JD 425 Hydralulic Fluid speifics..?

[sdowiat]

Hey guys. I've inherited my dads old JD 425 with AWS. Boy it is a mowing machine. It runs good... but it leaks hydraulic fluid from the rear once it gets hot so I have to add some pretty regularly. He had recently run over a big rock and damaged that area. The JD dealer fixed it.. cost about $1500, I don't know what all they did & I suppose all that's water under the bridge now. That was a year ago and my Dad passed a few months ago.

Anyway, I'd rather just add fluid all along if doing so isn't damaging anything.

Is there a specific type of hydraulic fluid that I need? Must it come from John Deere? They've made enough money off this tractor already and I'd rather not pay three prices for it.

thanks
stan

 

[beenthere]

I have a 425 AWS, and they are good tractors.
Sorry to hear about the leak. Might try to snug up some bolts just in case one or two have worked loose since the repair.

As to oil, there are equivalents that are named in the manual. How many gallons per year might you estimate you have to add?

 

[sdowiat]

Its tough to say right exactly now how fast it's leaving, but I think I'm losing about a cup full each time I mow. I've also got a fairly new LT150 which is the entry level REAL JD riding mower. It runs nice... but this old 425 with AWS is a real mowing machine. Awesome. I can mow around a tree without backing up or needing to weed eat around it, and there is a steep bank on part of my yard where a mower wants to spin if you don't hit it just right... but on this 425 I can just hold down that differential lock button and it dosen't even slow down. And at a 4 1/2 foot cut it makes short work of a big area. Awesome.

 

[beenthere]

So at most a couple gallons a year? And the price difference Deere vs ?? is going to be?

Just thinking it is pennies (ok dollars ) that are involved. Just don't let the enviro gendarmes know.

The recommended Low Viscosity Hy-Gard (J20D) is said to be formulated to reduce/minimize clutch chatter. I'd stick with it for the little difference in price. But that is probably just me.

 

[sdowiat]

Yes, I can do simple math and am very capable of seeing that cost is very low, and although you didn't say so there is a great irony and a seemingly ridiculousnessin the fact that my mower was very expensive and yet I am **** bent on saving $5 a year.

Most people aren't stupid. :confused2: Sometimes it helps to take someone at their word, or read behind the lines or at least realize that there may be more to the situation, something in the backbround that a person dosen't want to spell out.

In my case I'm trying to be nice. I'm attempting to be a gentleman. I'm trying to live by the the old addage.."if you can't say something nice...." But, If you must know; I like the tractor. I think it's awseome. It's almost an engineering marvel, but I despise that local dealer.

And yes, you are a genius for recognizing that I would be stupid for "cutting off my nose to spite my face" But, if I can buy "BETTER" products, fluid, oil... somewhere else I'll do it....even if it costs more.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

IMO, find another dealer and buy the real deal HyGard, I know how you feel and I am that way on some things, luckily I love my JD dealer.... Very few if any people have problems with OEM oil...the biggest gripe seems to be cost. I can only speak for myself, but good quality oils cost money...there is no difference in price between HyGard and a brand name oil like Shell Donax, etc..

From a real world example I had...when I bought my "pre-loved" :laughing: F935 it was filled with "equivalent/meets JD Specs" hydraulic oil...she hydro whined like a MOFO when using it. I drained all hydraulic oil, and refilled with genuine HyGard Lo-Vis and voila, no more hydro whine...that tells me something.

 

[tractorworks]

I get along fine with the dealers but the nearest one is 50 miles. Someone on here once recommended keeping it green. I use them on a regular basis with very good service.

 

[om21braz]

IMHO, (1) I'd use Hy-Gard (2)I'd see if I could attempt fixing it. The overall condition of the 425 would determine how much to put in fixing it - new parts vs. JB Weld, etc. - as beenthere noted, may just be tightening a bolt or two. Good Luck with it as they are excellent lawn tractors.

 

[beenthere]

sdowiat
:laughing: That was a great comeback, and a good read. :laughing:

 

[sdowiat]

I'm glad you liked.

I enjoy reading these tractor forums... seems like most nights I go on an check out a couple of topics. I appreciate all ya'lls input as well as all the good info that I find on here.

I'm startinjg to think that tractors might be addictive... but then again so are chain saws, dirt bikes & PDA's...