Help!!Gator driving me nuts..

[Sparktrician]

I have a john deere gator. It will run about 10 min and shut off. Have traced it to electrical issues, but not sure what. IF ANYONE knows much about these, please help. The wire going from key switch to magneto to ground and shut off engine is complete. possible keyswitch issues. ANYONE w/experiance with this, ideas????

 

[jd b puller]

What model, what year, how many hours, which engine, any other symptoms? Did it just start doing this or has it been having varying issues for a while.

 

[Sparktrician]

it is the "original gator" model. Year unknown, i can get SN if someone can refrence it. Deere said they cant. Will check engine after lunch. Has been doing on and off for a while. parked last year because of this, but want it fixed. Carb has been cleaned, have good magnet on flywheel, But something is not right.

 

[buickanddeere]

How do you know it's an electrical problem?
Original Gator??? 5,4 or 6 wheel? 2 or 4 driving wheels? Gasser single, twin or diesel? Air or water cooled?

 

[L.C.Gray]

Could be a condenser going bad. They are sometimes sensitive to heat when going out. I had a Cub that I tired everything with but would still go to running bad after running a spell. I changed the condenser and no more problem.

 

[jay-eye-see]

possibly, when running correctly, try to gently "wiggle" wires and harness'and listen for it to stutter or die

 

[Walt Davies]

Get it running and trade it in a good Kubota you can fix them if they ever rake down.
Walt

 

[Bill from MA]

My Deere lawn tractor did the same thing and it was the coil.

 

[Kentb of SWMO]

If the engine is a Kawasaki the coil is about $200.00 from Mother Deere.

Kent

 

[John M]

Nuttin runs like a Deere! Neighbor had the same problem, coil. His was an earlier one.

 

[chuck naill]

My JD lawnmower did the same also. It is the coil if I remember correctly.

 

[jd b puller]

Still would need model of machine. If it's a magneto ignition, pull all the wires off the magnetos (except the ones going to the spark plugs). If it still dies, it's the magnetos. If it doesn't, it's something else. Do you have spark when it dies?

Each engine has it's own quirks, knowing what it is isn't just helpful, it's required. Guys can stab in the dark with this and that, but if we just know WHAT you had it'd be a lot easier.

 

[El Toro]

You can eleminate the switch by disconnecting the grounding wire. It sounds like a coil failing when it gets warm. If it has a condenser it could be the problem. You need to check for fire to the plug asap when it quits running, it may restart after it cools off. Hal

 

[Sparktrician]

The gator is gas, 4X2, electric dump box. Kawasaki motor. Bought at Ted Everett auction near Indianapolis IN. several years ago, dont know the year. Well, with more tracing today, and the darn thing starting and running, and then not starting, starting after 10 minuates, 1 minuate, or an hour.....I traced it down to the mag. Found it to be grounding itself out, sometimes. Sometimes it would die and i couldnt read continuity to ground right after it died. The mag coil must be complete junk now because it is off and the ground wire terminal, where the wire from the keyswitch plugs onto it, will read continuity to the frame of the magneto. No wonder i have no spark!!! Aggrevating thing, wont go at once, but will stop in the middle of pasture when checking cows, drive around close to the barn all day and it wont quit!!!! Any place to get an aftermarket? 200.00 is kinda painfull!!! Thanks for any and all help!!!

 

[wingnut 13]

We had trouble with ours it was the connector plug in the wiring harness where it comes from the chassie to the motor the pins in the plug get croded good luck