5225 power upgrade

bairman · Mar 25, 2009

Some one told me that I could have the injector pump on my John Deere 5225 sent off and get it beefed up to get more horse power out of it. Does any one know if this is true, and were they just shooting me a line of bull?

81husky · Mar 25, 2009

It sure seems likely to me. The 5325 has the same engine, but 11 more horsepower. I have a 5225 also and have wondered if the only difference between it and the 5325 is the fueling system.

burnetma · Mar 25, 2009

Go on the JD parts website and see if there are any part number differences. Most likely you will find that they use a different fuel injector. This doesn't mean that turning up the injector pump will not get you a HP bump, because it most likely will. The limits of the HP bump will be based on pressure increase and max flow through the injector.

If you have a local tractor puller around with a dyno, they can probably turn up your output.

Probably will void any warranty.

bairman · Mar 26, 2009

If it can be done, what are the chances of messing up the engine with the more horse power?

burnetma · Mar 26, 2009

A better question for the guy who turns it up, but I would say that it is probably low risk. Depends on how you use your tractor and how much you turn it up. I doubt that you will be able to get more than 20 HP without changing injectors, but if you were to change injectors and turn up the pump AND you use it for really heavy work like plowing or running a big PTO load until the black smoke just rolls under power, well then you run the risk of blowing a head gasket, melting some pistons or damaging the bottom end. If you only turn her up a little then there is much less risk. If I were going to turn it way up, then I would want to add some guages (turbo boost, exhaust gas temperature and oil pressure).

Now you have me morbidly curious. Why do you want to turn her up? How many HP are you looking for out of this tractor.

FYI, I have considered upgrading mine to a 5520 ++, but haven't done so. Why? Just because it is possible and adding a turbo will quiet my tractor down a lot! I do not need the extra power.

RickB · Mar 26, 2009

In the past, increasing fuel delivery on mechanical injection pumps was common practice. In today's world of EPA emissions requirements and seldom enforced but still real fines and penalties for 'tampering' with emissionized fuel systems, anyone with the equipment and training to properly increase your fuel delivery probably would not do it.

bairman · Mar 27, 2009

I am not looking to get a bunch of horse power. I would be happy with 10 to 15 more. I just bought this tractor a couple of months ago. I noticed the difference this past week while I was doing some plowing with it. It just lacks the power I want for pulling my set of disc. The disc weigh around 1400lbs, so I thought it would do it. It is ok on flat ground, but when you have a hill to plow or the disc get sunk in the ground good it lugs the motor to much, even when I'm in 4wd. I guess I would be happy if I could get it close to the power my old 5400 JD had. It would pull these disc like they were not even behind the tractor.