UTV

[David L]

Man o Man, what a job for this old out of shape guy. Don't really have much experience on small engine repair. This 3 cylinder engine kicked my butt today. After a full day I got the new Starter installed. Had to stop my day after I lost a fight with a hose clamp . Think I may abandon the factory clamp and add a screw hose clamp, spent way too much time on this. Needed small hands and short hose clamp pliers.

Everything is so tight and small...just getting the Old Starter out and the New Starter in was a struggle. Also, the drive belt housing/cover had 11 screws...with the one on the bottom impossible to get to, had to remove the whole back skid plate

When I am done, this Gator will have a new Battery, new Starter, new Spark Plugs, new Oil/Filter, new Antifreeze fluid, new Air Filter...Fuel Filter was crazy stupid on how it was installed, I passed on it...(Did finally replaced the Fuel Filter)
Also, greased the only two grease fittings I could find, one on the front drive shaft and second one on the back.



Had to take the Bed off, no way I could work on it with it on. My Wife helped me, man I love that woman. She is 70 years old and was able to lift this very heavy all steel bed. Only thing is, she won't be able to help me get it back on, wish I had a ceiling winch...



We wrapped towels on the bars since we were sitting the bed on rocks...

 

[David L]

So, had fun trying to get the Oil Filter out. Had about a hand's width area to work with. Tried the rope trick, wrapped a cotton rope around the old filter and wrapped the other end around a pipe, with gloves on, pulled hard, well that didn't go well, broke the 3/4 inch rope, lol Did not know I was still that strong Hate when people wrench tighten their oil filter. Hand Tight People!!!
Had to run down to Auto Parts store and found this baby...It worked great with this 2 1/2 filter, don't think it will work on too much bigger filters though. Was going to do the hammer a screwdriver through the filter trick, haha, but had no room to work with.


Spark Plugs, yep they needed to be changed, they were pretty black...
Now that we have new ones in, she sure sounds nice...no sputtering...
View attachment Starter_Installed_Engine Running.mp4

Guess I have to quit trusting everyone. This old Rancher (Seller) has alot of equipment and this Gator looked well kept so I assumed when he said it was well maintained, that it was.
Oil looked ok pulling the dip stick, but air filter was filthy and the spark plugs were black. Guess some people have different maintenance standards than I do.

John Deere has a maintenance kit that I have been buying for our Z445 Zero-Turn and bought for this Gator. Yes you pay a little more this way but it is easy to get, even Amazon/Walmart sells these kits so I don't have to run down to the John Deere Dealer...



EDIT: Oh, I did get the Fuel Filter replaced. Was told due to the high pressure, John Deere has a hose/filter quick connectors with a U-Clamp (plastic) that clamps on the Fuel Filter. Sure enough those broke taking them off, good thing I bought some while at John Deere's store...also bought some retainer plugs to replace the ones I had to pry off..., wish they included these in their Maintenance Kit...Did have one Parts guy said I could use a regular hose clamp instead of the expensive quick connectors...

 

[David L]

Looking to get me some new straps.

I like these:
View attachment 217558
View attachment 217559



Wondering if the Snap Hooks will fit in the Safety Chain holes on the Hitch. Thinking this would be a good place to strap from:
View attachment 217557

If not, I will need some J-Hook Straps...

 

[David L]

This is where we are going:

https://www.portaransas.org/

 

[David L]

Drugged/Dragged our first fallen tree behind the Gator to the burn pile today. It was a 25-30 footer...put her in Low Gear and 4x4, no problem...just used a rope...

Got corrected for saying Drugged from our son-in-law . Funny but we have always said, she drug that thing across the floor...guess it is a Southern thang...

No drag queening here...lol

 

[David L]

Man this Gator has been extremely handy...

 

[David L]

Our Z445 Zero-Turn stopped turning, well it would no longer start . Time for a battery.

Quick story, when I bought the Zero-Turn, Used, 3 years ago I pulled the battery and revived it. I filled it up with distilled water, slow charged it for 12 hours at a time for 3 days straight. Kept it on a trickle charger after that.

Took it in yesterday to John Deere Dealer, they tested it, bad cell(s), it actually reversed polarity when doing a Load Test.

Got 7 YEARS out of this battery (well 3 for me), I am very impressed with John Deere's StrongBox Battery, so far. The old one was a 300CCA, new one is a 350CCA.



I have read/heard good things about these batteries...

 

[David L]

So I cut off the tops of the protector caps, may try them left on, will put petroleum jelly (Vaseline) on the Terminals. Been doing this for many years, father taught me this...

 

[Smilingreen]

Our Z445 Zero-Turn stopped turning, well it would no longer start . Time for a battery.

