New 5425

ddivinia · Jun 15, 2008

I am glad they got your problems worked out. My experience with my JD 5525 has been excellent. My dealer rocks and that is probably the number one reason I keep buying their stuff.

D.

tjkadar · Jun 20, 2008

The 5425 certainly out works the Kubota M6800. I am surprised at how much more work it can do at a lower rpm. The M6800 never felt like a slouch, but compared to the 5425, it is.

We got a thunderstorm today, and I was able to keep working. I love the cab!

Poor tractor got a little muddy.

Dargo · Jun 20, 2008

Hey tjkadar, my 5425 had an issue with the lift pump or something in the fuel system that caused it to sputter at times. It happened right at the expiration of my warranty. My dealer was really cool about it. Somewhere on here I posted what he did. He put the 5525 fuel system on my 5425; essentially making it a 5525. Better yet, since it was then out of warranty, the tech even turned that pump up a bit.

I can now turn my 8' bush hog through areas that haven't been touched in several years with the tractor in the "economy" mode without it bogging down any. I have the skid steer bucket like what you have but in the 84" size. If I don't have the loaded set of wheels on it, I get really light in the back with a heaping bucket full. However, when clearing areas I really like having the much heavier bucket. Other than that, my tractor is pretty well exactly like yours. Well, I managed to tear both outside mirrors off... but that's my own fault.

Good luck with your tractor. I'm curious if you ever have to not use the "economy" mode when using your PTO. Since my 'upgrade', I only use "economy" when using the PTO. It really saves on fuel as well as noise.

Harold_J · Jun 20, 2008

tjkadar said:
The 5425 certainly out works the Kubota M6800. I am surprised at how much more work it can do at a lower rpm. The M6800 never felt like a slouch, but compared to the 5425, it is. We got a thunderstorm today, and I was able to keep working. I love the cab!

Poor tractor got a little muddy.

Good to hear the 5425 is working out well, continued good luck with it. The JD engine is about 75 cu in. bigger than the Kubota, so it makes sense that it outworks it.

What transmission is in your 5425?

tjkadar · Jun 20, 2008

Dargo,

I've only used the economy mode PTO setting with my 8' hog. Worked like a champ! I forgot to take it out of economy mode, so for a couple days I was limited to 1,700 rpm.

Once I took it out of economy mode and had full throttle, WOW, what a difference!

For those that don't know it, you are limited to around 1,700 rpm when the PTO is set to economy mode whether the PTO is engaged or not.

I read your post before I bought my tractor. I'm curious as to what it would take to bump my tractor to a 5525 once the warranty is over.

I think that would be awesome.

An 84" bucket... I bet that looks huge on the tractor!

I now have bucket envy.

Harold,

I have the 12F/12R PowerRvser. Transmission is a step above the Kubota's. It engages smoother, has a shorter throw between gears, and in general has a better feel to it.

gamble77 · Jun 21, 2008

I think this is a one of the best threads concerning the 5X25 v. M-40 series Kubota's I have seen in a while because this is real world testing here...Hopefully this will help people understand why the Deere demands a higher price, and why it will hold that price better than ANY machine on the market!

ddivinia · Jun 21, 2008

I have not run a Kubota M-40 but I can say my JD 5525 has been a good machine. I use it for a lot of things around the ranch here. 6' shredder, 15' batwing, 10'6" disc mower, JD 467 hay baler, grapple bucket work, dirt work, etc. It has proven to be a very flexible and handy machine.

D.

PineRidge · Jun 24, 2008

A friend and neighbor picked me up this morning and we spent the day visiting JD dealers in the area in hopes he could purchase a new 55 HP JD tractor. He came off of a New Holland TN70D so green is a new direction for him.

And even though the majority of dealerships told him that it would be November before he would see a new cabbed rig equipped as he wanted I now have a whole new respect for the green machine. I'm a New Holland owner but there was a lot of quality and forethought that went into the JD machine, that was obvious.

tjkadar · Jun 25, 2008

I ran into the same situation. My dealer was nice enough to find me a tractor that 98% of what I wanted, so I snagged that one.

I couldn't be happier!

tjkadar · Jul 16, 2008

Quick update... tractor has 35 hours on it. The AC blows cold, very cold. I use the slowest fan setting I have and can still get a brain freeze if a vent is point direction at me.

