Started the refresh of my G154

Ilikeurtractor · Aug 22, 2012

I was able to contact Sam today. Sounds like he relocated and has a new number. Seems to be doing fine.

MyG154 · Aug 22, 2012

Good to hear. Did he quote you a cost for the decals? I'm interested to hear. Went out tonight and grabbed a pair of cheap driving lights from Walmart. Im going to add them to the front of my loader to help increase night vision. Cheap at $20-, hoping it helps this winter clearing the driveway at night.

Ilikeurtractor · Aug 22, 2012

PM sent regarding pricing. I prefer not to post that information for the dealers sake (I wouldn't care as much about Wal*Mart though). Good luck with the lights, let us know how they work.

MyG154 · Aug 23, 2012

Installed the new lights after I masked and repainted the dash. Installed the illuminated dash switch in a hole that was left over from the prior owners attempt at fixing the ignition switch. Used a flat file to square it off the round hole and the switch slid right in. Dressed the wires into the frame and anchored with wire ties. Install was easy and these things are bright! Just realized I never took a photo with them shut off. Next time I guess.

Grabbed a few more photos on the way home.

MyG154 · Aug 26, 2012

I happy to say that my refresh is done now. :thumbsup: I'm very please with the results, she looks like a brand new machine. Special mention to NHMitch for answering all of the questions I had. This weekend I'll be headed up to my place in Maine to fill an old cellar hole, and to spread some more gravel on the driveway.

Next project is a snow plow for the front, time to start scrubbing the web for a donor candidate.

NHmitch · Aug 30, 2012

That came out incredible!! You did a great job with the restoration! Its like a brand new tractor. Sorry for the late response, but I was in Maine this past weekend on a Wounded Warrior Event. I like the addition of the lights. DThe more I see yours with the bucket, the more I want an FEL, but that is a major expense, and the dirt scoop works great for now. I'm glad that the paint, and everything worked out well. I saw the same seat that I bought at TSC on eBay the other day for $50, but somehow I lost the link. I'll try to find it again for you, but your seat actually came out very good. I might be cheaper to have it recovered? Anyways, it looks great, I need to plan a trip down your way to see it in person one of these days. Thanks for the photos!

MyG154 said:
I happy to say that my refresh is done now. :thumbsup: I'm very please with the results, she looks like a brand new machine. Special mention to NHMitch for answering all of the questions I had. This weekend I'll be headed up to my place in Maine to fill an old cellar hole, and to spread some more gravel on the driveway.

View attachment 278209 View attachment 278210 View attachment 278211 View attachment 278212 View attachment 278213 View attachment 278214

Next project is a snow plow for the front, time to start scrubbing the web for a donor candidate.

NHmitch · Aug 30, 2012

I found the seat that I was thinking of, it is not the same seat that TSC carries, but it has the same brackets,a nd probably is made by the same company. It is still $73 with shipping. It is amazing how expensive these seats are! I know that you had said that you need two, one for the tractor, and one for the Back Hoe, but could you just make a quick disconnect for one seat, and use it on both applications?

MyG154 · Aug 30, 2012

Thanks Mitch - Yeah I'm happy with the way she looks now. I thought about trying to recover the seat pan, and may resort to that in the future. For now the gorilla tape will have to do. I am watching a few auctions on ebay right now for a new seat, probably the same you have seen. Worst case I get frustrated and head down to tractor supply and open the wallet. I have thought about a seat that I could swap, but the front seat as you know flips up on a hinge. The rear seat is mounted differentlyand has to flip up when the front seat is in use. Here's a photo or two of what I am dealing with now. Note the damage to the seat is from the prior owner. As you might be able to tell, the 3pt lifts engaged and crumpled the seat. Thankfully he wasnt on the machine at the time. I've reset the 3pt limit so this can't happen again to the current owner.

The seat is about the size of a lawn tractor seat. (that would have bene painful) :shocked:

The seat pan mounts to a piece of steel with a single bolt. This then mates with another piece mounted to the rear of the tractor, shown in the photo below. The hydraulic hoses are draped over it in the photo below.