G1800 Should I buy?

[Chairwolf]

Newbie here. I have a chance to buy a nice looking G1800 with a little under 900 hours on it. Includes a 48 inch mowing deck, snow blade, extra rear wheels, chains and weights. Can probably be had for $2500 or less. Cosmetically, it looks great. My biggest concern is the decreasing availability of parts.

Any thoughts?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Newbie here. I have a chance to buy a nice looking G1800 with a little under 900 hours on it. Includes a 48 inch mowing deck, snow blade, extra rear wheels, chains and weights. Can probably be had for $2500 or less. Cosmetically, it looks great. My biggest concern is the decreasing availability of parts.

Any thoughts?

I don't think parts are that hard to find for that model.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

According to tractordata it's 25 years old+-, so 900 hrs isn't much. Check to see how solid the deck is.
Maybe goto 'online' parts and see what is available, engine parts, electrical switches, spindle bearings.
Price is reasonable as it's a diesel and has a few 'extras'.
ALSO, think about 'service' unless you turn wrenches... Kubota dealer nearby ??

 

[Chairwolf]

According to tractordata it's 25 years old+-, so 900 hrs isn't much. Check to see how solid the deck is.
Maybe goto 'online' parts and see what is available, engine parts, electrical switches, spindle bearings.
Price is reasonable as it's a diesel and has a few 'extras'.
ALSO, think about 'service' unless you turn wrenches... Kubota dealer nearby ??

Going to see it later this week. Deck has been replaced with a 48" RC48. Yes, dealer is 5 minutes away from where I work.

 

[PaulL]

I'll be that guy.

Firstly, yes, sounds like a reasonable buy, although I know little about G1800s.

But secondly, are you sure you don't want a BX? A loader, 3ph and PTO give so many more options for good things you could do. And being a tractor site and all, we tend to encourage people to make that little extra jump. Once you have a BX you'll wonder how you ever did without one. Eliminating a large number of the things you had to get a shovel and wheelbarrow out for in the past is just incredible. You not only are amazed at how much easier life is to do the things you're asked to do, you start a) enjoying them, and b) doing far more of them - if you can move a trailer load of mulch in an hour, why not do it way more often?

 

[Chairwolf]

I'll be that guy.

Firstly, yes, sounds like a reasonable buy, although I know little about G1800s.

But secondly, are you sure you don't want a BX? A loader, 3ph and PTO give so many more options for good things you could do. And being a tractor site and all, we tend to encourage people to make that little extra jump. Once you have a BX you'll wonder how you ever did without one. Eliminating a large number of the things you had to get a shovel and wheelbarrow out for in the past is just incredible. You not only are amazed at how much easier life is to do the things you're asked to do, you start a) enjoying them, and b) doing far more of them - if you can move a trailer load of mulch in an hour, why not do it way more often?

I'd have to check out the BX. Probably a bit more cost, but sounds like more fun. Any certain model?

 

[GreensvilleJay]

OK, go back to 'square one'...
What ARE your requirements ? just cutting grass, pulling a small trailer, pushing snow OR full blown property needs like moving tons of top soil, digging septic bed,tilling a1/4ac garden ?
Write the list, check it twice. To me if it's 'grass cutting', that rider is a very good 'fit'.....

 

[Chairwolf]

Really, just general maintenance of about 2 acres of grass and 11 acres of woods. It's something to get around the property with, to push snow, pick up sticks (lots of trees in the 2 acres of grass), and just piddle around with. The BX1880 would be great, but for now this will work, and I don't think I can get a BX for $2500. I'm 62 and have a few health issues that limit the amount of walking I can do right now. So this will help.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

go for it, seems to 'fit' fine for you, be happy !!!

I've used 'riders' for decades, even to mow down 1/4 acre of rye, as I'd given away combine as a BD present.

 

[Chairwolf]

I think it's money in the bank. I could still find a deal on a BX at some point, and not lose a dime on the G1800, so it's all good! I'll let you guys know when I get it. And thanks for the comments!

 

[PaulL]

I agree with that, but yeah, any BX will do way more. For the property you describe a BX or a B would be a good fit, and really give you way more capability.

If you're like me, you'll buy that G1800 and two weeks later you'll be working out how to hitch a trailer to it, and a few weeks later making a pulley system so you can lift things by pulling on them......just buying a machine with a front end loader in the first place would make you way more happy.