I now have a radio installed. I used the Volkswagen harness and the Pioneer plugged right into the tractor. The only problem is I don't have a continous 12 volt power source. I lose all my programming as soon as I turn off the tractor. I'm thinking I inadverdently wired something wrong. Eventually, I'll find the time to sort it out.

I also need to the mount the radio a bit more securely. The single bolt to the back of the radio doesn't seem to be sturdy enough. Again, very minor stuff due to my own installation.

The tractor works great. All my bush hogging (8' T-104 Bush-Whacker) has been done in the ePTO mode. It is a real fuel saver.

The John Deere 5425 is a great tractor. The ergonomics are well thought out ('cept for the short arm rests), the controls fall right to hand, the seat is comfortable, it has good power, and just plain works. I couldn't be happier.

sixdogs · Jul 16, 2008

I sent a private message to you with a question. I am thinking of buyinf the same configuration.

tjkadar · Jul 16, 2008

Answered your PM.

ddivinia · Jul 16, 2008

tjkadar said:
Quick update... tractor has 35 hours on it. The AC blows

The John Deere 5425 is a great tractor. The ergonomics are well thought out ('cept for the short arm rests), the controls fall right to hand, the seat is comfortable, it has good power, and just plain works. I couldn't be happier.

I want to fit the ones off my ztrack to it - they are much better.

Also, it is not if, but how soon you will break an arm rest. They are kinda fragile.

D.

tjkadar · Jul 17, 2008

I don't use mine, they are a bit too uncomfortable. I usually have one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the FEL Joystick, throttle, 3 pt hitch control, or 1st remote lever. Tractor is laid out perfect for that type of work. But when you're bush hogging, the arm rests gets to be a nuisance.

Maybe they'll fix that in the new line of tractors?

ddivinia · Jul 17, 2008

tjkadar said:
I don't use mine, they are a bit too uncomfortable. I usually have one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the FEL Joystick, throttle, 3 pt hitch control, or 1st remote lever. Tractor is laid out perfect for that type of work. But when you're bush hogging, the arm rests gets to be a nuisance.

Maybe they'll fix that in the new line of tractors?

Too much weight on one of those armrests and it is toast. I am seriously going to look at putting a pair off my z track on the seat. The z track has adjustable stops and they are really rugged.

I find the arm rests are nice when you are turned around a lot - can kinda sit sideways.

D.

tjkadar · Jul 17, 2008

ddivinia said:
Too much weight on one of those armrests and it is toast. I am seriously going to look at putting a pair off my z track on the seat. The z track has adjustable stops and they are really rugged.

I find the arm rests are nice when you are turned around a lot - can kinda sit sideways.

D.

I always wondered why the didn't set the seat at a slight angle (like Cat Dozers) or allow it to swivel some. When doing almost any type of hay work, you spend as much time looking behind you as in front. The European models that have the whole cab swivel or have implements on the front are pretty cool.

Dargo · Jul 17, 2008

I was wondering what you guys were talking about concerning the arm rests. I was just in my barn so I opened the door to my tractor and climbed up in the seat. Both armrests are folded up and always have been. Apparently I have never used them. The part of my arm from my shoulder to my elbow needs to be about 6" longer for them to be of any use to me.

ddivinia · Jul 17, 2008

Dargo said:
I was wondering what you guys were talking about concerning the arm rests. I was just in my barn so I opened the door to my tractor and climbed up in the seat. Both armrests are folded up and always have been. Apparently I have never used them. The part of my arm from my shoulder to my elbow needs to be about 6" longer for them to be of any use to me.

If they had adjustable stops like on my ztrack, I bet you would use them. I think I will see if the JD dealer has an old seat I can snag the arm rest off of so I can play with them.

D.

tjkadar · Jul 17, 2008

If you find a fix for the arm rest, let me know.

You could probably make a mint in aftermarket arm rest for the JD's.

tjkadar · Jul 30, 2008

Found a place that makes front 3pt hitches and PTOs for the 5425 (and many others). I'm not ready to pull the trigger yet, but I am contemplating getting a front 3pt hitch. Bush hogging fields with bahia in it, the tires lay the grass down and the hog never gets a chance to cut it. With the mower on the front, that wouldn't be a problem.

Laforge Front 3-Point Systems