Quick story, when I bought the Zero-Turn, Used, 3 years ago I pulled the battery and revived it. I filled it up with distilled water, slow charged it for 12 hours at a time for 3 days straight. Kept it on a trickle charger after that.

Took it in yesterday to John Deere Dealer, they tested it, bad cell(s), it actually reversed polarity when doing a Load Test.

Got 7 YEARS out of this battery (well 3 for me), I am very impressed with John Deere's StrongBox Battery, so far. The old one was a 300CCA, new one is a 350CCA.

View attachment 245138View attachment 245139

I have read/heard good things about these batteries...

Many things at JD I don't like paying the price for at the parts counter, but I will gladly pay their price for a battery. You cannot find a better battery for off road equipment. My 5055D tractor is a 2010 model. It is on it's second battery and still going strong. My 2012 855D Gator's battery was replaced after 11 years. Not because it was dead, but because I thought maybe I should replace an 11 year old battery, before it might leave me stranded somewhere.

 

[David L]

Many things at JD I don't like paying the price for at the parts counter, but I will gladly pay their price for a battery. You cannot find a better battery for off road equipment. My 5055D tractor is a 2010 model. It is on it's second battery and still going strong. My 2012 855D Gator's battery was replaced after 11 years. Not because it was dead, but because I thought maybe I should replace an 11 year old battery, before it might leave me stranded somewhere.

Yeah, after bragging about this 7 year old battery, which I have only owned for 3 of it's years, I saw online many, many others posting 10+ years with their JD batteries. To me fair, when I bought the Zero-Turn I quickly could tell it was not kept up to my standards. Originally it was bought from a kid wanting to make some extra money I was told, pretty sure it was abused some. But being a 2010 and from what I read, they were made, much, much better than the new ones are today. This thing is a workhorse...and it is not even a commercial graded series. I mow about 3 acres with it, alot of tree branches/sticks, small ones, small rocks, gumballs which have thrown the belts off a few times, end up under the deck. This plows right through them. Replaced blades (3) last year with mulching blades, I keep the chute wide open, got the deck up at it's highest setting.

Really impressed with this thing. Got it for $2500 had 300 hours on it, not a great deal price wise but that is what they were going for used. A family member just got a Kubota last year, $16k for his Zero-Turn. Crazy high priced, it is a commercial series with spring weight adjustable seat, also had a 60 inch deck, mine is 54. My Zero-Turn almost bucks me off , very rough ride, even with 10 psi in the tires. But I can handle it knowing I did not blow $16k for one. He only has 3 acres himself to mow too. He has plenty of money to blow, make the rich, richer...

When I was in the JD store they were telling us about their Electric Mowers. Haha, I laughed under my breathe while hearing about their 10 year warranty on the batteries. They said they were made for 2 acres and less. No belts. Think I will pass, lol...

 

[David L]

Don't mean to get again but I like this lady, learned alot from her videos...

 

[TonyR]

Don't mean to get again but I like this lady, learned alot from her videos...

I must admit I watched one of her videos and learned the easy way to convert my MTD-built Craftsman riding mower's undersized and troublesome battery.

For 2 years I struggled with the crappy battery that came with my mower. It was a tiny size 9-S of only 150CCA meant for UTV's, scooters and motorcycles and it tries to crank a 22HP V-twin Kohler! They have no reserve.

My 15 year old MTD-built Cub Cadet had a single cylinder 20HP Kohler but a more properly sized U-1 of 300CCA and it never struggled, lasted over 5 years. I had installed the 3rd one in 15 years right before I turned it over to my stepson and bought the Craftsman.

She showed where you pull out the plastic basket that holds the tiny 9-S battery in the hole meant for the larger U-1 battery and install two of the correct metal brackets that support the larger battery in that hole. My mower required two of the "MTD 783-04869A-0637 Battery Bracket" so check your mower model before ordering. I got mine on eBay. They are sturdy metal and support the larger, heavier U-1 battery nicely; you have to hold your tongue just right and stand on one leg just right to get them into place.

My red #8 12V positive cable was a bit too short so I extended it 8 inches to make a lazy loop with two #10's, crimped a ring lug on both ends, bolted it TIGHTLY to the existing cable with a bolt, screw and lock washer then insulated it with 3 layers of self-curing rubber tape and then 3 TIGHT layers of 3M #33+ electrical tape. Seat goes down and clears everything just great. Now the V-twin barely makes one complete turn when starting and fires right up because the U-1 is what it should have had from the get-go. Some 20-something decided to save MTD a few bucks and he/she probably got a bonus.



Look at the size of the 9-S, 150CCA battery the mower originally had as compared to the U-1 @ 300 to 350CCA it now has!




Ordered 2 of these on eBay to support the U-1 battery. There are diffent ones so check your MTD model.