You definitely won't get a BX for $2,500. With a loader you'll be around $10K or a bit more. But you'd never regret it.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I decided long, long ago that NO one tractor does it all.
So I have a dedicated 'lawn mower', dedicated 'riding snowthrower', dedicated TLB, dedicated tractor with rototiller. Had a few more as well as combine with 10' grain head.
For me this works as NO PITA changing of implements and no matter how old we get, we ain't getting any younger.
When I bought eh BX23S, 6 years ago, sales guy said...do you want the MMM , $2500 ? NO, I buying this machine to have fun digging and hauling,it'll never be a 'lawn mower' !!!
Also, having more than one machine, has options. I can go cut the grass if the BX23S is waiting for a part.

Options, always think about options...hmm, maybe a B2601 3 years from now, you know, after the wife's decided she LOVES to cut grass but wants you to do some 'little' landscaping......

 

[PaulL]

Horses for courses. I choose to have one machine that does everything I need. I don't want to maintain multiple machines, and I like to get value from the machine I own. I don't find taking the MMM off to be all that hard, and many of the tractor things I do I can do just fine with the mower on.

My general view is that the right time to get a tractor is a few years ago, but failing that, right now. Getting a tractor in 3 years time is not a good idea, particularly for a guy already in his 60s who has some struggles doing physical things. If he gets a tractor in 3 years, he'll totally go "I wish I'd done that 3 years ago".

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Hay Paul, just wait until you're 71, 'missing' two lower discs, wear bifocals, and lose 24% of lung capacity THEN tell me how much 'fun' it is to get MMM off or on .
When you're young and healthy, EVERYTHING is easy.........but nobody I know has gotten younger the older they get

as for maintenance, since time is split between several machines, each seems to last longer. if ones i the shop, others can be used. I had less invested in 4 farm tractors,implements, trailers and the combine than the BX23S

in the end , it's a personal choice, just weigh the 'options'

 

[Chairwolf]

Ok, I went and picked up the G1800 last night. Seller was a super nice guy. He threw in a bunch of extras that he would no longer need, such as a new roller for the deck that he hadn't put on yet, various doo-dads that he had, his 5 gallon diesel jug, original hub caps (which I won't use, but it was nice of him), etc. We put the machine on the trailer and hauled it about an hour to my place. It wouldn't start when we got it home! The dash lights would come on, the fuel pump would run, but it wouldn't crank. So I jumpered the starter and we got it off the trailer.

I'm thinking a wire probably vibrated itself off during the trip, maybe in the ignition key switch area. Not worried, it should be something simple. But while I have the attention of you folks, does anyone have any ideas of what this might be?

Thanks!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

quick like a bunny, fid and download the 'WorkShop Manual aka WSM" ! I didn't easily see it at www.kubotabook.com but someone here probably knows where it is. You really NEED the wiring diagram to easily, quickly FIX 'electrical' problems.
The usual culprits are switches and connections for 'starts...no starts'.... Some machine require you to be on the seat, others don't. PTO lever needs to be 'off/disengaged', etc.

 

[Chairwolf]

quick like a bunny, fid and download the 'WorkShop Manual aka WSM" ! I didn't easily see it at www.kubotabook.com but someone here probably knows where it is. You really NEED the wiring diagram to easily, quickly FIX 'electrical' problems.
The usual culprits are switches and connections for 'starts...no starts'.... Some machine require you to be on the seat, others don't. PTO lever needs to be 'off/disengaged', etc.

Thanks! The seller gave me some manuals with the machine. But I think eyeballs on the wires should be sufficient for my first wave of attacks. I'll disconnect the battery, check the connections, and squirt my trusty "electrical connection cleaner" spray on everything. If that doesn't fix it, I'll dig deeper!

Stay tuned...

 

[Hugo Habicht]

Congratulations to your new tractor! Fine machine in my humble opinion.

The parking brake has to be applied and the PTO lever has to be off, otherwise it will not start. Seat switch only applies when PTO is engaged, so engine will stop when PTO running and you get off the seat.

Are the hub caps in good condition? I find them rather cool and mine does not have any. Would you sell them by any chance?

This is from the manual:

 

[Chairwolf]

Tractor is running great. Secret sauce was a squirt of wd-40 on the connections around the starter, and she fired right up! Life is good! Oh, and thanks for all of the suggestions for the solution. I'm sure I'll be needing more as I put this thing to work!

 

[Chairwolf]

Question - the guy who sold me the machine told me that the right front tire leaked. No big deal. I was planning on putting some slime in it to see if that would take care of it. In the meantime, a co-worker of mine showed up with 2 brand new tires on rims that are the exact size that the G1800 takes. The question is, are the rims right?

Does anyone have a picture of the INSIDE-FACING side of the front rims? The pair that my co-worker has is made with kind of a "snout" on the inside, as the pics show. Will these work on the G1800?

Thanks

(Reason I ask, by the way, is because I'm not at home and can't see the wheels for myself!)