gs30 54" deck

[MarkC]

Deal or no deal I just picked up a brand new gs30 with a 54" deck 13HP motor for 1,795.00 plus 300 for s/h do you think thats a deal or no. Thanks for the input . Is this a good mower?

[biodale]

I think you will like the machine. It has a large pulley so the belts wont slip easily. I like mine better than the heavy hydros. I am putting electric start on it. I just need to find a place for the battery. Did you buy it from JD dealer in Casper, Wy? I saw it listed for sale.

[MarkC]

Thats the one. I was very shocked that there was no bids on it. It is going to be here on Jan 28 not a bad ship time to Ohio. And only $322.00 bucks for s/h. I was going to pick up a used mower but for the price for this one I dont think I can go wrong.

[lawrence stone]

This will make a good machine for a homeowner but it is not something an actual landscape contractor would use unless he got caught in a time warp back to 1985.

BTW you are NOT going to be happy when you find the JD replacement parts are going to cost big bucks.

The other issue is that this has a "timed" mowing deck. If the "timing" goes south the blades will crash into each other.

[biodale]

Many people think the belt drives are an antiquated design. The hydros do have many advantages. The GS belt drives are a fine machine. Only the 36" deck uses interference blades. The blades must be checked for timing and the belt tension kept correct. Its really not a big deal. You wont have that problem with a 54" deck.
John Deere uses a large 8" drive pulley that seldom slips. It will handle wet grass better than most belt drives. That being said, dont use it in wet grass. I like how light it is. It wont make ruts in the grass. I have had good luck with the Kohler command engine. I use redline synthetic oil.
I thought about buying the mower myself. Mine has a 36" deck. It has worked well for me. If I was mowing larger areas needing a 54" deck, I would look for a machine that would be faster and more up to date. I will probably get a hydro for my next mower. But you have a nice machine. And it is new. That counts for something.
Good Luck

[steve-o]

What??????

Many people think the belt drives are an antiquated design. The hydros do have many advantages. The GS belt drives are a fine machine. Only the 36" deck uses interference blades. The blades must be checked for timing and the belt tension kept correct. Its really not a big deal. You wont have that problem with a 54" deck.
John Deere uses a large 8" drive pulley that seldom slips. It will handle wet grass better than most belt drives. That being said, dont use it in wet grass. I like how light it is. It wont make ruts in the grass. I have had good luck with the Kohler command engine. I use redline synthetic oil.
I thought about buying the mower myself. Mine has a 36" deck. It has worked well for me. If I was mowing larger areas needing a 54" deck, I would look for a machine that would be faster and more up to date. I will probably get a hydro for my next mower. But you have a nice machine. And it is new. That counts for something.
Good Luck

i was gonna highlight.

steve-o

[lawrence stone]

That being said, dont use it in wet grass.

That's going to be a hard sell since the state of Ohio will be most likely a sea of mud come April.

[biodale]

new gs30

Have you received your new mower yet. What do you think of it. I am putting electric start on mine. I'll let you know how it works.

[MarkC]

Got the mower very happy so far. Do you have the 54 " deck? Also post some pics of the starter that you put in. I might do the same.

[biodale]

gs30

Mine has a 36" deck. I am having trouble converting to electric start. The problem is getting the interlock module to work right with a battery. I wired it wrong and fried one. New module coming in Monday. I will let you know if I can figure out how to make it work.

[lawrence stone]

Mine has a 36" deck. I am having trouble converting to electric start. The problem is getting the interlock module to work right with a battery. I wired it wrong and fried one. New module coming in Monday. I will let you know if I can figure out how to make it work.

If your mower does not have an electric clutch it does not have an alternator.

But you can still convert to electric start using a dead loss system separate from the OEM circuit.

Just use a HD push button or a key switch and starter solenoid. Just hook up a battery charger overnight. You still have a recoil starter when needed.

[TRANSMAN]

Possibly this will help

Mine has a 36" deck. I am having trouble converting to electric start. The problem is getting the interlock module to work right with a battery. I wired it wrong and fried one. New module coming in Monday. I will let you know if I can figure out how to make it work.

Lorenzo may be right in assuming your engine isn't equipped with a charging circuit, but Ive seen others throw lights on these mowers so I'm assuming some or all do.

Link that may help:

https://www.simpletractors.com/servi..._electrics.htm

Looking at that model number and the various code lists of said motor it seems they did all come with some sort of charging circuit...

But its possible 1 slipped out without charging but as lorenzo mentioned with a good battery and charging overnight you can make it work one way or another.

Tanky.

T-magic

[biodale]

electric start on mower

I got the electric start all hooked up. I like it. I also put on an hour meter. There was a ring gear already on the engine. The stator (charging unit) is also on the factory unit as it is needed to run the electric clutch when there is no battery. I bolted the starter in place and ran a 6 ga. wire from the starter to the solenoid. Then from the solenoid to the battery. Of course grounded the battery. Ran one wire from the start contact on the solenoid to the start position on the key. Ran one wire from the battery side of solenoid to the other side of the position on the key. At this point it will start but not charge. Trace the wire that runs from the B+ terminal on the regulator-rectifier (center terminal) to the key switch. Jump that wire (it will be red) to the wire that runs to the battery side of the solenoid. Make sure the regulator-rectifier is grounded before you hook the battery up to it or start the mower.

Now start the mower and check the voltage between the battery terminals. It should read about 13.8 - 14.4. If it reads higher than that STOP the engine immediately. You will need to replace the regulator-rectifier with one that has a set point of 14.4 volts. Get Kohler #4140310S.
Of course dont hook up the battery til it is all wired. The order of wiring doesnt matter as long as the battery is hooked up last. My earlier directions might be confusing and I just wanted to clear that up.

You will find a yellow wire taped up by the switch. That is for the hour meter. Just plug it into one side of the meter and ground the other side and you have just added the optional hour meter.

There you have it.