I have an issue with my 1999 gt 235, 18 hp briggs, 54" deck, 398 hours.I bought it new & it has been a great tractor. Keep in mind I mow my yard that is 2 acres weekly. The rear hub seals are leaking cause the steel washers that John Deere put on these tractors are not hardended therefore the hubs wore thru the stock washers and ate the aluinum top case out on the seal surface. After looking into this , speaking to my john deere dealer the only way to fix the problem is by purchasing a new top case, new axle shaft, hub seals, bearings, hardened washers & swapping my guts into a new top case. Total quoted cost with labor is $ 1100.00. My dilema is its hard for me to justify spending this amount of money ( 20 % of what I paid ) on this 10 year old tractor that I gave $ 4,700.00. I am looking at a new X500 with a 54" deck - total cost out the door is $ 6,200.00. I am 35 years old so I have alot of mowing to do down the road. What would you do if you were me?
99 GT 235 - hub seals leaking/case shot
Bigdeereman
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I have an issue with my 1999 gt 235, 18 hp briggs, 54" deck, 398 hours.I bought it new & it has been a great tractor. Keep in mind I mow my yard that is 2 acres weekly. The rear hub seals are leaking cause the steel washers that John Deere put on these tractors are not hardended therefore the hubs wore thru the stock washers and ate the aluinum top case out on the seal surface. After looking into this , speaking to my john deere dealer the only way to fix the problem is by purchasing a new top case, new axle shaft, hub seals, bearings, hardened washers & swapping my guts into a new top case. Total quoted cost with labor is $ 1100.00. My dilema is its hard for me to justify spending this amount of money ( 20 % of what I paid ) on this 10 year old tractor that I gave $ 4,700.00. I am looking at a new X500 with a 54" deck - total cost out the door is $ 6,200.00. I am 35 years old so I have alot of mowing to do down the road. What would you do if you were me?
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Well that's a tuff one for me Because I don't like to give machines up. But I suggest Trade the GT235 In on the X500. The dealer will probably spend the money to fix it so he can resell it. Have Fun with the X500 it's alot more Tractor that the GT235 use to be. :thThumbsU
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972 Posts
http://cgi.ebay.com/John-Deere-GT23...4QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item35a2c0af48&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
The case should be good on that one. Run it until it dies then swap the top case over to your old one. I'd save my money, but I'm cheap.
The case should be good on that one. Run it until it dies then swap the top case over to your old one. I'd save my money, but I'm cheap.
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5,106 Posts
No wonder all the X500 owners out there love their machines. I have an '02 GT235 and have been extremely satisfied with it. I'd be hard pressed to get rid of it, too, even with an expensive problem like that. But if the X5 is that much better, maybe it's time for a trade-in.
I'll have to take a look at those washers on mine, I've got around 450 hrs on it, don't want the same problem.
Before you make the jump, try:
jim@jimsrepairjimstractors.com and see what the possibilities are for a rebuild.
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1,179 Posts
If you really want the upgrade, put in a lower bid for the rear end referenced up above, sell the tractor private party and put it towards the new X500.
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165 Posts
lovemysan, I have contacted the seller about the ebay item. I am hesitant thought to drop $ 450.00 for that unit, then pay someone to put it in, then if the rear end doesnt move the tractor then I have wasted my cash. I cant risk that option. Its a tough decision.
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165 Posts
I put my Tractor on Craigslist in the Louisville, ky & Indianapolis,In area in hopes of selling it outright for the most I can get the way it is then buy a X500. I looked at the X500 last Saturday, and will order one as soon as mine sells.
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165 Posts
I would check them out asap, if the washers get worn away by the hubs eating into them then the seal & rearend hsg is next to be worn awy. Here are pics of mine. I'm not a happy camper right now..
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718 Posts
I think you will be very happy with the X500. I used one for 30 days and upgraded to a CUT. I would have kept the X500 but I have some huge projects and very rough soil where I live.
Here are my thoughts on the X500. http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=92365
Here are my thoughts on the X500. http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=92365
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8,054 Posts
The Simplicity (Conquest/Prestige) is the same setup. Manual says to remove and grease this area every few hours. Does the JD manual state as such?
MU
MU
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165 Posts
The John Deere dealer told me that these washers failed since they were not hardened washers & its due to mowing on hills or slopes. I never caught this but now John Deere sells the hardened flat washers so I went and put a set of these on anyway even though my housing is now eaten up.
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165 Posts
Here is what its supposed to look like. See pic below. This is the picture of the rearend that the guy on Ebay is selling.
Attachments
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165 Posts
Small fry, I agree. I love this GT 235 and its sad John deere didnt recall these, warranty this, & provide these $ 3.00 hardended washers from the factory. I just can't see dropping $ 1100.00 to repair it on a 10 year old tractor. Something else could pop up next year, engine troubles, pto, deck pulleys, ect and i just cant risk the added investment on a 10 year old tractor.
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165 Posts
Small fry, I agree. I love this GT 235 and its sad John deere didnt recall these, warranty this, & provide these $ 3.00 hardended washers from the factory. I just can't see dropping $ 1100.00 to repair it on a 10 year old tractor. Something else could pop up next year, engine troubles, pto, deck pulleys, ect and i just cant risk the added investment on a 10 year old tractor.
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2,072 Posts
What year did JD fix the design? Is it in GX series also?
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165 Posts
I listed this tractor on Craigslist & Ebay and explained in the ad that it a hub seal leaking. I sold this tractor last night from an Ebay buyer for $ 1500.00. I will throw that money along with the $ 1100.00 it was going to take to repair it against my new X520 that I bought last week. Thanks for the opinions & advice
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2,072 Posts
I checked both my 2004 GX345 and GX255 for this. They both have a steel plate over the axle housing, looks like a fix.
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