How good was the 522xi?

[RED-Z06 2,621]

Debating on going to look at one, old pickup hasnt been real reliable this year and its a couple hours away...says runs, drives, 52" deck works but needs work.  Wants $700.  Was the power steering on them pretty strong, reliable?  Are any parts even still available if needed?

[JoeM 8,578]

9 hours ago, RED-Z06 said:

Was the power steering on them pretty strong, reliable?

I have several and the power steering has been real good. I have the FEL on a power steer xi now for 5 years no issue and I use it a lot especially with the forks.

 

One issue on the xi machines is the front axle pivot. if it has not been serviced. chances are it needs some work. The pivot shaft wears the front hole egg shaped. Not a bad repair but none the less a place to look. pull-start has a much more elaborate repair on a thread, I just plated the front of the frame and tightened it up nicely. 

 

on the 52 inch deck the place to look is on the discharge side. they crack in this area circled. I reinforced this during the repair with a square tube. That deck cuts the nicest of all that I tried, it has a lot of lift.

 

The 522xi without a deck weighs in just north of 800, A good heavy machine. As most WH's the rear hub keys can be another place to look.

 

I have several and my kid runs one and I think these machines was WH best kept secret. Very comfortable to drive and run. 

 

 

[peter lena 9,356]

@JoeM  take advantage of what works , enhance it , another  vital part of those is  structural  stress cracking , as you know , looking at that deck area , spindle belt return , easy spot for  an added idler pulley , the belt bounce , eats bearings , that bounce is also related to incremental  bearing hang up , caused by  wrong lubrication in bearings . good improvement spot , pete  

[RED-Z06 2,621]

My problem isnt the tractor, or the money...its just not wanting to get stranded 3 counties away with a trailer.  I love my 94 Sierra, ive had it now for 15 years, when i got it, it had a new GM Crate 350, everything on the engine was new...water pump, compressor, fan clutch, pulleys, radiator.  In 2016 i had the trans fully overhauled...and in 2021 i rebuilt both driveshafts.  3 weeks ago..it lost its brakes, never fully explained it but after refilling the fluid and some bleeding the brakes have been fine.  Last week, left home and..a mile up the road.."check gages"...water at 240⁰.  Now, i check my water, oil, atf..religiously every 2 weeks and it was full a week prior.  The back cover on the water pump had a thin spot..no rust or pitting, it just failed and emptied out my water.  Replaced the pump on Friday and ive driven it 30ish miles since.

 

Its just..its not unreliable, its just going through some stuff right now🤣.  Its times like this i wish id kept my K3500 but it sat 99% of the time.

Edited Sunday at 11:58 PM by RED-Z06

[clueless 3,298]

13 hours ago, RED-Z06 said:

My problem isnt the tractor, or the money...its just not wanting to get stranded 3 counties away with a trailer.  I love my 94 Sierra, ive had it now for 15 years, when i got it, it had a new GM Crate 350, everything on the engine was new...water pump, compressor, fan clutch, pulleys, radiator.  In 2016 i had the trans fully overhauled...and in 2021 i rebuilt both driveshafts.  3 weeks ago..it lost its brakes, never fully explained it but after refilling the fluid and some bleeding the brakes have been fine.  Last week, left home and..a mile up the road.."check gages"...water at 240⁰.  Now, i check my water, oil, atf..religiously every 2 weeks and it was full a week prior.  The back cover on the water pump had a thin spot..no rust or pitting, it just failed and emptied out my water.  Replaced the pump on Friday and ive driven it 30ish miles since.

 

Its just..its not unreliable, its just going through some stuff right now🤣.  Its times like this i wish id kept my K3500 but it sat 99% of the time.

Tom, you want to use my truck? I'm just 15 minutes away.

[RED-Z06 2,621]

8 hours ago, clueless said:

Tom, you want to use my truck? I'm just 15 minutes away.

I appreciate the offer my friend.  I guess i need to sell this truck and get something newer, maybe under 230,000 miles.  I always wanted to fix her up with new paint.  But lordy 20 year old trucks are still running up in the stupid high money range...youll see a 2001 Ram 1500 2wd for 8500 with the 5.2L..