Replacing a G1900 radiator..lots o fun

[Sniggle]

Yesterday (and the day before actually) I replaced the radiator on my G1900. It has started to leak, an although it still worked, the radiator fluid would get the screen wet and then all the grass would stick to it and the radiator itself, causing constant air flow issues.

Parts cost was about $480 delivered to include the radiator assembly, news support rubber cushions and new top rubber cushions.

It took me about 2.5 hours to get the old one out and about 2 hours to get the new one in, working slowly.

The radiator is only attached by 2 bolts at the bottom of the units, attaching it to the frame with a rubber cushion between the radiator and the frame. Each of the bolts has a cotter pin through the top to keep the bolts from backing out (I learned about them after some frustration).

The job can be done without removing the motor, as I did, but it takes some trial and error to find out how to access the bolts with the wrench. You will need to remove the end of the drive shaft from the motor mount to get the room you need to access the bolts.

The cowling at the front of the radiator needs to be removed from the radiator and placed first before assembly and disassembly.

The one thing I have as of yet been unable to do is replace the cotter pin on the left hand bolt. I just can not get my hand or any tool in the small space with the cotter pin to try and find the hole, and there is no way to even see the top of the bolt. I tried for about 30 minutes, and gave up for now. I may try again in a week, and I will watch to ensure that the bolt does not back out.

Although I kinda enjoyed the challenge, for someone not terribly mechanically inclined trying to access the under side of the tractor with limited tools was difficult. I appreciate that my wife knew me well enough to leave me alone as I struggled with the beast

 

[lakeside]

If you're worried about the nut backing off, and if the nut is accessible, you could try some Loctite. There's Locktite that's permanent and other grades which will allow you to remove the fasterner without having to torque the h*** out of it.

 

[scopemounts]

Yesterday (and the day before actually) I replaced the radiator on my G1900. It has started to leak, an although it still worked, the radiator fluid would get the screen wet and then all the grass would stick to it and the radiator itself, causing constant air flow issues.

Parts cost was about $480 delivered to include the radiator assembly, news support rubber cushions and new top rubber cushions.

It took me about 2.5 hours to get the old one out and about 2 hours to get the new one in, working slowly.

The radiator is only attached by 2 bolts at the bottom of the units, attaching it to the frame with a rubber cushion between the radiator and the frame. Each of the bolts has a cotter pin through the top to keep the bolts from backing out (I learned about them after some frustration).

The job can be done without removing the motor, as I did, but it takes some trial and error to find out how to access the bolts with the wrench. You will need to remove the end of the drive shaft from the motor mount to get the room you need to access the bolts.

The cowling at the front of the radiator needs to be removed from the radiator and placed first before assembly and disassembly.

The one thing I have as of yet been unable to do is replace the cotter pin on the left hand bolt. I just can not get my hand or any tool in the small space with the cotter pin to try and find the hole, and there is no way to even see the top of the bolt. I tried for about 30 minutes, and gave up for now. I may try again in a week, and I will watch to ensure that the bolt does not back out.

Although I kinda enjoyed the challenge, for someone not terribly mechanically inclined trying to access the under side of the tractor with limited tools was difficult. I appreciate that my wife knew me well enough to leave me alone as I struggled with the beast

I replaced the radiator in my G1900 by removing the steering wheel, gas lever, headlight switch & lifting the dash off & moving it to the side. Then remove the perforated panel in the center below the steering wheel. Now remove the dash framework 2 bolts at each side attached to the frame & the 2 nuts attached to the threaded studs on the frame that are behind the perforated panel you just removed. Now you will be able to pull the hole steering assembly to the rear around 1" & tilt it back to get access to the two brackets the radiator is attached to at the bottom. Remove the filter screen at the back of the radiator, remove the top 2 bolts that hold the radiator overflow container on & loosen the bottom bolt on the container so you have access to the next 4 bolts. Remove the 4 bolts that hold the shroud to the radiator. There are two brackets that the radiator bolts to, one on each side that are bolted to the frame. Remove the 2 bolts in each bracket that go into the frame. Now you should be able to remove the radiator with the brackets attached to the radiator. This way you can replace the radiator with everything attached including the cotter pin that is impossible to put in without this method or removing the engine

 

[bjmsam]

This thread was most helpful as I prepared to replace the water pump on my G1900. I managed to extract the pump+pulley+fan assembly together without removing the engine or radiator simply by detaching the coolant overflow reservoir, unbolting the fan shroud so it can tip forward, and unbolting the comp panel from the tractor frame so the radiator can tip rearward enough for the assembly to squeeze through. Reassembly presented no significant challenges and the tractor was up and running quickly with no leaks through full operating temperature. Tackling other maintenance at the same time certainly would have been easier with the engine out and radiator removed, but for replacing only the water pump, I will not hesitate to employ this approach again (if this inexpensive INPOST water pump fails prematurely, then I will rebuild the original OEM pump, which lasted over 2150 hours before weeping).