John Deere 550 gator

[Buppies]

We have owned a 550 since January of this year. Rails on rear bed rusted but replaced by dealer. Parking brake has broken three times locks up and won't release at dealer now. Dealer says it is our fault that we are putting it on to hard. The last time it was fixed only lasted one day. This machine is a life saver for us in keeping up flowers and shrubs but with this problem and the hard to shift from reverse to forward I wonder how long it will last machine has 32 hours on it now. Do others have these problems?

 

[PMA]

We have owned a 550 since January of this year. Rails on rear bed rusted but replaced by dealer. Parking brake has broken three times locks up and won't release at dealer now. Dealer says it is our fault that we are putting it on to hard. The last time it was fixed only lasted one day. This machine is a life saver for us in keeping up flowers and shrubs but with this problem and the hard to shift from reverse to forward I wonder how long it will last machine has 32 hours on it now. Do others have these problems?

My cousin got one and had nothing but problems. He took it to the dealership several times and it wasn't. Finally had to put a new engine to fix it.

Sent from my iPhone using TractorByNet

 

[DT86]

Maybe your tractor wanted a RTV 500 as a garage mate and it is sabotaging the Gator.

 

[Buppies]

Maybe DT86 you are correct

 

[Buppies]

Dealer called said new emergency brake installed but it as our fault by putting it on to hard. This system is flawed from the get go but we shall see how long it lasts this time. Since we are not the only ones having this problem as well as hard to get out of forward or reverse

 

[DT86]

Who is your dealer?

 

[DIXIEDOG]

Maybe your tractor wanted a RTV 500 as a garage mate and it is sabotaging the Gator.

Sad part is the RTV 500 would have likely rusted in that length of time too.....I've got no idea what manufacturers are using for paint now but my RTV 500 had all the paint fall off the bed's headboard in no time....it fell off in sheets with rust under it. No way that should have ever happened.



Buppies it sucks to hear you're having so many problems, the 550 looks like a nice unit too....hopefully they get the issues fixed and you don't have anymore.

 

[Buppies]

New parking brake installed waiting for us to pick up machine. Have my doubts

 

[Milo]

At least it came with a parking brake, my Ranger doesn't have one. So far it's been ok but I hate having to push up on the shifter so hard taking it out of park when on a hill.

New parking brake installed waiting for us to pick up machine. Have my doubts

I would too if they used the same part numbers.

 

[Buppies]

I haven't picked it up yet supposed to be new and improved

 

[Agent Blue]

All the problems in 32 hours of service ? I would be looking at selling or trading soon. That is not normal.

 

[Buppies]

Picked up gator today from dealer will see if their fix works

 

[Buppies]

Fix is working so far guess time will tell

 

[Whaleya]

The parking brake is poorly engineered. If you don't apply it hard the Gator will roll even if on the slightest of a hill. If you apply to the next "click" the cable, over time till break at the cable/eyelet. We have 150 hours on ours and have had to have the parking brake cable replaced once so far. I expect the only reason it only broke once is that the unit is in the shop so much we don't get a chance to use the parking cable

In addition our shift cable is currently broken (just happened) and we have had to have both head gaskets replaced. Ours has been in the shop 3+ weeks during our 12 months of ownership. I would run away from John Deere - ANY competitor will have a better engineered product compared to the 550!

-W

 

[Buppies]

Have 45 hours now no further issues comes in very handy for us

 

[Whaleya]

Hello,

I also have a Gator 550 and my parking brake keeps failing. On my Gator, the cable has snapped twice right at the pedal, due to metal fatigue. In order to try to get JD to fix this problem, which I feel is a safety defect, I submitted it as a safety defect to the Consumer Products Safety Commission. (CPSC Home | CPSC.gov) There is a button the right side to submit a report of an unsafe product. The form isn't too long to fill out.

I also mailed a short letter to John Deere stating that I believe there is a safety defect with my Gator, stated the details that the parking brake failed and my concern it could cause an accident. I also mentioned that I submitted a report to the government.

John Deere call me a few days after I mailed the letter and said that they are looking into it (by law they have to respond to a formal complaint lodged with the CPSC). I am hoping that if other owners report the problems that they are having with the brake ,it might spur John Deere into redesigning the parking brake and performing a recall. So if your parking brake has failed, please take a few minutes and submit a formal report!

My Gator now has about 185 hours but it is used for short trips so the parking brake gets applied many times per hour of use.

-W

 

[Buppies]

Our 550 is now over one year old no further issues with parking brake. Starts easily in cold weather and does all that we ask