97 425 garden tractor no start

[Gittyup]

Yes. replace the oil pump, governor gear, water pump, push rods and tappets, and half dozen or so gaskets and O-rings. Get some gasket adhesive. You'll need it to put the front cover gasket on. Works great on those confounded valve cover gaskets too. You have it apart now. Just go to the dealer and tell them what you are doing. They'll get you all the right stuff.

 

[weeder]

Ok, I didn't see any bent push rods but I will take no chances on them. I am curious I read someplace when you install the newer cam with the steel gear that you have to replace the valve springs? Has anybody heard or done that? Thanks weeder

 

[Gittyup]

Ok, I didn't see any bent push rods but I will take no chances on them. I am curious I read someplace when you install the newer cam with the steel gear that you have to replace the valve springs? Has anybody heard or done that? Thanks weeder

There's no relation between springs and cam. It's just a good idea. You are already in there and have the rocker arms loose anyway and will have to reset the valve gaps. I suggest springs and valve seals together.

 

[weeder]

OK, when you guys are putting things back together do you use white lithium grease coated on your parts to kind of hold them in place or nothing at all? I had heard a light coat of this grease is good for first start-up on rebuilds.

 

[bruceatlam]

I use "Assembly Lube" ---- comes in a tube.

 

[Richard001]

If you bought a new cam, did it come with some special grease? Should have. Cams and bearings need special protection when you first start up a rebuilt engine. Everyone has their choice of preventive lube, I like STP on bearings and pistons.

 

[weeder]

No the John Deere dealer never said anything about special lube when I bought the cam and additional parts. A friend of mine was telling me this and said to use white lithium grease. I can probably get some type of assembly lube at the local car parts place. Still waiting on a few parts and mostly some gaskets they didn't have. but I will get something and it might help hold the tappets in place while I install the cam.

 

[Gator6x4]

I like Richard001 like to saturate everything in STP.

 

[Gittyup]

No the John Deere dealer never said anything about special lube when I bought the cam and additional parts. A friend of mine was telling me this and said to use white lithium grease. I can probably get some type of assembly lube at the local car parts place. Still waiting on a few parts and mostly some gaskets they didn't have. but I will get something and it might help hold the tappets in place while I install the cam.

I put the cam in first an installed the push rods from the top through the valves.

 

[weeder]

Could I go ahead and adjust the valves after installing the tappets, cam and push rods? The case would still be open where I can tell real easy if the piston is at TDC or would everything kind of fall out as I tried to turn the engine over by hand?