Buying Advice What you should have ordered from PT

PTWannaHave · Nov 27, 2014

Hello all,

Trying to glean from the collective wisdom... I am preparing to order a 1430 in the new year, and I have started compiling a list of 'requests' that I'd like to make from PT... They might say No or charge too much, but might say Yes with reasonable cost and make the ownership experience that much better.

So far on my list:

replace casters of brush hog with ones from landscape rake
change hydraulic couplers to another brand/style (I plan to have a couple skidsteer implements)
not same-*** couplers on implement or machine (drawback: cannot reverse the flow/direction on the implement)
spare hydraulic & engine oil filters & spare wheel
rear bar tires
fill engine & hydraulics with synthetic Rotella T6 5W40
Deutz cold-weather pak (if such a thing exists)
LED lighting

Thank-you in advance for your insight,

BobRip · Nov 27, 2014

I suggest an engine and/or hydraulic tank heater. I don't know what PT will do. The hydraulic oil change is very good especially in your location. It is difficult to change completely.

MossRoad · Nov 27, 2014

You don't want to mix and match tires front and back or side-to-side. All four the same.

You want solid tires on the brush hog, and the landscape rake, and any mowers, etc.... anything else with wheels. Pneumatic tires on any PT implement will disappoint you.

Instead of having them change the couplers, just make yourself a couple PT to Skidsterr adapter hoses. That will only cost your 4 connectors. If you change every PT implement, it will cost you two per implement plus the two on the tractor.

I ordered mine with some spare hydraulic filters from the factory. No problem.

The only things that have same-*** couplers on mine are the quick attach AUX PTO, which runs the power angle snow plow ram. No motorized implements run off the AUX PTO that I know of.
Before you run any implements reverse-flow, you need to find out if they have reverse-flow motors.

I'd think you'd want to break the engine in on dyno oil, then switch to synthetic, but that may just be an old-school myth.

As for the hydraulic fluid, that would be nice if they'd do it for you, but how would you really know?

I'm surprised they haven't switched to LED lighting. Its an easy thing for you to do yourself, but it would be nicer if it came from the factory that way.

J_J · Nov 28, 2014

Perhaps you guys don't remember this guy.

He was on the forum about a year or so back.

He talked all about his landscaping business and running skid steers on industrial sites etc.

He talked about going to Tazewell and getting all this equipment and got down to the day and cancelled everything.

He posted a lot of videos about him riding about everything made.

He had a lot more post than what is indicating about everything you could think of.

He must have several names he uses.

To me, it was a lot of BS just to talk shop.

I still have some of those post in my logs somewhere.

If I am wrong, then I apologise.

Marks481 · Nov 28, 2014

J_J said:
Perhaps you guys don't remember this guy.

Maybe he is just slow to make up his mind (since he has been shopping for a PT for 4 years now)?

PTWannaHave · Nov 28, 2014

Just a quick clarification; I (PTWannaHave) am not the landscaping person J_J is talking about; but I have been saving my pennies (Cdn ones; need more...) and planning this purchase for at least three years... (This forum has been indispensable...!)

BobRip · Nov 28, 2014

PTWannaHave said:
Just a quick clarification; I (PTWannaHave) am not the landscaping person J_J is talking about; but I have been saving my pennies (Cdn ones; need more...) and planning this purchase for at least three years... (This forum has been indispensable...!)

It's okay. Keep asking questions.

SpringHollow · Nov 28, 2014

I had them weld chain hooks onto the 4 corners of mine and Carl's to tie the PT down on a trailer - comes in handy.

Ken

PTWannaHave · Nov 28, 2014

Great idea SpringHollow!

I thought of another one: ask that wheel hubs be positioned and extra 1/2" away from the body to allow for better clearance for tire chains...

MossRoad · Nov 29, 2014

PTWannaHave said:
Great idea SpringHollow!

I thought of another one: ask that wheel hubs be positioned and extra 1/2" away from the body to allow for better clearance for tire chains...

Good luck with that one. It will cost you dearly if they do it at all.

woodlandfarms · Nov 29, 2014

PT Wanna

Basically what has been echoed here but more specific to what I did.

In regards to your list. I am VERY doubtful you will have any of your requests filled outside of the spare tire and filters. I would get the spare tire for sure (or two) but would forgo the spare filters as they are cheaper locally.

I guess I should say you could get PT to do all those things on your list but it will take money and as you have said you are tight financially, those requests you have could be done a lot cheaper on your own.

Two things I would suggest to you, first is get all the implements you think you are going to need upfront. It is fun to say next year I will buy this, but once you take PT's price, which is generally fair, and add shipping, it tends not to be a good deal, or at least one that is harder to swallow.

I would suggest to you a stack of quick attach plates that you can weld onto 3rd party implements.

I bought my PT from Ken Simolo (Spring Hollow), he did way more to get my machine running than he needed to (and yes, those bucket hooks on the frame of the PT have been invaluable and I never asked for those - thank you Ken). I purchased only a new mower from PT and it and my tractor and spare tires were put on a flatbed to Iowa. In Iowa, again thanks to ken, I added a back hoe with boom pole attachment, Fork Lift, a bucket and teeth, a grapple on the bucket, and some miscelaneous items (3 point adapter and quick attach plates) from Lackender fabrication to the truck and it then meandered to Washington state.

