Some PT-425 videos

[KentT]

Though not as dramatic as MR's videos, I thought I'd share some that my son took of my PT-425 in use last week.

With a 10X zoom, he safely took these brush-cutter clips:

YouTube - Power Trac 48" Brush Cutter

YouTube - Power Trac 48" Brush Cutter #2

YouTube - Power Trac 48" Brush Cutter #3

And, a short one of using the grapple bucket:

YouTube - Power Trac Grapple Bucket

Here's a few pictures of the ongoing cleanup project (the page is still in progress):

June 2007

 

[MossRoad]

Hey, those bar tires and reversed wheels would make fourteen proud!!!

Nice to see videos from other users. You have raised the bar and I will need to respond this summer!!!

Looks like a I saw a little wheel lift there. You push down on the joystick and get stopped before float?

 

[MossRoad]

And the grapple video was sweet! That video really shows how in one bite you can pick up and move a large pile of debris that would take several trips with a wheelbarrow. And it also shows how quickly the PT can get in, grab and get out by being able to travel forward AND reverse at decent speeds. Going backwards with a load is about as safe as it gets. Nicely illustrated.

 

[KentT]

Hey, those bar tires and reversed wheels would make fourteen proud!!!

Nice to see videos from other users. You have raised the bar and I will need to respond this summer!!!

Looks like a I saw a little wheel lift there. You push down on the joystick and get stopped before float?

LOL, you saw my "sloppy technique" there...

Yes, I was slow getting it into float when setting it down after I'd lifted it to pull it back up the bank. On this bumpy ground, given the long joystick, I basically had to keep it pushed into float all the time...

I didn't recall seeing a video of the grapple bucket in operation, so I thought that one, at least would be of possible value. As I said, your brush-cutter videos blow these away...

 

[KentT]

When sorting through all the photos Eli took, as I work on the project webpage (linked above), I ran across two more video clips of the brush cutter.

YouTube - Power Trac 48" Brush Cutter #4

YouTube - Power Trac 48" Brush Cutter #5

Clip #5 above shows not only my ongoing incompetence with the float function, I guess I should spend more time using the PT, since this was my first major use of the brush cutter...

It also illustrates the poor performance of my wheel motors, on my second trip up the slope especially... Listen to the engine almost completely bog down -- I'd have to lift and carry the mower up the slope...

 

[BobRip]

It also illustrates the poor performance of my wheel motors, on my second trip up the slope especially... Listen to the engine almost completely bog down -- I'd have to lift and carry the mower up the slope...

What was the slope (dregrees). It did not seem all that steep.

 

[KentT]

What was the slope (dregrees). It did not seem all that steep.

Don't know, Bob, since I don't have an inclinometer. This picture, at the left border, shows almost the exact spot I was trying to climb in that video:

I was climbing up between the stump and the leaning maple sapling shown in this picture:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1358/694518084_d6a7a4ad91.jpg

 

[MossRoad]

Yeah, I could hear that. A few times I saw the wheels spinning and saw that you picked up the implement an inch or two to put the weight on the front wheels for better traction. That is good technique. But there comes a point when the unit has good traction and can no longer push up the hill with the brush hog running. At that point, you are out of power. If you turn the implement off, can you then climb that hill? I have experienced that in a couple places on my property. I end up attacking those going downhill, or leave them to future planting of ground cover, never to be mowed again.

Sure beats clearing by hand, though, doesn't it?

 

[KentT]

If you turn the implement off, can you then climb that hill? I have experienced that in a couple places on my property. I end up attacking those going downhill, or leave them to future planting of ground cover, never to be mowed again.

Sure beats clearing by hand, though, doesn't it?

Yes, it will climb the slope without the PTO running, but barely... I also took some circuituous routes to mow down-hill. Some places are so steep that it doesn't want to mow it very well going around the slope -- it'll crab pretty significantly, trying to push the mower, and I have to really steer uphill to keep it on the slope, though I don't think I'm in any danger of tipping over. I also had problems trying to climb that same slope with a grapple bucket full of wet, heavy mulch, so I'd take the long route and come down from the top....

And, yes, it sure beats doing it by hand. In some places, I went around the perimeter poking the mower into the woods between the trees, and waggling as needed to trim close -- I used it like a big weed-whacker. Some areas are so steep that I didn't feel confident that I'd be able to back up the slope out of the woods, so I avoided those...

I'm anxious to get the new 22.7 ci wheel motors installed. With twice the torque, I should be able to climb about any slope that I can get traction on...

Now if I can only figure out a good way to keep it in float...

 

[J_J]

Yes, it will climb the slope without the PTO running, but barely... I also took some circuituous routes to mow down-hill. Some places are so steep that it doesn't want to mow it very well going around the slope -- it'll crab pretty significantly, trying to push the mower, and I have to really steer uphill to keep it on the slope, though I don't think I'm in any danger of tipping over. I also had problems trying to climb that same slope with a grapple bucket full of wet, heavy mulch, so I'd take the long route and come down from the top....

And, yes, it sure beats doing it by hand. In some places, I went around the perimeter poking the mower into the woods between the trees, and waggling as needed to trim close -- I used it like a big weed-whacker. Some areas are so steep that I didn't feel confident that I'd be able to back up the slope out of the woods, so I avoided those...

I'm anxious to get the new 22.7 ci wheel motors installed. With twice the torque, I should be able to climb about any slope that I can get traction on...

Now if I can only figure out a good way to keep it in float...

Have you taken the valve apart to see if there is any crud in the detent? If you don't want to do that, a bungee pulling the stick forward would probably help.

 

[KentT]

Have you taken the valve apart to see if there is any crud in the detent? If you don't want to do that, a bungee pulling the stick forward would probably help.

No, I haven't opened up the valve. It will click into float, but just from bouncing over rough ground the weight of the long, curved joystick seems to pull it back out of float. It's not a problem with loader work, for example, because you're only in float for a short period of time. But, when mowing you're in float as the normal mode of operation... and it just doesn't seem to want to stay there all by itself.

I need to do something, because I ended up having to hold it into float just to make sure it stayed there. That's a PITA when you're working on slopes where you'd really rather be holding onto the ROPS with that right hand...

 

[BobRip]

No, I haven't opened up the valve. It will click into float, but just from bouncing over rough ground the weight of the long, curved joystick seems to pull it back out of float. It's not a problem with loader work, for example, because you're only in float for a short period of time. But, when mowing you're in float as the normal mode of operation... and it just doesn't seem to want to stay there all by itself.

I need to do something, because I ended up having to hold it into float just to make sure it stayed there. That's a PITA when you're working on slopes where you'd really rather be holding onto the ROPS with that right hand...

Did you see my solution for this, a bungee strap (rubber truck one) and a homemade block of wood? I am very pleased with how well this works. It's easy to use and easy to disable. See attachments.

 

[J_J]

Bob, Is your detent not working?

 

[BobRip]

Bob, Is your detent not working?

It's very weak and pops out of detent with a little bouncing. There is an upgrade kit, but it was about $60 (if memory serves me).

 

[KentT]

Did you see my solution for this, a bungee strap (rubber truck one) and a homemade block of wood? I am very pleased with how well this works. It's easy to use and easy to disable. See attachments.

I probably did, but had forgotten about it...

Thanks!

Cheap, simple solutions are my favorites...

 

[Red Zebra]

I'm anxious to get the new 22.7 ci wheel motors installed. With twice the torque, I should be able to climb about any slope that I can get traction on...

Do you have an older 425? Are you referring to the motors used in the newer 425s?

 

[kmaz]

Hey Kent, if you look up past threads under my name...look for "pt 425 mods" and youll find pictures of what i did. A simple knob that either locks you in an d can also lock you out of float with a simple half turn.
Kris

 

[KentT]

Do you have an older 425? Are you referring to the motors used in the newer 425s?

My PT-425 was bought in December 2000. It has White RS series 12.5ci wheel motors. The new PT-425s have White CE series 14.3 ci wheel motors, as best I can tell.

I think the new PT-422 still uses the 12.5ci motors, but I'm not sure.

I'm putting Char-Lynn 22.7ci motors in it -- theoretically it will have roughly twice the torque and half the speed of the motors I have in it now. The White CE 14.3 ci motors in the new PT 425s supposedly have 40% more torque than my motors -- I'm going for 100% more torque. I don't need speed on my hillsides -- but I do need power to climb those hills. Once my house is built, almost my entire remaining property will have at least 15 degree grades, and some of it much steeper -- simply too steep to put a machine on...

 

[KentT]

Hey Kent, if you look up past threads under my name...look for "pt 425 mods" and youll find pictures of what i did. A simple knob that either locks you in an d can also lock you out of float with a simple half turn.
Kris

That looks neat, but I can't figure out how 1/2 turn would do it -- do you push it in and twist it to lock it, or something like that?

 

[kmaz]

That looks neat, but I can't figure out how 1/2 turn would do it -- do you push it in and twist it to lock it, or something like that?

Hey kent, i didnt anticipate it working as smoothly as it does either. The key is precise placement of the drilled and tapped hole. The threaded star knob is just shy of touching the steel block mounted on the underside of the joystick when its not being used. When you want to lock yourself in float simply push the joystick to float , turn knob a half turn and it cant come out of float because theres a bolt in the way.

Kris