How long will a gator last??

[YesDeere]

My father has an 07 hpx with the Kawasaki motor in it. Currently has 300 hours on it and has been flawless. Except for yesterday, it would not move from the barn. A black snake got in the belt cover and got all mangled. Problem solved.

Before finding the snake he was all worried and started talking about how many hours he could expect to get out of it. Maybe it was time to trade up. He cannot be without it now.

So how many hours are you guys thinking? I understand every situation is different, just want some ideas. Thanks

 

[beenthere]

300 hours? Hardly broken in.

As long as it is running fine and taken care of (sans the snake), no reason to think there is a date that it will die. I can see no advantage to trying to predict a dead date.
If Dad wants a new one, then upgrade while this one is running fine. If Dad is enjoying this one, then continue the enjoyment rather than finding out a new one isn't as comfy as the old.
But sounds like he is looking for an excuse (is someone else holding his purse strings?) to buy a new one. If so, I'd say go for it. Tomorrow may be too late.

 

[YesDeere]

I stayed neutral. I think it will last a long time. I have had excellent luck with the kawi motors.

On the other hand I really like the new ones. More hp and much faster. But i was threatened by my stepmother about his last purchase. I told him how great my zero turn was. A week later he had a new JD zero turn. Man did I get cussed!! I'm thinking it didn't help that I made him realize he needed a cab just months prior. And of course I was willing to buy his "old" tractor;-)

 

[beenthere]

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

A cussin never hurt no one :laughing:

 

[creekbend]

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

A cussin never hurt no one :laughing:

I agree. You might even learn some new cuss words and in the future, if the situation demands, you might have the chance to impress someone with your newly gained knowledge. Just joking. My neighbor Harvey has had a Gator for around 12 years. He works it to death and like a "Timex, it keeps on a ticking".

 

[sunnyside360]

There are so many factors involved in engine longevity, but if the Kawi engine is properly maintained and not abused it will go a very long time -- been told 2000 plus hours and then new rings, etc. I had a JD X485 and had about 600 hrs on it when traded and it ran as good as the day I bought it new.

 

[Kessler Farms]

My 07 620i XUV has over 2000 hours, and still starts and runs same as new. Replaced wheel bearings and battery this year. I expect it to go that many more before trading.

 

[YesDeere]

My 07 620i XUV has over 2000 hours, and still starts and runs same as new. Replaced wheel bearings and battery this year. I expect it to go that many more before trading.

Thank you sir. That is what I was looking for. Just some real world numbers

 

[2ACR]

We have a 2005 with 1700 hours on it and all we do is the regular oil change and give it a good pmi every month. We don't abuse though. It is used to hual us and feed to different locations. At first we were worried that we would never run it long enough to get the engine fully warmed upped but we haven't had any issues.

 

[murphy1244]

I was told by the JD dealer not to expect too much more than 2000 hours.He told me they are not built to be around like a tractor. You replace them like a Bic lighter, " his words".

 

[shortthrow50]

300 hours and worried its time to trade in? :confused2:

 

[RoyJackson]

I was told by the JD dealer not to expect too much more than 2000 hours.He told me they are not built to be around like a tractor. You replace them like a Bic lighter, " his words".

Mighty expensive Bic lighter!!

 

[murphy1244]

Roy that was his words ...

 

[53GMC]

I think I have all of you beat, my "bic lighter" had close to 2800 hours on it. It had been road hard and put up wet! it still ran and pulled great tho. every plastic part on it was eather missing or broken. It was a 1998 gator 6x4 with a Kawasaki fd620 20hp liq cooled engine. I'm not saying it should have lasted as long as it did, but somehow it did and is still going today!

 

[jcmseven]

3000+ with good maintenance out of gas one; likely 4000-5000+ out of diesel, somewhere in between out of 825i with Chery three cylinder engine. These machines rarely run at full load like a tractor likely would and they are built pretty heavily. My 825 is much heavier in construction than my previous Polaris Ranger (also a good machine). Though there are components that likely will require replacement, with regular oil changes and non-abusive behavior, these machines would last thousands of hours. This is usually well beyond our desire to trade them and get a new one.

John M

 

[alexpostal38]

Anyone remember the pre gator vehicle? We call ours a 5 wheeler. Bought it in 1988, still runs good today. All its ever needed is regular maintance, spark plugs, belts, air filters. Been a good one.

 

[chipsndust]

I was told by the JD dealer not to expect too much more than 2000 hours.He told me they are not built to be around like a tractor. You replace them like a Bic lighter, " his words".

I think I'd find a different dealer.

 

[Dutch445]

Anyone remember the pre gator vehicle? We call ours a 5 wheeler. Bought it in 1988, still runs good today. All its ever needed is regular maintance, spark plugs, belts, air filters. Been a good one.

the old AMT's.
still a lot of them running around,
even ones with motorbike style seat,
instead of the side by side seat...

 

[Martian]

I was told by the JD dealer not to expect too much more than 2000 hours.He told me they are not built to be around like a tractor. You replace them like a Bic lighter, " his words".

You do need a new dealer.

I've had 3 Gators. All lasting beyond 1000 hours of moderate use. I don't abuse my machines, but they do work. All my Gators I've never had a broken belt, or any other issues for that matter. The first two were gas - a 6x4 and a 4x2, and the HPX is a diesel. If time comes, I'll have another Gator, I just don't have one bad thing to say about them.

 

[curdy]

He should upgrade for sure. Let him know I'll be happy to take the 'old' one off his hands.