Where in the wide world of sports have I been!

[horticattleman]

I have been a PT owner for about 5 yrs now and SURE WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS SOONER. I would probably have more hair on my head. They are definitely love hate. Most days I would take great joy in watching it burn TO THE GROUND and yet I would probably buy another one if I had to. I think the frame is the only factory thing left on my tractor, literally. I have learned NOT to buy parts from the because they are outrageous on prices. They sold me on being able to "buy whatever you need anywhere to fix it". Yeah right. The motors are standard white motors, but they've been machined down .00000002645243273292398243 of an inch or something stupid so I have to buy it from them at $500+ when a normal motor is like $150 or something.
I bought a new chain for the trencher.....$500+. It wore out in about 2 days..no kidding. I called them and they said (in a drawl) "well you gotta change the sproket buddy" Thanks "buddy" why didn't you tell me that 3 days ago when I ordered a new chain...oh you want me to buy another one!

Well anyway I have many more, but will have some new questions, like this one:

I have a 425 and the front arms (third set by the way) won't hold much weight. I can pick it up, but it slowly falls. Suggestions???

 

[Central_PA_Chris]

Welcome Horti to the collection of fans, shade tree mechanics, frustrated venters, project sharers and hydraulic mad scientists that frequent this forum!

Chris

 

[J_J]

I have been a PT owner for about 5 yrs now and SURE WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS SOONER. I would probably have more hair on my head. They are definitely love hate. Most days I would take great joy in watching it burn TO THE GROUND and yet I would probably buy another one if I had to. I think the frame is the only factory thing left on my tractor, literally. I have learned NOT to buy parts from the because they are outrageous on prices. They sold me on being able to "buy whatever you need anywhere to fix it". Yeah right. The motors are standard white motors, but they've been machined down .00000002645243273292398243 of an inch or something stupid so I have to buy it from them at $500+ when a normal motor is like $150 or something.
I bought a new chain for the trencher.....$500+. It wore out in about 2 days..no kidding. I called them and they said (in a drawl) "well you gotta change the sproket buddy" Thanks "buddy" why didn't you tell me that 3 days ago when I ordered a new chain...oh you want me to buy another one!

Well anyway I have many more, but will have some new questions, like this one:

I have a 425 and the front arms (third set by the way) won't hold much weight. I can pick it up, but it slowly falls. Suggestions???

What happened to the other set of arms? Did you bend them? Did the welds fail, or what. As far as the arms leaking down with a load, it is either the cylinders trying to equalize, or the joystick valve is leaking. The best solution is to take off the joystick valve and take it to a hydraulic shop and have them test it. You can also have them test your cylinders also. Hydraulic shops charge from $45 to $65 per hour for labor. You can test you cylinders if you use some logic. Just install a gate valve in the cylinder line, and that can be used to isolate the cylinder from the valve. If your cylinders check good, then the gate valve can be left in line to secure your load in the raised position , or when working out of the bucket.

Do yourself a favor and make a hydraulic test setup. It is a pressure gage with a flex line connected to a female quick disconnect. Wherever you wish to test, install a male quick disconnect in-line. This is one of the best trouble shooting devices you can have, and of course common sense. You can learn a lot from testing, and be able to answer your own questions. Another good thing you can do is to put some fluorescent dye in the hydraulic fluid, and by using a black light you can find all your external leaks, because the dye makes the hydraulic fluid fluoresce, giving off a greenish/yellow look. You can also use the gate valve to test your relief valves.

Burden Sales Surplus Center Item Detail

Burden Sales Surplus Center Item Detail

 

[SnowRidge]

I have a 425 and the front arms (third set by the way) won't hold much weight. I can pick it up, but it slowly falls. Suggestions???

Sound like it may be time to rebuild or replace the lift cylinders. How many hours on the machine?

 

[SnowRidge]

They sold me on being able to "buy whatever you need anywhere to fix it". Yeah right. The motors are standard white motors, but they've been machined down .00000002645243273292398243 of an inch or something stupid so I have to buy it from them at $500+ when a normal motor is like $150 or something.
I

You can buy standard replacement White motors directly from their distributors. They work fine. Expect to pay at least $300 plus shipping. It will still be less than what Power Trac wants.

 

[tommu56]

I have been a PT owner for about 5 yrs now and SURE WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS SOONER. I would probably have more hair on my head. They are definitely love hate. Most days I would take great joy in watching it burn TO THE GROUND and yet I would probably buy another one if I had to. I think the frame is the only factory thing left on my tractor, literally. I have learned NOT to buy parts from the because they are outrageous on prices. They sold me on being able to "buy whatever you need anywhere to fix it". Yeah right. The motors are standard white motors, but they've been machined down .00000002645243273292398243 of an inch or something stupid so I have to buy it from them at $500+ when a normal motor is like $150 or something.
I bought a new chain for the trencher.....$500+. It wore out in about 2 days..no kidding. I called them and they said (in a drawl) "well you gotta change the sproket buddy" Thanks "buddy" why didn't you tell me that 3 days ago when I ordered a new chain...oh you want me to buy another one!

Well anyway I have many more, but will have some new questions, like this one:

I have a 425 and the front arms (third set by the way) won't hold much weight. I can pick it up, but it slowly falls. Suggestions???

I'm not familiar with the powertrac but on the motors can you bore out what ever go's on them to the stock size shaft? A one time job then the stock motors would fit from then on.

tom

 

[washita]

well I know the feeling tried to get air filter locally for the subaru engine long story short it now has a commonly available filter 1/2 price of oem with a modified air cleaner lid

 

[horticattleman]

Tyanks all. The machine has 1400 hrs on it and the engine (this one) has 200. The Kohler replacement for the 425 is now a 27 hp

When I replaced the engine 200 hrs ago, I rebuilt all the cylinders (new pistins, seals etc.) Terrrrrrrry over at PT says there is a bleed valve or something under the joystick box?????? I see nothing.

 

[KMA]

well I know the feeling tried to get air filter locally for the subaru engine long story short it now has a commonly available filter 1/2 price of oem with a modified air cleaner lid

Any more info on this filter and lid modification?

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Well anyway I have many more, but will have some new questions, like this one:

I have a 425 and the front arms (third set by the way) won't hold much weight. I can pick it up, but it slowly falls. Suggestions???

On my 1845, the lift cylinders gradually bleed down, and have since new. I asked PT about it at the time, and they told me all their machines do that. I believe them, since the last time I was in their showroom in Tazewell I saw that all the display units had added valves to block the hydraulics from moving.

Of course, if your machine bleeds down quickly enough to interfere with its utility, you need to trouble shoot. If it moves a foot per minute, however, that's probably within the bounds of normal.