the smaller wheel motors of the 180.

I'm sure the 425 also has a beefier wheel motor, shaft, and bearings. Do the 422 and 180 have the same wheel motors?

)
I'm not sure, but I think the 422s have the same White wheel motors that were used on the older 425s like mine and MossRoad's... the newer 425s have different, higher-torque wheel motors. I think FOURTEEN's 425 is one with the newer wheel motors, yet he still has the Kohler engine, unless I'm mistaken...

I don't know what the PT-180 uses.... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif