What did you do with your Power Trac today?

[MossRoad]

Show of hands:
How many have rung your bell whacking your head on the canopy getting in or out of the machine?

:knockout:

 

[cqaigy2]

Probably not surprising, but i rung my bell when leaning in to check out something, but it's been awhile since i've whacked my head getting in or out.

 

[woodlandfarms]

When i got my machine i glued on some pipe insulation foam after the first hit. It helped the training period for sure but it is now long since gone and once in a while i still get myself.

 

[ponytug]

Hand up! I wear over the ear hearing protection, and they have saved my skull, and its contents more than a few times. I end up bang the padded metal headband, rather than my skull. (H3, high visibility hearing protection, by Howard Leight. High visibility because I put a different brand down on a tire once and drove off...)

What did my PT do recently? Put the roof back on the well house. It isn't fastened to the walls. (Safety? To keep wind from blowing the walls over? No idea. First time it has come off since we moved here.) I used the forks, and it was a breeze. Regraded the area around the well house, picked up 5cu. yards of leaves from the windstorm (55mph gusts) a few days ago, just from around the garage, and did the usual feeding chores. Next up chipping the downed limbs.

All the best,

Peter

 

[m5040]

I seem to hit my head more when I have a hat with a visor, and I think, good think I had that little bit of cloth and that factory edging. The visor must limit my view and I forget, "bong".

Ponytug it is great to have the PTs around to do the heavy lifting. I would love to see some working pictures if you ever get the chance.

 

[MossRoad]

I agree I bump my head more with a ball cap on. Either the bill of the hat blocks my peripheral vision, or interferes with my spidey sense.

 

[spechols]

Hit it once - very hard!!!!
Have never done it again.
But I bet I will.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Btw. Trimming the orchard and then planted a dozen trees with the post hole digger.

 

[spechols]

That platform if a great idea.
Now I have to build one!

 

[woodlandfarms]

Here’s another pic

 

[spechols]

Love it!
New attachment to make this summer

 

[m5040]

Btw. Trimming the orchard and then planted a dozen trees with the post hole digger.View attachment 684132View attachment 684133

LOVE THAT VIEW!!!!!!!!! How do you get in the basket? Can you control the loader from the basket with that long stick or just a 2nd person? I was pondering that and since I work mostly alone, would need to use controls from basket. (That along with the engineered leakdown... Start at top and work your way down as it creeps)

 

[pokey1416]

These IBC totes work too.

 

[woodlandfarms]

We work together on this as i am not smart enough to remote the tractor. It leaks down for sure. When i work alone with it i set it then climb up the arm and over the back if the basket. It stays for about 5 minutes or so. Enough to change lightbulbs or cut the odd branch. The toats are great except you need to cut a side door or climb over.

 

[SpringHollow]

The high pressure hydraulic needle valves can be used to stop leak down (and also to adjust the speed of cylinder response). I use them when I need to lock a lifted load for an extended period of time.

Ken

 

[ponytug]

Today was clean up after a major windstorm that blew down more than five cubic yards of leaves around the house and garage in big drifts, like snowdrifts. There was also the task of chipping up some wind blown branches that tore off in the storm. It ended up being more than a cubic yard of chips.

One of the great things about the PT is getting the tool where you need it. I also trimmed a plum tree in front of the house, while chipping everything else; chipping tree trimmings as they come off the tree.

All the best,

Peter

 

[spechols]

WOW nice chipper!

 

[ponytug]

WOW nice chipper!

Thanks! It is a Woodmaxx WM8H that I modified to put a PT QA plate on and a hydraulic PTO motor from Surplus Center. The hydraulic circuit for the feed is separate from the PT, and driven off the rotor shaft. I may change that. It does up to 4" dry hardwood no problem, and about 5" or so in softwood, larger if it is green. I intentionally undersized the motor to generate 540rpm at about half throttle, thinking that higher speed might be better for tough jobs. It isn't. In hindsight, perhaps not a great call, but not so bad that I have gone out to buy a replacement motor. I do regret not plumbing in a reverse on the PTO for the inevitable jams, though it only takes a minute or two to do it manually.

I did ask Terry if they would consider making one first, but Power-Trac declined. They said that they had looked at it and thought other people did a good job, and didn't see a niche for them.

All the best,

Peter

 

[m5040]

Great pics. We are debating getting a larger PT, 1445 or 1460 and how they would maneuver in the woods. The 1460 seems very long.

 

[ponytug]

Not having driven the others in woods, I can't really comment, but the specifications aren't that different.

• 1430: 53" wide, 4' 4" turning radius, 65" wheelbase, length not listed on the Power-Trac website
• 1445: 56" wide, 4' 5" turning radius, 74" wheelbase, 121" long
• 1460: 59" wide, 5' 10" turning radius, 82" wheelbase, 134" long

All the best,

Peter