The Honeymoon is over

[indyjohn]

2016 John Deere Gator 825i
Symptom: Difficult shifting, hard to get out of gear
Prescription: Adjust gear selector cable, lubricate primary clutch basket contact points.

I used to say how much I loved my Gator. Well, that ship has sailed.

 

[Ingomike]

How many times has it been in the shop? How many hours?

 

[indyjohn]

How many times has it been in the shop? How many hours?

Once. 18 months ago for its 100 hour service. It currently has 105 hrs, it sits way more than it gets ran. I know that is part of its problem.

Honestly, I have zero complaints about it. No leaks, no failures of any kind. I put a new battery in it in 2022. I bought it to work and it does that very well.

 

[Ingomike]

About 12 hours a year is not much.

 

[indyjohn]

About 12 hours a year is not much.

No, not compared to others here that have similar vehicles. If I lived out where I use it, I guarantee it would get used every day and I'd have stacks and stacks of firewood.

 

[Expat]

that sounds familiar…

 

[phylodog]

Mine's been sitting for a year now, tired of putting money into it. Fortunately "I got a guy" so I don't have to pay the dealership but it's still not a cheap vehicle to maintain if parts are required.

I've certainly purchased my last JD product but that has much more to do with their politics than with my experience with their products. I wish I could support them.

 

[indyjohn]

I've certainly purchased my last JD product but that has much more to do with their politics than with my experience with their products. I wish I could support them.

Somehow I just learned about this last month. It's a real shame. My family farm ran for two generations on Green power. I had a hard time justifying the expense of one of their tractors when there are other brands out there with the same or better capabilities. Now, I have their stupid corporate policies to convince me to buy elsewhere (if that day to buy a tractor ever comes).

 

[El Conquistador]

A buddy of fine just recently needed a vacuum fuel pump for his gator. Went to JD they wanted $139.99 for it, he found one on Amazon for $12.99 when he got it the next day the box had made for john deere on it.

 

[Leadeye]

Someday I will buy a UTV but we really don't have the need for one now. Most people I know that have them use them mostly to drive around with other people.

 

[Michigan Slim]

I need one for up north. The quad does good work and is fun to run but a UTV would be better for the wife.

 

[indyjohn]

We really enjoy the Gator. Okiegirl drives it to different places on the property, harvests rounds for firewood, brings them back to the splitter and dumps them for processing. She's a one woman operation. It's her "therapy". It's easy to operate and carries a heavy load. Only problem is, they're pricey.

 

[jagee]

Mine does just fine going to the playground in our subdivision...it gets stuck in muddy bean fields, though.

 

[indyjohn]

They look very proud of their accomplishment!

 

[Leadeye]

A friend of mine has one of those Kubota UTVs, when we visit he drives us all around his land showing off the forestry work he does. It's an impressive machine.

 

[cosermann]

It’s incredible JD did not learn the “Bud Light lesson,” which tells me it’s not a business-motivated decision.

 

[mom45]

We recently acquired a 2016 Polaris Ranger. We have trails all through our woods that we can drive our trucks through so it works well for us. Grandkids are loving it!

 

[Michigan Slim]

We recently acquired a 2016 Polaris Ranger. We have trails all through our woods that we can drive our trucks through so it works well for us. Grandkids are loving it!

View attachment 370540

I'm in a similar situation. I have a lane all the way back if I can keep it up. Lots of firewood in it whenever I go up. A rider mower makes it back there to keep it neat.

 

[mom45]

I'm in a similar situation. I have a lane all the way back if I can keep it up. Lots of firewood in it whenever I go up. A rider mower makes it back there to keep it neat.

We bush hog with the farm tractor to keep the trails clear. We only have to do it a couple times a year if we drive thru regularly.

 

[Michigan Slim]

We bush hog with the farm tractor to keep the trails clear. We only have to do it a couple times a year if we drive thru regularly.

Sandy soil low and gravel hills. Hardwood and pines. Grass grows in the lanes but not thick. I can mow them two times a year plus fall after leaf drop.
Had a guy next door on federal land yelling at me for mowing my lanes the day before deer season last year. Shot my buck on a nice mowed path the next morning .