PT-425 PROS & cons??

stray · Sep 28, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Sounds Good 14. I some how get the idea that you would rather push than pull. Now go out there and get the mesurement from the mounting bolts of the Rop to the very top of the ROP. LOL If you get time, fill like it and would please.

P.S I have always liked you ideas. I did reverse my stump grinder and would not have it any other way.

FOURTEEN · Oct 16, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Con: Scalp Damage!

Problem: Occasionally when entering or leaving the driver's seat my scalp will unexpectedly contact the bottom edge of the ROPS Canopy, sometimes resulting in partial scalp removal, pain, and suffering!!

Solution: I have installed 1/2" Pipe Foam Insulation which has a soft 3/8" wall thickness! The insulation is split on one side and slid over the bottom edges of the ROPS Canopy and OEM plastic edging!!
Cost ~$1! Time ~10 minutes!

stray · Oct 16, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Great idea 14. My home made Rop doesn’t have the plastic edging so I thought I might split some ½ inch air hose and install it. My head is getting sore too!!

FOURTEEN · Oct 17, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

One or the other, unless you actually enjoy cussing!! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

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FOURTEEN · Oct 27, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Wheel Motor Covers

Problem: The wheel motor frames on the PT-425 are open at the top, and allow dirt, stones, grass, or mulch to pack around the tops of the wheel motors. This is not only unsightly, particularly with reversed wheels, and difficult to clean out, but can reduce motor heat dissipation.

Solution: Install Wheel Motor Covers.

Procedure:
(1) Cut sheet metal into 4 rectangular plates each about 7” x 3”.
(2) Bend the plates to fit snugly over the housing by about 1/4” at each end.
(3) Drill 2 holes in the plates about 5-3/8” apart so as to align with the inside vertical edges of the housing.
(4) Slid the plates into position under the hydraulic hose fittings.
(5) Install #8 x 1” sheet metal screws in the plate holes. The screws will press along the sides of the housing to hold the plates in position and prevent rattling.
(6) Paint the plates, screws, and hose fittings black.

stray · Oct 27, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

A nice simple job 14. Looks like a good idea.

BobRip · Oct 27, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Does all of the dirt come from above? I wonder if a lot may push from below. Keep us updated on how much better they stay clean. I just pulled my wheels to do such touch up painting for the parade and found a lot of mud. I have my own swamp out back and have learned a lot about geeting stuck and unstuck.

Nice idea and very simple. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Oh!, do the motors really require cooling. I wouldl guess that the hydraulic oil takes heat away with it much faster that dissipation in the motor. I am only guessing, and am not an expert in this subject.

BobRip · Oct 27, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

The 22 horse power Robin engine is good for 15 amps. The 425 is probably a little bit more, but I don't have data. If it is rated like most alternators this is at high engine revs. 55 watt lights pull about 4 amps each at 14 volts. I don't know what the fan pulls, but this could be a problem if you run three lights and the fan. Also if you run at idle the battery will discharge since alternator output goes down at lower revs. I put four switches under the ROPS and can control each light separately. I also have a strobe light on top of the ROPS. In addition I use a SureCare battery maintainer which I plug into the cigarette lighter outlet which I added on the side of the console. The SureCare is available from Northern Tools for about $20. It does some sophisticated stuff which should extend battery life. Lead acid batteries like to be kept fully charged so I think that typical tractor use (unused for days and run down by accessories) is a good idea.

tracdoc · Oct 28, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

FOURTEEN,

I like the nice clean, straightforward approach to the top covers for the wheel motors. Did you do this on all four?

I find that using the finish mower, most of the grass accumulation occurs "bottom-to-top" in the LEFT front wheel motor. This is the result of the direction of spin of the mower blades, and the fact that the finish mower is front discharge. I am afraid that on at least that wheel, a cover might predispose to compaction of clippings. Any suggestions?

pajoube · Oct 28, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

They must have changed the discharge on the finish mower since I bought mine. My finish mower discharges from the rear.
PJ

J_J · Oct 28, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Do you have a picture of your finish mower. I have never seen a front discharge mower.

FOURTEEN · Oct 28, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Yes, I installed identical covers on all four wheel motors.

When there is mud outside, /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif my PT stays inside!! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

The covers are easily removed for periodic inspection, should that be desired.

