PROBLEM HELP! 2018 GC1720 only 6 hours and developed a strong vibration

[Nacademus]

Hey there,

I'm quite new and recently posted a thread about my new tractor. I'm tossing this one up with the hope of getting some insight on what I should do about an issue I'm having.


I just took ownership of this tractor about 10 days ago. Only ran it around the yard, idled it a little bit, learned the backhoe controls and just familiarized myself with it.

The weather had been bad for a few days and today I was finally able to try and mow my 4 acres with it. My land is basically flat and grassy.

Everything was going great at first. It was smooth and went through the field-cutting like it wasn't even trying. It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it. I wasn't cutting fast at all or really taxing the tractor.

About an acre in, I noticed that it was maybe a little weaker and felt different. I could hear the HST a little more, or maybe I was just noticed it more once it seemed to begin acting up. I stopped and let it idle a bit. I noticed that there was quite strong vibrations being transmitted through the whole tractor. My PTO was disengaged and I was on smooth concrete.

I opened the hood to take a look and the engine was vibrating a lot-more than it did before. It is very strange. The engine was barely operating at the first line on the temp gauge.

The vibrations happen at all RPMs. I will share a video to show what I mean.

I am feeling a little sick to my stomach and heart-broken about this tractor, now. I haven't even made my first payment yet I plan to call the dealership in the morning. I don't really know what they will do for me- probably charge me a fee to come get it for nothing.

The engine was sooooo smooth before. I remember specifically being very impressed with how a 3cyl diesel could idle so smoothly. Something is definitely wrong. Could it be a miss? Have there been any reports of issues like this?

 

[atsah]

It doesn't seem to be any different than mine, the temp gauge is normal, the way the fan setup and cooling system is on these GC's you will probably never overheat it.. Mine vibrates about like yours does..

 

[Nacademus]

I swear it wasn't that bad before. Maybe I'm being paranoid??

 

[atsah]

I swear it wasn't that bad before. Maybe I'm being paranoid??

The smaller the engine the more they vibrate. You may just have not noticed it, the trans whine is probably normal as well just took you a while to start hearing it with it being a new tractor.. I would just check your oil and make your sure your hydro fluid level is at least half way up the glass near the rear PTO..

 

[atsah]

Also if you move you're throttle up to 17-1800rpm's it will smooth right out..

 

[Nacademus]

Also if you move you're throttle up to 17-1800rpm's it will smooth right out..

It does not smooth out.

 

[atsah]

If I knew how to upload a video I would go out right now and show you mine..

 

[ray66v]

It looks like mine does.

It's a 3 cylinder engine, they are inherently unbalanced. That's why you don't see a lot of them in cars.

It's a tractor, engines are mounted more solidly, and thus going to have vibration, even if the engine was balanced.

It will vibrate more at some rpm's than others.

 

[Nacademus]

It looks like mine does.

It's a 3 cylinder engine, they are inherently unbalanced. That's why you don't see a lot of them in cars.

It's a tractor, engines are mounted more solidly, and thus going to have vibration, even if the engine was balanced.

It will vibrate more at some rpm's than others.

I don't think this video is doing much justice. It did not vibrate in this manner earlier in the day. I guess I'll just wait it out until parts start shaking off. This cannot be acceptable.

 

[ray66v]

I don't think this video is doing much justice. It did not vibrate in this manner earlier in the day. I guess I'll just wait it out until parts start shaking off. This cannot be acceptable.

It's possible something is wrong.

We can only speculate based on what we see.

There have been zero reported issues with these engines.

I suggest you go to the dealer, and see how the ones on the lot are.

 

[Devi8]

The hydraulics being a little nosier after use is the fan turning on I believe, Mine does it after mowing I let it run while I empty the bagger, it cools off and the fan shuts off. Your engine sounds just like mine, I think your being paranoid.

 

[coldsteelva]

If the vibration you feel is more like a cavitation, make sure that there is hydro fluid visible in the sight glass on the rear diff. It is hard to see, but the fluid is just slightly off clear and can be seen on the white sight glass.

 

[1bayouboy]

The air intake is what is actually moving the most in that video and it isn't rigidly attached. Watch it compared to the the belt pulley under it......

 

[shooterdon]

It's possible something is wrong.

We can only speculate based on what we see.

There have been zero reported issues with these engines.

I suggest you go to the dealer, and see how the ones on the lot are.

Really good advice in the last sentence. Cheap and easy to do unless the dealer is a long way away.

 

[ruffdog]

The OP should ask the dealer for some names of others with the same tractor. Go look at them and see how other's tractors are for comparison.

 

[Nacademus]

I would feel better if others could post videos of theirs.

There aren't any tractors local and my dealer it not close. They didn't even have a tractors on inventory when I bought this one.

 

[atsah]

Just went out and started mine and took a video, looks and sounds exactly like yours.. I don't know how to post videos, says it's the wrong kind of file.. If you want to PM you're phone # I can text it to you..

 

[Nacademus]

Just went out and started mine and took a video, looks and sounds exactly like yours.. I don't know how to post videos, says it's the wrong kind of file.. If you want to PM you're phone # I can text it to you..

Inboxed you.

Thank you!

 

[atsah]

Video sent.

 

[JWR]

I would feel better if others could post videos of theirs.

There aren't any tractors local and my dealer it not close. They didn't even have a tractors on inventory when I bought this one.

Where are you ? There has to be similar machines somewhere within a reasonable drive to go listen to. This is so subjective you really need a couple of other machines to calibrate your judgement with. At the same time, SOUND is a very important, often profound indicator of "something ain't right" and I certainly understand sticking to your guns until this gets clarified. If you bought it brand new (seems you did) then the dealer should be willing to do a drive by and listen to it for you (as opposed to hauling it anywhere.) Also, enlist a friend or too with small tractor experience and have them listen.

Your air intake in the video shakes EXACTLY the same as mine on a Kubota BX2200. I eventually added a generic "full of holes metal strap" bracket lined with an old bike inner tube to try and quiet the shaking of the air filter assembly.