6x4 JD Gator question....

MotorSeven · Aug 29, 2007

If the deal closes in a couple of weeks, i will aquire an older Diesel Gator along with a popperty purchase. It has been sitting in a shed and the ownner said he hasen't run it in 2 years. First things first....how the heck do you lift the dump bed to access the engine/battery? I crawled all over the thing and couldn't find a latch or pull handle.....& this feeling of ineptness is creeping in........

RD

dsb5610 · Aug 29, 2007

MotorSeven,

If it's manual dump there is a lever behind the drivers seat, slide it one way or the other (don't remember which) then pick up the dump bed. If it has a power dump there should be a rocker switch on the dash or next to the parking brake (again, don't remember which).

dsb

MotorSeven · Aug 29, 2007

dsb, thanks. I had flipped the drivers seat up and found a slot which looked like it shoulda had a handle, but didn't. I'll check the dash 2morrow. Dumb-er question: if the battery is also back there under the bed and its dead i guess i have a big green rubiks cube.....lol

darkday · Aug 29, 2007

That battery is under the bed but you can just go to the back and in the open area is where it is located. Shouldn't be to much of a problem to get it out without lifting the bed. The rocker switch (at least for the 03 model) was located on the left hand side of the dash. I obviously had a power dump for my 6x4 but my current HPX has a metal rod that sticks up somewhat flush with the front of the bed.

This 6x4 is probably the biggest workhorse in the JD line of gators, you will have good fun with it. It can haul many things and go place you would have never dreamed of on your land. Get that baby working!

dsb5610 · Aug 30, 2007

If it is power dump and the battery is dead you can easily put a charger on the battery accessible from the back. If your charger is decent sized you should be able to raise the dump with it.

I had a 6x4 gas with manual dump then an HPX Trail Gator with power dump. If I were to buy another it would have a power dump.

dsb

BarryinMN · Aug 30, 2007

The dump is an electric screw drive. Relays are mounted on the center rear verticle member.

Battery is easier replaced out the back. It's the local L&G $20 variety.

Another way to lift the dump bed is follow the electric drive shaft up to the bed & pull the hitch pin & pin out then manually lift the bed.

Had the first ever no start problem with mine this year. Buzzing relays but no start. Replaced the battery cables & problem over. + cable didn't look bad but was.

I usually put fork extenders on pallet forks & pick up the machine for maintenance

darkday · Aug 30, 2007

Barry that doesn't sound to safe getting under there with a forklift holding it. Do you get under your car with a hydraulic jack holding it up ?

BarryinMN · Aug 31, 2007

darkday said:
Barry that doesn't sound to safe getting under there with a forklift holding it. Do you get under your car with a hydraulic jack holding it up ?

There's not much under a gator it's mostly skidplate with a couple of drain plug holes....

When I go under a car it is up on a pair of super HD wood & steel ramps.

Now with my dozer I crawl up on RR ties & drop the skid pan with hyd jacks.

Also have a crate of 4x4, 6x6 & 8x8 blocking for whatever.

darkday · Aug 31, 2007

There's not much under a gator it's mostly skidplate with a couple of drain plug holes....

I wasn't really referring to the safety of the gator

TOMMYHPX4X4 · Aug 31, 2007

well i worked on hydraulic cranes and i wouldn't get under nuthin that is lifted with hydraulics.lol always put something as a backup. o-rings and valves giveout just like that and when they do them forks or crane booms come down fast and i mean fast.o seen it happen a few times and it was like a split second and they was on the ground.thats why they make dogs for friction cranes but hydraulic cranes and fork lifts done have the luxury of that safety device. "BETTER SAFE THAN FLAT"

BarryinMN · Aug 31, 2007

TOMMYHPX4X4 said:
well i worked on hydraulic cranes and i wouldn't get under nuthin that is lifted with hydraulics.lol always put something as a backup. o-rings and valves giveout just like that and when they do them forks or crane booms come down fast and i mean fast.o seen it happen a few times and it was like a split second and they was on the ground.thats why they make dogs for friction cranes but hydraulic cranes and fork lifts done have the luxury of that safety device. "BETTER SAFE THAN FLAT"

I agree after 30 years in heavy mfg better safe than sorry. Anything with stored energy needs respect. I try to stay away from ladders as well. Hers's a pix of my substitute cheaper than a hospital stay & 5 tons of stability:

TOMMYHPX4X4 · Aug 31, 2007

man i need to rent one of them too remove some trees out my yard.i want to cut them down in 4' sections from the top down.

BarryinMN · Aug 31, 2007

Much safer to "totem pole"

Start at the bottom & cut branches on up. then cut the trunk in sections on the way down

TWO GUNS · Aug 31, 2007

yep, know about them hydrolics ,

had a friend, just Tuesday, has his arm broke in several places, when a header on a john deere combine feel, the lift cylinder some how or the line valve went, and he was reaching getting some tools out from it when it fell, another second earlier, it would have crushed his head & killed him. Thank God he's alright other than the arm, he works at a Tractor dealership and had other men there to get him help ...... God was watching over him for sure !!

TOMMYHPX4X4 · Aug 31, 2007

BarryinMN said:
Much safer to "totem pole"

Start at the bottom & cut branches on up. then cut the trunk in sections on the way down

thats how i plan on doin it . i was gonna basicly skin the trees (pine trees)going up and then cut it in the 4' sections coming down . i figure it's safer and it's already chopped that way so all i have to do is pile it up and burn it.

MotorSeven · Aug 31, 2007

Ok, jumping on the 'wheeler and headed over there now....i'l let y'all know..........
RD

MotorSeven · Sep 2, 2007

Thanks for y'alls help. I removed the battery & charged it overnight. After getting it back in, it took about 4 trys, but it fired up and is running fine. It is an electric dump, and it also works. Once the deal closes i will drive it home, do a heavy duty clean-up, some sanding and painting on the cab roof, then it goes up for sale. I will list it here first then ebay. I would love to keep it, but i have 2 wheelers and just can't justify another atv.

One last Q, since it looks like the 4 rear wheels are always in "4x4" mode, does the the left lever between the seats do? It has 3 positions from locked, locked with a circle around it, and un-locked.
RD

darkday · Sep 2, 2007

I never figured out what that does to tell you the truth... Don't you have a smaller lever next to the shifter that is two position ? That was the dif locker for my '03. They might not of had it on the earlier models I don't know.

MotorSeven · Sep 2, 2007

Nope, the right lever has 3- forward, neutral, & reverse. It does look like a dif lock with the little pic of a lock inside of a circle, i just would not guess that with 4 rear tires all spinning you would need it. Or maybe they don't always all spin, i guess one side may do all the driving unless this lever engages the other side......

RD