So there is a farm that I have done a lot of work for over the years and as a result I have been given hunting and wood cutting rights on the farm. Their old 6x4 Gator has had a sick engine for a while and it finally seized. So they were out of the Gator and the farm manager uses it a lot. And I use it when cutting wood both for myself and the farm. I said let me check something's out and see what your options are. A new proprietary engine is $2600.
Well I found Small Engine Warehouse, and they make bolt in kit using a 23 hp Vanguard engine for $1700. So the farm manager bought the engine and since it was a rainy day and I couldn't work outside I put the new engine in.
Old John Deere exclusive Yamaha.
New Vanguard.
Gator back together.
I had two issues with the install. First, the primary clutch is a bear to get off. Second, the idle was too high when installed, I finally realized that there was a tab I could bend out of the way and then the idle was perfect to allow the clutch disengage.
Well I found Small Engine Warehouse, and they make bolt in kit using a 23 hp Vanguard engine for $1700. So the farm manager bought the engine and since it was a rainy day and I couldn't work outside I put the new engine in.
Old John Deere exclusive Yamaha.
![Gator 6x4 engine replacement Gator 6x4 engine replacement](/talk/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi378.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Foo223%2Fbeaverdamva%2F64AA9483-833F-49EF-93AB-C049E453CA21-3381-00000100C3967918_zpsee1409f5.jpg&hash=63fd5b84a24668fe6ce7f70d2899da6b)
New Vanguard.
![Gator 6x4 engine replacement Gator 6x4 engine replacement](/talk/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi378.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Foo223%2Fbeaverdamva%2FFFD20FC1-3F79-4562-AD1F-D8C3F3F12B3B-3381-00000100B4443DCE_zpsd54666b3.jpg&hash=3e93b85463cf0cc5609eb083a2cca0c6)
Gator back together.
![Gator 6x4 engine replacement Gator 6x4 engine replacement](/talk/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi378.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Foo223%2Fbeaverdamva%2F84054128-55DB-4C54-BEA8-9A3BD1AFC0E7-3381-00000100BC0EFE99_zps0fe907e4.jpg&hash=2da8e28bb0ae7c494d940a0a78a56204)
I had two issues with the install. First, the primary clutch is a bear to get off. Second, the idle was too high when installed, I finally realized that there was a tab I could bend out of the way and then the idle was perfect to allow the clutch disengage.