JD 425 problems

labsrus · Sep 2, 2011

Last week our 425 ran good but after 3 hours of mowing it started to act like it was flooded. I shut it off for 3 minutes and it ran fine for another 2 hours.

Today I started mowing and in 20 minutes it started doing the same thing. No smoke blows out when it is doing it. It seems to really start up when I give it more gas but will almost stop if there is no throttle.

Would anyone have any suggestions?

It is a 98 with 600 hours on it. It has been taking care of since day one and has been a awesome tractor besides one antifreeze leak.

Thanks for any suggestions.

beenthere · Sep 2, 2011

One place to start is when it starts to act that way, open the fuel tank cap to see if there is a vacuum building up (vent in cap plugged). Just by chance it might be the problem. After that, you say it acts like it is flooded....but does choking it a bit help or make it worse?

If worse, then next I'd look at the float in the carburetor to see if it is sticking and not shutting off gas flow.
If better, then might be starved for fuel and need a fuel filter change.

Air filter is another place to look as if dirty, it will act like the choke is on and draw in extra fuel.

labsrus · Sep 2, 2011

I will check the gas cap.

Choking makes it worse. Air filter is in great shape.

I let it sit for about a half hour and went bck out to try it - it started right up and I mowed for about 45 minutes and it just shut off, then back fired. Tried to start it right up - turns over but just does not fire. I left it sit about 3 minutes, turned the key and it back fired again. Let it sit 5 minutes and it was good to go for about 15 minutes and shut off again.

Preludegod · Sep 5, 2011

Check the spark on both cylinders when the engine dies, you could have a bad coil on either cylinder

Also agree that your float and needle might be sticking if your fuel flow is ok