REAL Brakes For Your PT-425
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MossRoad
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Those look to be drum brakes that are on the outside of the motor, operated by a cable or linkage. The literature says they can be retrofitted onto older machines. Is that the way you read it, too?
Bob999
Platinum Member
<font color="red"> Those look to be drum brakes that are on the outside of the motor, operated by a cable or linkage. The literature says they can be retrofitted onto older machines. Is that the way you read it, too?
</font>
Because the literature says the drum brakes are integral to the wheel motor I interpret the language about retrofit to mean that a new wheel motor with integral brake can be retrofitted where a White wheel motor without brake was previously used.
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Because the literature says the drum brakes are integral to the wheel motor I interpret the language about retrofit to mean that a new wheel motor with integral brake can be retrofitted where a White wheel motor without brake was previously used.
OP
SnowRidge
Elite Member
<font color="blue"> Those look to be drum brakes that are on the outside of the motor, operated by a cable or linkage. The literature says they can be retrofitted onto older machines. Is that the way you read it, too? </font>
Yep. The current motor can be had for around $310 -- $330, depending on where you shop. I suspect the brake equipped motor, which has a slightly different housing, would be somewhat more -- perhaps as much as $400 from the same sources. Of course, if one put them only on the rear and left the parking brakes as is on the front, it would only cost about $800, plus the expense of the cable brake pedal setup.
On the other hand, you would have a couple of spare wheel motors.
Yep. The current motor can be had for around $310 -- $330, depending on where you shop. I suspect the brake equipped motor, which has a slightly different housing, would be somewhat more -- perhaps as much as $400 from the same sources. Of course, if one put them only on the rear and left the parking brakes as is on the front, it would only cost about $800, plus the expense of the cable brake pedal setup.
On the other hand, you would have a couple of spare wheel motors.
Rip
Platinum Member
Good find.... those would give the smaller machines true emergency service brakes. Would sure be a nice safety feature for those operating on steep terrain. Are these the same series motors used on current or recent PT 422/425 models?
A generic dash/floor 90 degree hand lever would probably work for activation, and as you mentioned, just two of them in the rear would be a significant improvement over the stock set-up.
A generic dash/floor 90 degree hand lever would probably work for activation, and as you mentioned, just two of them in the rear would be a significant improvement over the stock set-up.
OP
SnowRidge
Elite Member
<font color="blue"> Are these the same series motors used on current or recent PT 422/425 models? </font>
Yes. I just installed a new (non-brake) motor on the right rear of my PT-425. The White part number is 400230W3122AAAAA. I believe the brake equipped motor would be the same, except K31 instead of W31.
But <font color="red"> please</font>, anyone ordering one verify that number first.
Yes. I just installed a new (non-brake) motor on the right rear of my PT-425. The White part number is 400230W3122AAAAA. I believe the brake equipped motor would be the same, except K31 instead of W31.
But <font color="red"> please</font>, anyone ordering one verify that number first.
MossRoad
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I think I would want brakes on the front wheels, not the rear. Just because when you have weight on the FEL arms the rears don't have as much traction. Compound that with going downhill in an uncontrollable coast(which is why we are so concerned about brakes, anyway, right?), the rears would have very little stopping power, unless you were going downhill backwards... I think /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
OP
SnowRidge
Elite Member
<font color="blue">I think I would want brakes on the front wheels, not the rear. Just because when you have weight on the FEL arms the rears don't have as much traction. Compound that with going downhill in an uncontrollable coast(which is why we are so concerned about brakes, anyway, right?), the rears would have very little stopping power, unless you were going downhill backwards... I think </font>
But if they were on the front, and you had a heavy bucket load, might not front brakes cause you to tip forward, possibly bringing the rears off of the ground?
Perhaps we need four wheel brakes. $ /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif $ /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif $ /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
But if they were on the front, and you had a heavy bucket load, might not front brakes cause you to tip forward, possibly bringing the rears off of the ground?
Perhaps we need four wheel brakes. $ /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif $ /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif $ /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
MossRoad
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That's exactly my point. If the tractor tips forward the rears come off the ground and are useless. The pivot point is the front wheels and they are in contact with the ground more than the real wheels in just about all situations.
Anyway, I don't feel the need for brakes on the PT400 series. The only time I'd use them were if the tractor were to run away, and then, since I never practice using them, I would probably forget about them in a panic and just try to dump the bucket for brakes.
However, on new model PT400s I wonder if these new motors with brakes could double as parking brakes? If so, that may be a good option for PT to consider. It would add cost to the unit, but it wouldn't be that much.
Anyway, I don't feel the need for brakes on the PT400 series. The only time I'd use them were if the tractor were to run away, and then, since I never practice using them, I would probably forget about them in a panic and just try to dump the bucket for brakes.
However, on new model PT400s I wonder if these new motors with brakes could double as parking brakes? If so, that may be a good option for PT to consider. It would add cost to the unit, but it wouldn't be that much.
OP
SnowRidge
Elite Member
If I had my druthers, I would have forward and reverse on a single heel and toe pedal on the right side, much like the hydro CUTs and some of the better lawn tractors, and a separate dedicated brake pedal. The brake equipped motors would permit this sort of arrangement, and PT could get rid of the current parking brake setup, which seems to satisfy no one.
The brake pedal could be on either side, but there would probably be more room on the left. I have a hydro lawn tractor with a combined brake/clutch pedal on the left, and it works surprisingly well. From my experience, it doesn't matter where the brake pedal is located, so long as the same action always results in stopping the beast. Its use simply becomes instinctive.
I dislike the current PT pedal setup. Since I don't plan on ever operating mine sitting sidesaddle under ground, I don't see it as the optimum arrangement. I'll grant that it gives superb maneuverability, but I think it does it at the expense of safety. It is far too easy for someone to get in trouble and stomp the wrong pedal.
The PT two pedal setup makes sense for the sideways seating on the mine trams that must operate bidirectionaly. To me, it makes little sense out in the daylight.
There, that oughta stir 'em up. --> /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
The brake pedal could be on either side, but there would probably be more room on the left. I have a hydro lawn tractor with a combined brake/clutch pedal on the left, and it works surprisingly well. From my experience, it doesn't matter where the brake pedal is located, so long as the same action always results in stopping the beast. Its use simply becomes instinctive.
I dislike the current PT pedal setup. Since I don't plan on ever operating mine sitting sidesaddle under ground, I don't see it as the optimum arrangement. I'll grant that it gives superb maneuverability, but I think it does it at the expense of safety. It is far too easy for someone to get in trouble and stomp the wrong pedal.
The PT two pedal setup makes sense for the sideways seating on the mine trams that must operate bidirectionaly. To me, it makes little sense out in the daylight.
There, that oughta stir 'em up. --> /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
