John Deere 455 quirks

[Gittyup]

Agree. I love my 425, even after 18+ years.

 

[beenthere]

My 455 runs and runs and runs. No problems, so far.
Mine is AWS as is my 425 and x485. The x485 doesn't get used much, except for using the spray rig and when I use the broom.
The newer 54c mower decks put on the x's do not mow well, especially compared to the older 54" decks on the 425, 445, and 455's. Seems Deere re-designed the shape (I think for cosmetic reasons to make it look more 'heavy duty') and they give a lot of blow by out the front of the deck.
Tried using the 54c on my MC519 system, and had to make two to three passes at leaves to come close to picking them up. The setup on my 425 cleans up leaves the first pass.
So the 425 AWS has the MC519 system on it, with the hydraulic dump kit, the 455 AWS is for mowing, and the X485 for spraying and brooming. Makes for a good stable of equipment. Sold my 445 AWS and 54" deck with snow plow blade to my son. That is a good machine also.

 

[Gittyup]

My 455 runs and runs and runs. No problems, so far.
Mine is AWS as is my 425 and x485. The x485 doesn't get used much, except for using the spray rig and when I use the broom.
The newer 54c mower decks put on the x's do not mow well, especially compared to the older 54" decks on the 425, 445, and 455's. Seems Deere re-designed the shape (I think for cosmetic reasons to make it look more 'heavy duty') and they give a lot of blow by out the front of the deck.
Tried using the 54c on my MC519 system, and had to make two to three passes at leaves to come close to picking them up. The setup on my 425 cleans up leaves the first pass.
So the 425 AWS has the MC519 system on it, with the hydraulic dump kit, the 455 AWS is for mowing, and the X485 for spraying and brooming. Makes for a good stable of equipment. Sold my 445 AWS and 54" deck with snow plow blade to my son. That is a good machine also.

The new decks are considerably different that those used on X7's before 2013. Much deeper pan, spin faster, and heavier metal gauge. Not quite 7-iron gauge steel, but about one step beneath it. It's a beast and cuts real nice. It is drive over too. It cuts better than my 425 54" deck did, by a little bit. I notice no blow by out the front. It is, however, much louder. I have to wear hearing protection when using it, and I didn't with the 425.

 

[Yellowfever440]

On all 425, 445, and 455 the rear end in certain years is week. I'd you check the transmission oil and the distaff has groves or marks wore in it you have some bad luck. It may last awhile but the different is moving around a little bit. A few years ago I had a 455 do that and it was going to be 2000 bucks for parts. They say it's from heavy ground engaging work. It's a certain span of mowers. I believe 93 to 97 or so I don't recall the exact years. Loaders, snow plows or something pull behind that pulls hard.

 

[Gittyup]

On all 425, 445, and 455 the rear end in certain years is week. I'd you check the transmission oil and the distaff has groves or marks wore in it you have some bad luck. It may last awhile but the different is moving around a little bit. A few years ago I had a 455 do that and it was going to be 2000 bucks for parts. They say it's from heavy ground engaging work. It's a certain span of mowers. I believe 93 to 97 or so I don't recall the exact years. Loaders, snow plows or something pull behind that pulls hard.

This is the first I've ever heard this. My 425 rear was/is plenty strong. Plowed snow with it for 19 years and pulled heavy trailers of dirt up steep grades. Nary so much as a whine. There are countless owners with well over 1000 hours on these. Some have 2000+ hours. I never read where there was any widespread rear end issues with these tractors.

 

[Yellowfever440]

I'm glad to hear that there was possibly still is a kit available from deere to fix the problem. It occurs with heavy or hard forward and reverse operation. Like digging with the loader or plowing dirt. It should in show up pushing dirt or gently pulling a trailer full of dirt. I have a John Deere release service bulletin from when I worked at a deere dealer as a mechanic if you would like proof.

 

[Gittyup]

I'm glad to hear that there was possibly still is a kit available from deere to fix the problem. It occurs with heavy or hard forward and reverse operation. Like digging with the loader or plowing dirt. It should in show up pushing dirt or gently pulling a trailer full of dirt. I have a John Deere release service bulletin from when I worked at a deere dealer as a mechanic if you would like proof.

I'm not trying to be contrary. I read a lot of forums, and this is the first time I've read anything about endemic tranny issues with the 4x5's. I'll take your word for it, you being a former tech on these machines. Maybe it's the added stress of the tasks you describe: plowing/heavy loader work. There are very few who use this class of machine for those kinds of tasks, and perhaps it is only under those conditions that the problems arise. That wouldn't be surprising at all. These are not meant to be utility tractors.

 

[02603sec]

I love my 455. Love the sound. It has just turned 2000 hours and is a 1993. It sat in a MUNI YARD outside near the ocean in S. Carolina for years. I'm using Rotella, and it takes about 15 hours for the oil to darken. I rehabbed the 54 inch deck, which was pretty rusty. Sandblasted, welded, epoxy primer, enamel. It is a VERY QUIET deck. The 455 is SO EASY to work on. Just cleaned the tank and fuel pickup on a Sunday listening to a baseball game. Great machine. I need a 4WD with a loader and bucket. Once I get the 4WD, Will I sell the 455?

 

[beenthere]

Once I get the 4WD, Will I sell the 455?

I wouldn't... makes a great companion to my 4300

 

[DrBill]

You guys brought this post back to life for sure.. I don't have a 455 , but my tractor uses the same engine. I guess the 455 was the best sized tractor for the 72 series of engine..

I'll never understand why deere only used a 3 quart cooling capacity on the 455, and it was only 4 quarts on the larger tractors with the same engine.. I did a lot of reading a couple of years ago during a time when I was having an overheating problem, and I read post after post about overheating and cracked heads and blocks.

I was scared after reading this info that I had the same problem.. I fixed my problem (a blockage causing an air lock) but still keep a keen eye on my tractor and keep the cooling system in perfect condition.

My last discovery on this series of engines was that many of these engines have a governor that was not set correctly and the info on how it works is impossible to find. I did read from an old member here and discover the correct way to set the governor to any type of behavior you want, and after setting mine to maximum sensitivity, the extra fuel and power I'm getting actually has lowered my running temperature lower than ever in the life I've owned the thing.

Looking back, I now wonder if many of the posts I read about no power and overheating from some posts that were so old you knew the tractor was long gone by now,,, were maybe just an adjustment or two away from being ok..