Tractors, Mowers, Chippers, Trailers, Chainsaws, Generators, Boat Engines, & Flood Control.

the ambulance board was given to me, I saw the value in it as soon as I saw it, the guy that gave it to me saw junk…

I’ve “repurposed” many things for tractor use, bearing seized on the dynamo, new part was $300, I tried to disassemble to replace bearings and the shaft bent, I work on Toyota forklifts, oddly, the alternator is very similar for the Kubota and I had one laying in van that needed brushes, I now have 40a vs 15a charging system. Had to reconfigure dash wiring to show charge light and remove the rectifier the dynamo used. Everything can be put back to factory if for any reason that might need to happen (doubtful)

 

My wife laughs at me for jumping out of the truck to grab a piece of steel laying in the road. I see what I can transform that into and the money and time it saved me not having to go to the steelyard. Snagged a 1/8" thick steel battery box cover recently. Good chunk of materials there.

 

i bought a pair of steel storage cabinets a few weeks ago, one is still laying in trailer while I figure out if I need it or not, if not, it’s sheet metal for forming and making stuff, cheaper than buying full sheet goods (paid $140 for 4x8 12ga sheet a few months ago, also still laying in trailer)
I snag scraps and pieces from various job sites as well (with permission)

 

Please tell me it has the Kohler V-Twin! When I was shopping mowers in 2020 I looked at both single cylinder FI or the Twin Kohler; went for the little bit larger deck and 22HP Kohler over the 42" deck with the fuel injected single. I had hemmed-hawed around and luckily found one when I finally killed my old Craftsman rear engine rider. Been a great performer so far! Glad I went with the larger deck since the new place has more yard to mow.

 

Can’t wait for the ground to dry up so I can actually use this thing

 

Awesome!

 

I doubt it. I'm pretty sure it has the single Kohler Command engine, though.

Still a good power plant, though.

 

I've gotten spoiled by V-Twin power. I've never bogged that thing down!

 

Yeah only the single Kohler and smaller deck. I wanted the bigger one but looking at all the junk in the yard I think the smaller will be easier to get around.

 

They're decent budget machines. Belts are easy to change even the drive one; some riders can be an absolute bear to replace the drive belt. The only issues I've had with mine is the front wheel bushings (plastic) are already showing signs of excess play. Not surprised at that. However, the old house had a pretty rough terrain that beat the crap out of any mower. And I ate a deck belt pretty early on, but that was self inflicted

 

I went and stopped by the local Cub dealer to put eyes on their XT1 GT54.

Nice little mower. But the bushing bearings, and likely other cost cutting materials make it unattractive.

The mechanic/sales guy was a trip...

Last time I went in he was bragging about how he cut 17 acres with his JD rider and talked down on anything but JD. Also griped about customers not taking a part off and bringing it in for him to match up a new part instead of coming in with JD part numbers to a JD dealer that he can look up in the JD computer/catalog. This was to another customer, complaining about me, while I was standing there.

They had their JD equipment sales pulled and only sold parts at that time.

Now they sell Bad Boy ZT's and Cubs.

FYI, the brush guard on XT2's is for hooking up a rope and pulling down trees. That is the only difference between an XT1 and XT2.

The first thing you do when you get home with your $9,000 54" Bad Boy ZT (for his 1/4 acre yard) is pull a wheelie and get your wife to take a picture so you can show it to everyone.

When someone comes in looking at a ~$4,000 riding mower, you try to upsell them to a $8,000 ZT.

 

Discovered that my 2011 JD X500 already has a relay like you describe.
Relay gets 12V from fuseblock (20A fuse).
Relay gets trigger from key at "start" position.
Relay sends power to the spade terminal on the starter solenoid.

I tried a new relay and a tried a fresh ground on the relay. Neither fixed the issue.

I took the relay out of the picture and the tractor started flawlessly. (key in "on" position, touched a piece of wire direct from battery positive to the spade terminal on solenoid).

So I assume there is a short somewhere along the lines associated with that relay. I ran out of daylight to probe with a meter.

 

Is the present relay grounded to the frame? Does is have a second small post for it's own ground to the frame?

Edit: I said relay, but meant to say solinoid.

 

This one is my next project. Needs a hydro pump rebuild. Leaks horrible!

 

Ah-ha! Sounds like a bad connection somewhere. Fortunately you are down to just 4 wires to follow now.

It seem the fellow who told me about that several years ago mentioned a TSB and a kit from Deere to correct the problem, sounds like your machine either has the kit or the newer models have it installed from the factory.

 

Solenoid does not have a ground wire directly. It's grounded by being bolted to starter which is bolted to engine which is grounded.
Solenoid has 2 m10 studs and 1 spade terminal. One m10 has heavy wire straight from battery. Other m10 connects to copper windings on starter. Little spade terminal is what goes from solenoid to relay triggered by key.

Connections and ground at solenoid/starter seem to be ok since bypassing the relay starts it.
Relay wires quickly disappear into taped bundles of wires in spaces hard to get my hands into. Hoping I can use multimeter at lunch break when there is good sunlight on everything and figure out where relay lines are losing volts at.

 

How is this trailer working out for you?

 

Better pictures.

 

Works great. I've hauled my 800lb GT on it and hauled brush around the yard on it. Good little trailer. No ragrets--not even one letter.

 

It seems to be very highly regarded as far as budget trailers go.