In WA I have purchased a box blade (new) a used york rake and a used potato plow. I have built a grapple bucket bottom, a post hole digger, a stump grinder, and a tow bar for my trailer. I am currently debating restoring a sickle mower I found in my ravine so I can mow the edges of the road better.

All of those things you have on your list you can do and should do on your own to save money. LED lights from China work great and are cheap, Casters can be adjusted on your own. I would buy a welder if you do not have one. Talk to Mark at Everlast. Those are solid welders at a good price. Connectors you should buy locally. The ones PT sells are hard to match in my hood so I moved over to Parker brand which seems more available. Ken went to Flat Faced ($$) but loves them.

I replaced my seatbelt and so did Ken. We went retractable which has worked out well so far. I cut a hole in my hood so my wife could fuel the tractor without lifting it (on the 1850 it is super duper heavy).

Marks481 · Nov 29, 2014

J_J said:
Perhaps you guys don't remember this guy.

JJ, I believe you confused him with ToolCatWonka, who was a 16 yo kid who's dad ran a landscaping business, and was full of plans on buying new toys to get into the biz.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/members/toolcatwonka5610.html

Marks481 · Nov 29, 2014

woodlandfarms said:
first is get all the implements you think you are going to need upfront. It is fun to say next year I will buy this, but once you take PT's price, which is generally fair, and add shipping, it tends not to be a good deal, or at least one that is harder to swallow.

Good advice. Initial cost for shipping of PT plus 4 implements VA->CT wasn't too bad, but when 6 years later, I inquired about shipping just TWO implements VA->MD, the cost of shipping was almost more than the cost of the implements themselves.

Fortunately, Clumber was buying his stuff at the same time, and I got my stuff thrown into his truck.

MossRoad · Nov 29, 2014

Yeah, I think my PT425, 60" finish mower, 48" brush hog, large light material bucket, small bucket with teeth, pallet forks and loading ramps got shipped from Tazewell to South Bend, IN for about $500.00 in 2001. Can't imaging what shipping on one or two heavy items would be now. Ordered it on a Friday and it was here on Monday, as I recall.

Marks481 · Nov 30, 2014

My original bill for shipping VA->CT (11 hours) was $780 in 2005, including 4n1, Minihoe, 9" auger, 48" deck.

In 2010, I wanted to buy a LMB and Plow, and the shipping quoted was $486 (VA->MD 6.5 hours). For $950 worth of attachments. As I said above, Clumber lived a couple of hours away, so I got my attachments with his shipment.

In 2013, I bought a box blade and brush cutter, and shipping was $286 (VA->VA 5 hours)., which was relatively reasonable. (price to just ship the brush cutter was $270.... not so reasonable). I had no time for a side trip to pick up the implements myself, as I was in the middle of self-moving 30k of household goods from VA->WA (two u-hauls trips), ferrying cars, buying a house...

BobRip · Nov 30, 2014

When I bought my PT, my attachment cost about equaled the machine cost. I figured I paid a lot for the machine and I wanted to be able to use it fully. Consider forks, they are cheap and more useful than you might think.

woodlandfarms · Nov 30, 2014

I used U Ship and I think it set me back $1400 for the whole deal. This was 2006 I think.

ponytug · Nov 30, 2014

Good luck with your soon to have new tractor! Welcome to the PT forum.

Here are a few thoughts on your list;

replace casters of brush hog with ones from landscape rake.

Run with what they have and fix it if it breaks
change hydraulic couplers to another brand/style (I plan to have a couple skidsteer implements)

Make the adapters; PT won't change and it isn't worth the cost to change everything.
not same-*** couplers on implement or machine (drawback: cannot reverse the flow/direction on the implement)

Most PT motors are not reversible. This is a special order, and even then they won't always do it. I asked for a tiller with a reversible motor and they admitted making it once, but wouldn't do it for me. i.e. don't get your hopes up.
spare hydraulic & engine oil filters & spare wheel

Great idea, although I'd skip the wheel.
rear bar tires

Run with all four the same; I would use their industrial skid steer tires that seem pretty tough.
fill engine & hydraulics with synthetic Rotella T6 5W40

Run with what they have and swap it out in a few years.
Deutz cold-weather pak (if such a thing exists)

I'd just order the parts myself; it is pretty easy to screw in and wire a relay into the power.
LED lighting

Do it yourself from Amazon; it will be much cheaper.

The Deutz cold weather is an air preheater. The upside is great ignition, the downside is that it doesn't do much for 15 gallons of cold oil. You may be better off with a hydraulic tank heater.

Just my $0.02, and it is free advice, so remember what you paid for it...

All the best,

Peter

MossRoad · Nov 30, 2014

I second the forks. They are cheap, cheezy, simple, but.... they lift a bunch of stuff and I'm 100% glad I purchased them. :thumbsup:

ponytug · Dec 1, 2014

On the reversible motors; in actual use, I have never found that I needed to reverse anything. Tiller/brush cutter/trencher.
Forks are a funny one. I would not have bought one, but for the folks here, and I am 100% glad that I did. Yes, I use them for pallet loads, but I also make working platforms on a pallet and haul it around (e.g. generator, air compressor, hoses, fuel, nail gun, saws...), as well as removing problem brush, stumps, brush piles, pipes, gates...but, YMMV.

I think that the YMMV is the tough part. You have to figure out what you want to do with your tractor and go from there. Personally, I would use a grapple about twice a year, and I can get by without it. I use my brush cutter three times a year, and I could not get by without it. A snow plow or sweeper would be fun, but unnecessary...

All the best,

Peter