Reviving a G5200

[marine-mp]

XYooper906, it souns like you have one heckuva machine there!! It should serve you well and those that come atter you. Maintain it well, keep the radiator screen clean and clean under the belt guards or take them off completely. They are the baine of all rusted out decks. Take care and happy cutting!! Semper-fi & This We’ll Defend, Mike

 

[XYooper906]

XYooper906, it souns like you have one heckuva machine there!! It should serve you well and those that come atter you. Maintain it well, keep the radiator screen clean and clean under the belt guards or take them off completely. They are the baine of all rusted out decks. Take care and happy cutting!! Semper-fi & This We’ll Defend, Mike

Yes, I hope to use and maintain it, and hopefully pass it on to my son.

I am in the habit of blowing/washing off the mower decks on all the mowers that I own or have owned. As you mentioned, many times they will rust out from the top down if clippings are left there continuously and moisture is present. Funny you mentioned the belt guards, this is the first mower I've owned where the belts were so completely enclosed by the guards. No wonder they rust out if neglected! While cleaning them up for paint, I was contemplating fabricating some perforated or skeleton-framed guards that would allow easy clean-off and greasing, while still offering some safety protection. It is definitely on my list!

 

[603g5200]

You will have to post some pictures. They are great machines, I love mine and use it for snowblowing in the winter also. It works great.

 

[XYooper906]

You will have to post some pictures. They are great machines, I love mine and use it for snowblowing in the winter also. It works great.

I have finished rebuilding the deck. I even used some of the decals that the original owner had in the tote full of parts!

In the meantime, I also have done an oil change, drained and flushed the cooling system, installed new bushings in the steering gear, and many miscellaneous items to get it ready for mowing. Correction from earlier post, tractor has 417.X hours.

 

[Torinodan]

It has mostly stock parts. The 54" deck is from a Cub Cadet but a Previous Owner seems to have moved all the Kubota spindles, gear box and idlers from the rusty old Kubota RC48 to the modified Cub's deck. It was a well done job.

I still want to see pictures of this Cub deck install. Some point ima going to run out of deck to patch up. You should post pics, part#s for the blades and belt so I can add to my files. Thanks in advance

 

[Torinodan]

I have finished rebuilding the deck. I even used some of the decals that the original owner had in the tote full of parts!

Good catch with all those parts. I do believe I tried to buy this same tractor but you beat me by a few hours according to the owner. Good deal.

 

[Blue280z]

I still want to see pictures of this Cub deck install. Some point ima going to run out of deck to patch up. You should post pics, part#s for the blades and belt so I can add to my files. Thanks in advance

No problem. It is still in winter storage. I'll be getting it out in a few weeks and will take some photos of it.

 

[lmichael]

Nice looking rig there

 

[Torinodan]

No problem. It is still in winter storage. I'll be getting it out in a few weeks and will take some photos of it.

Ever get the tractor out of cold storage yet? I still want to see the deck you have and how it's put together. I have I believe a similar deck and looking for the starting point of moding it.

 

[Blue280z]

Ever get the tractor out of cold storage yet? I still want to see the deck you have and how it's put together. I have I believe a similar deck and looking for the starting point of moding it.

@Torinodan

Finally out. I made a new thread with details and pictures here:

RC48 Mower Deck Transplant to 54" Cub Cadet Deck

Hi All, My G5200 garden tractor came with a unique mower deck. It seems the original Kubota RC48 decks for the G5200 were made from a terrible metal that rusted. The previous owner of my tractor must have had the same problem so he was clever and transplanted the key parts of the RC48 to a...

www.orangetractortalks.com

Enjoy

 

[G5200 owner]

I see that you planned on installing a Honda Del Sol radiator in place of the Kubota radiator. Can you or anyone tell me which Honda Del Sol radiator to order? I want to try this myself on my G5200. Thanks

 

[peterwolfs]

Update: Overheating issue solved.

Just mowed for 5 hours in heavy grass (mower was out of commission for a month so the grass got out of control)

It ran at 1/2 way on the gauge for most of the mowing but crept up just a little towards the third white tick-mark when in thick grass and clippings.

View attachment 65953

I'm not sure what fixed it as I could not do the repair one change at a time. Here is the group of changes made:

1. New head gasket
2. New water pump
3. New injector nozzles
4. New valves, valve seals, and valve job

It was expensive repair as Kubota part prices are "crazy high" here in Canada so I want to make this last. Better cooling will improve the life so 'll try relocating the battery as the next step then install an aluminum Honda Del Sol radiator.

I hope this helps others on the internet as there are so many overheating G5200 threads with no conclusions.

Runs like a champ!

So any Honda Del Sol radiator or a specific year one ?

 

[Blue280z]

So any Honda Del Sol radiator or a specific year one ?

Sorry I have not installed it yet. It is a plan but my wife then I got cancer and have been fighting it since 2022 so things are progressing slower than planned. When I install, I'll take photos and document.