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...



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...