PT-425 PROS & cons??

BobRip · Nov 23, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

I just measured the hydraulic coolant fan running current on my 422. It pulls about 5.5 amps with the engine off.

FOURTEEN · Nov 28, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Con: Tire Valve Failure

At 171 hours I just had my first tire valve failure. While clearing brush and deadfalls the PT seemed to lose power and began to handle strangely. The right rear tire was flat (only on the bottom)! I limped back to the Morton, and found that the inside tire valve was missing. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

After finding two garages closed for the holiday, I located one open for business. For $5.oo the owner welded the valve hole closed, and touched up the paint!! That fixed that, permanently!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

PS: The PT-425 with the Grapple Bucket, and Bar Tires on Reversed Wheels, is absolutely amazing in the woods! Nothing stops it! Not sticks, logs, stumps, water, mud, hills, ditches, bushes, vines, holes, whatever, all while barely leaving a tire track!! It grabs huge pills of brush! It lifts logs in the center, or at the end, or by the tip with equal ease! It snakes around trees like at an Olympic slalom! Carries large logs zigzag between trees that are spaced closer together than the length of the logs!! It pulls long large logs lengthwise out of tight places by just gripping them with one fang! It rakes the forest floor! It feeds and tends the fire! Really, it is a sight to behold!!!! Safe, stable, powerful, agile, fast, FUN!!!!

PowerTrom425 · Nov 28, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

me thinks he likes his grapple bucket /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

pequeajim · Nov 28, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Hey Fourteen. You need to use this for your thuimbs down...

BobRip · Nov 29, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Amen to the Grapple Bucket comments.

FOURTEEN · Nov 29, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

"" You need to use this for your thuimbs down...

""

Good idea!! But, as a PT owner, I would have little reason to ever use it!!!!
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

"" Amen to the Grapple Bucket comments. ""

Thanks!! But how about that quick, cheap, permanent Tire Valve Repair??

pequeajim · Nov 29, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

(
But, as a PT owner, I would have little reason to ever use it!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
)

So true... sooooooo true... I love a little green in my life.. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

FOURTEEN · Dec 6, 2004

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

CON: Valve Stem Rip Out

Problem: The wheels on the PT-425 have Tire Valve Stems on both sides of the rim. The inward Tire Valve Stems are subject to damage by debris which often results in flat tires!

Since I am doing a lot of woods work with my Grapple Bucket, and so far have ripped two inward side Tire Valve Stems out of the wheels, I have now welded the inside Tire Valve Stem holes closed on all four wheels, and rely upon the outward side Tire Valve Stems for pressure maintenance.

FOURTEEN · Feb 12, 2005

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

CON: Rollover and Rod on the Lift Arms Bent and Broke!

PRO: Bigger and Better!

Problem: Last July the Rollover and Rod on the Lift Arms of my PT-425 (built 2/4) bent about 1/4" in the center. Over time it bent an additional 1/4" and a 1/16" crack appeared in the sleeve near one of the center welds. Upon disassembly I discovered that the sleeve had completely broken in half!

Solution: In 8/4 I called Power Trac about the problem and was told that it would be covered by warranty. I could bring the PT-425 to Tazewell (still better than China!

), or remove the lift arms and ship those to Tazewell for repair. But with so much work to do I could not do either until Winter.

In 1/5 with the end of my warranty fast approaching, I requested that Power Trac ship me just the Rollover and Rod. I ground out the lift arm welds with my 4-1/2" side grinder, had the new Rod welded in place at my local welding shop for $20, ground the new welds to a pleasant shape, and repainted the arms. Better than new! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Picture

The better than new is that Power Trac enlarged the sleeve assembly of the Rollover! The Rod is still 1-1/4" OD, but the sleeve has been increased from 1-3/4"OD to 2"OD! Increasing the sleeve wall thickness by 50% from 1/4" to 3/8" should significantly stiffen the assembly, and hopefully lessen the likelihood of bending the new Rollover!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

dbetts · Feb 12, 2005

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Same thing happened to me last summer/fall Terry just sent me a new assembly as well and I had it welded on. I was digging with the mini hoe when I finally snapped the 1-1/4 shaft in two. I still have the old broken arm/sleeve assembly, I thought I might get a new pipe and grind out the old one and have a new one welded into place...just for a spare. db

FOURTEEN · Feb 12, 2005

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Did you get the 2"OD Sleeve?? Any further problems?? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

dbetts · Feb 12, 2005

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

I didn't measure it but I will. I've had no more problems but I've not done as much with it since then. I did dig a 2-1/2 ft deep 20 ft long trench through rock and clay today without problems. I had done alot of lifting stumps, burning brush, moving logs around as well as alot of digging with it prior to it breaking. That was October I think, and it's done great since.db

FOURTEEN · Mar 19, 2005

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

(
Any further problems?? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif )

The comments in this thread refer primarily to my PT-425 built in February 2004 with the Kohler engine.

However, many are also applicable to newer versions. The best tire pressures for the PT-425, for example, are still 7# rear and 11# front!

MossRoad · Mar 19, 2005

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

How many feet above sea level? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

FOURTEEN · Mar 19, 2005

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

BOTH!!

MossRoad · Mar 19, 2005

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Ha ha ha ha ha... Good morning, Fourteen! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

FOURTEEN · Mar 19, 2005

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

For cheap, effective, neat looking PTO Hydraulic Coupling Covers, it is hard to beat Zip-Lock Snack Bags (6.5" x 3.25")!!

Cut off one short side. Slide the bag over the coupling and onto the round bracket with the zipper facing down. A little oil on the bracket inside the bag will hold the bag in place, make a dirt and water resistant seal, and make the bag nearly invisible!! If you lose one, so what, they only cost pennies a piece!!

If you are on a really tight budget, cut each bag in half crosswise and make two bags out of one!!

stray · Mar 19, 2005

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Good to here from you 14. Misted you there for awhile. Do you have a picture you can post of that?

FOURTEEN · Mar 24, 2005

Re: PT-425 PROS & cons??

Looks like I am getting famous, or is that infamous!!??!! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

http://www.mortonbuildings.com/DsgnSpot/GaryKiefer/GaryKiefer.shtm