We love both of our 2500 E .They do a great job on greens .
You may want to check the belt tensioning idler on engine .
Both machines failed around 1000 hrs.
The first time we where lucky
The second time not so much
Wheels are hydraulic driven so we could drive it back .
Idler wheel is a pretty good chunk of steel . I'm guessing 3 to 4 lbs .
second unit went at about the same hours . Took the radiator and fan out . Not repairable . $$$.$$.
I would suggest taking tension of the belt during oil changes after 500 hours and check for bearing wear . I'll be checking mine every oil change from here on in .
Getting a few hour on these work horses . Working out great so far . A few new machine bugs and a little learning curve for me but over all a great machine here . Very comparable to the 4300 I had at the last course . I find the decks a little sturdier . Also soo like the smaller decks on both machines they tend to give a better after cut appearance . Contour better on hills and moguls.
Lift arms bushings are getting sloppy . Time to change them out .
I like the JD gear we have but their parts books etc. are not user friendly at all .To many times their are part # changes for specific serial # etc . For just once I would like to just go get a part # with out dealing with all the BS that goes with it .It's so screwy that the dealer doesn't even know .Wanted to order bushings had to look all over parts break down .See because rear lift arms are in one section and front are in another (hydraulic tank axle section)
part # call for more than what's there .Dealer was going to send me 50% more of them than I needed ???????????????
There are only 10 bushings !!!!!!
Only company I question their position on parts books and free access to repairs .
The first ones on the lift .. decks removed
Used this blind hole bushing puller . See the tensioner for claws .....very nice .
For the other side there is no access to use tool on front lift arm . Made a tool by grinding down a grade 8 washer and bolted it together .
Easily drove the other side out .
While waiting on bushings ( no rush winter work ) I cleaned up decks to repaint .
They turned out great
My go to bushing press . 3/4" threaded rod backed with a bunch of washers.
If your decks are not staying level in the up position and seem to flop around either way then check this stopper on ram .Mine was worn bad and was by passing . Took it off and built back up with weld .
Ya pipe clamp . roll pin I had was slightly under sized .
Also ordered more washers to shim it closer for it to hit properly. I thing front bushings wore out enough causing this issue .
Solid contact not hitting ram rod .
Doing up downs . Self centering every time
Had am issue getting decks off knuckle . I welded nut to side but the next one we just welded a bead on nut to keep it from spinning . Replaced with new nylocks later .
Second ones being done by Andrew ( student )
Service park brakes . Left sides always bad . Every one turns in one direction I find ...left or right handed doesn't matter . Ordered replacement springs from Lawsons and cut them down to fit .
Learning we didn't have to weld nut to side a bead will do to lock it from turning
A few more pics of Andrew hard at work .
Learning to prep your work area before tear down .
Left tire also wears out twice as fast
Good skills to have in your tool box .
Lastly after checking all hoses and timelines on fluids and filters .We replaced rear wheel motor hoses and cleaned up these coils . Preventive maintenance . Had one a while back we had one unit that would go up but would not go down . These coils built up enough corrosion to have them act up .
A walk around of it done and going back to storage
Trial last season .This season after finally getting water meters etc. completed we are up and running .
Now onto trouble shooting . We where having issues with carburetor either freezing up or air filters getting plugged from snow . At first I couldn't figure out what was going on . Looked really bad . Oil blowing out exhaust ports ,crankcases filling up magically from mystery oil ( unburnt fuel making its way back into crankcase )eventually blowing by rings fouling plugs resulting in machines eventually shutting down . I'm thinking at the time that maybe these machines where designed ti run in a remote location away from snow making area . But we have a unique situation where they needed to be in the same are . Being in the same area and having the lids up for exhaust to escape and added cold temperatures with snow I think caused air filters to plug and or carburetors to freeze up making them shut down . My remedy was
To vent out exhaust so lids could be kept closed to trap some of the heat in keeping heated air going to engines
We found it stayed a little to hot and decided to vent some heat out by pinning rear lid open .
Nice and clean .Looks like I just put it in
Added a light to the newer sidekick .The guys aim it at the snow guns to monitor them .
Snow gear in action . My mods made the difference .They have been running for over 48 hours without an issue .