There is no need to fabricate bottom covers! The wheel motors come OEM with welded steel plates covering the bottom of the wheel motor housing except for a 1/4" slot at each end! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I do not own a mower deck, but, perhaps, a skirt made of rubber floor mat material, or sheet metal, could be installed across the discharge area to create a 'mulching mower' to solve some of these problems, and mulch the clippings at the same time! For about 45 years I have been using this method to build mulching mowers. Actually, I was using a homemade 'mulching mower' long before they were commercially available!! Although I have lived surrounded by forests for the last 30 years, I have never raked grass clippings or leaves! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

PS: The PT mower deck apparently is referred to as front discharge because the discharge is right 'in front' of tracdoc when he is sitting on his PT!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

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tracdoc · Oct 28, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

The discharge area of the 48" finish mower in in the front of the deck. See attached pic of same Click Here

As I understand it, this is a true Front discharge mower, not just so-named because of the operator's position relative to the deck. It is just the same as the PT brush hog. Moss Road spoke to this front discharge in a thread earlier this year ( Just for clarification, the 48" brush hog on our PT425 is FRONT discharge. #417244 - 04/28/04 01:07 PM)

The pic pretty well shows a heavy skirt on both sides and the entire REAR of the mower. The cutaway is in FRONT, i.e., the mower spits out forward. Because of the direction of rotation of the blades, clippings that are not spit out front, get carried 'round to the operator's left front wheel where they tend to accumulate. The PT brush hog design looks the same, with the cutaway in front of the deck, not behind. I read somewhere else that a front discharge design is favored in a FMM basically as a safety feature to minimize flying debris coming at the operator like a schrapnel blast. In a RMM, it's the opposite, and in a MMM side discharge is favored.

Do you think I could install a heavy rubber skirt along the front cutaway of the finish mower w/o running the risk of clogging?

J_J · Oct 28, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

The cutout on the front of the mower is not designed to eject clippings. A lot of mowers have this cut out to allow grasses and weeds to be cut without being folded over. My 60 in Dixie Chopper has a similar cutout on the front and has an adapter to close this area and make it a full mulching mower.
On tall grasses like Bahia, you have to cut slow, or you will leave some stragglers . A lot of the cuttings will come back and cover the deck with clippings.

FOURTEEN · Oct 29, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Relax, tracdoc!!! Just kidding!!

As I said, I don't own a mower deck, but I couldn't help but jump in with a little /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif !!

Concerning the PT-425 'brush hog', which I do own since 2/4, mine has large cutouts FRONT AND REAR!!!! I have been thinking about adding a skirt at least to the rear, but have been too busy with more pressing projects!!
There is the possibility that a long or light weight skirt could be pushed back into the blades, which isn't a problem when added one to a side discharge mower. Maybe a steel plate would be better!??!
For the rear of my brush cutter I have been considering maybe a flat horizontal guard of metal or plywood mounted to the top of the deck that would extend back far enough to direct clippings or more dangerous missiles downward rather than allowing them to be pitched upward toward the operator, front shelf or wheels of the PT! This would also give more operator protection when using the brush cutter in the raised tilted position. Some muddy day I'll do some physical experimentation to see what can be done!

" risk of clogging? "

Clogging has not been a problem for me, but I only mow when it's dry.

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MossRoad · Oct 29, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

My 60" mower discharges to the rear. The left front wheel motor gets lots of clippings built up on it. The clippings get in from the gap between the tire and the unit, as well as through the hole in the unit where the hydraulic motor and hoses are connected. I just hit it with the leaf blower after each mowing and all is well. I think reversing the wheels would allow more clippings to get in to the motor area, but it would also allow more clippings to get out, and be easier to clean with the leaf blower.

Anywho, the mower is rear discharge and from the operator's viewpoint the blades rotate clockwise ** so the clippings tend to go from right to left. Which brings up the point that in heavy grass or high ground speed travel a windrow usually comes off the right rear corner of the mower deck.

**EDIT: See below! Thanks Ed! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

eambrose · Nov 1, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Hey David

The blades spin clockwise the 60 inch deck for my old 425 - that would move the grass left to right from the operators view. I closed the open front on my deck because I wanted vacuum action as I fitted the unit with a vacuum. Also, I just didn't like to leave it open.

Anyway - just thought I would comment - did PT change the blade rotation on different units?

MossRoad · Nov 1, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

DOH!!! The blades do spin clockwise!!! Sorry for the mis-information. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I edited the post(I can do that /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif)

Thanks, Ed. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

tracdoc · Nov 1, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

( DOH!!! The blades do spin clockwise!!! Sorry for the mis-information. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif )

Good grief MR! This is confusing. I'm still trying to figure it out on my deck. My head is spinning, but I can't tell whether it's CW or CCW, 'cause I'm so dizzy.

( I closed the open front on my deck because I wanted vacuum action as I fitted the unit with a vacuum. Also, I just didn't like to leave it open. )

Hi eambrose,
How did you close the front of your deck? Do you have pics, or is it covered in an earlier thread?