Thoughts on JD 425

BrokeFarmerJohn · May 7, 2017

My dad has a 99 or 00 445, it's got 1005 hours and has only been in the shop once for a deff lock seal that was a pain in the *** to get to. If you find a steel cam gear unit, there good for 2000-3000 hours on the min side if taken care of, I see them pop up on CL all the time with 1500-2500 hours.

I don't know much about the cam gear prob and which models had the steel.

Symptoms of the deff lock seal was leaking hydraulic fluid in the rear where the deff lock enters the wet rear end. $10 seal, took the JD shop 2 hours.

His is 21hp liquid cooled Kawasaki, 60 in deck, regular steer with the bigger tires and wheels from factory. That kaw has enough torq to lift the front wheels when she gets to pulling.

Smoothas · May 7, 2017

The 425 is a great machine- but the plastic gear is a no go. It can fail anytime between 600 and 1000 hours, I’d get a price from your JD dealer on replacing the plastic gear. (Typically about 500 bucks or more) unless you feel comfortable doing it. I’d then offer seller 2,900 minus whatever rebuild costs- so if its 500 bucks I’d offer 2400- then bring tractor directly to dealer. Other than plastic cam gear – that 425 should last a long time, they were tanks

BrokeFarmerJohn · May 7, 2017

I would also like to add that I used my dad's 445 at my place for a year before I bought my husky, I used his tractor to stretch the 380ft of chainlink fence I installed for my cattle, move a 6x12 single axle trailer around and up a hill to the house often, trailer weights around 1000lbs, mowed 2.5 acres of grass weekly at my place and another 2 acres at my dad's.

All that was nothing to that machine, very stout tractor and my dad has a 4ft woods rear blade for it as well.

That tractor is an absolute work horse and it's built heavy enough to last a very long time.

My husky is 24hp with a 54in deck, it does a good job cutting grass, I wouldn't dare ask it to do any work, I won't even hook a cart up to it lol.

As far as price, it all depends on condition, if the deck is in good shape, low hours (under 1000 hours) and the plastic is in good shape, I have seen them go for $1800-$4500.

It's a huge spread but it's very rare to see someone asking less than 2k for one, most are in the 3-4K ball park.

It went 425, 445, 455.

Only diff is the 445/455 got bigger wheels and tires, 4 hydraulic ports (2 sets) in the front for attachments, the 455 got a Diesel engine (newer version of the old 430s). http://www.mytractorforum.com/12-jo...pgrading-445-sizes.html#/topics/160900?page=1 info on tire sizes.

My dads 445 is 2wd with deff lock, the deff lock is very easy to engage and I have had his buried to the deck in mud and was able to wiggle my way out using the deff lock with the Titan turfs. If I understand that correctly the AWS had narrower rears and can not have the wider rear tires.

hunt4570 · May 7, 2017

Well that whole nylon gear thing has scared me off on this thing, I took a pass so I'll just keep looking..

Thanks for all the info guys!

beenthere · May 7, 2017

May be a mistake on your part to pass, without checking to see if it has been changed out. The AWS is pretty close to bullet proof and a real plus in my opinion. Ask the owner to verify the gear situation and/or go through a Deere dealer for a report on that model/ s/n.

As to the question why I don't use the X485 mower deck, is it blows clippings and debris our from under and not all out the chute. Using the power flow blower to blow into the MC519 cart was no better.. Deere redisigned their decks for a more blocky or robust look and removed the good air flow that the older 54" decks have. There were attempts to solve the problem with some bolt-on plates, but there was very little improvement. No experience with other decks built since the early 2000's when they first came out.. That X485 is used for the broom, the grapple now, sprayer duty, lawn rolling duty, and other odds/ends other than mowing.. That is done with the 455 diesel. The 425 is designated to MC519 cart for grass and leaf pickup mainly.

Smoothas · May 7, 2017

Agree with Beenthere- at least check to see if Plastic gear has been replaced. If not get price from JD dealer to replace it, trust me your JD dealer will be very familiar with this – then see if seller will “work” with you on price- those 425’s other than nylon gear are 2000+ hour machines

hunt4570 · May 8, 2017

Ok, UPDATE on this..

I talked to his JD dealership, they have not changed that gear out nor can they see that anyone else has either. They also told me to do the work to change that out I'd be looking at $900. Also I was wrong on hours, this unit has 825 hours (I probably got mixed up with the millions of other mowers I've been looking at! ) So Its getting pretty close to failure time, so I did take a pass on it.
BUT, with all I've seen on this I will probably try to find another of the same model, again thanks for all the help!

Gittyup · May 10, 2017

Just to clarify some of the differences in between models. The 425 and 445 are identical except the 445 is fuel injected and the 425 is carb. The FI yields about 5 more HP (25 HP vs 20 HP) and requires less warm up. The bigger wheels came on all models not equipped with AWS. The AWS models use smaller rear wheels turned inside out. They will not accept wheel weights and require spacers for chains. AWS is available on all 3 models. The 455 is diesel and has markedly more torque, and is therefore better suited for the biggest decks in the tallest grasses.

As for the cost of the CAM. $900 is pretty reasonable. If you do it yourself and change everything while in there, it will cost about $500. That's what it cost me. Once changed out, the tractor is good for another 1000 or two. The 400's are some of the best tractors made. Don't give up on them. Think about what you'll be getting for your money after the CAM change. Nothing new in that price range comes close to that machine.

BrokeFarmerJohn · May 10, 2017

$2900 plus the $900 to fix it, your in the machine $3800, that's just above a new Husqvarna GT.

The thing about the JD 425 AWD is the investment aspect, if you don't like it you could get that out of it with a replaced gear and under 1000 hours.

The resale value will remain high on the 400 series, that won't be the case with other mowers.

Seems like a lot of money but it's a solid investment. If it's a one owner and the guy to remarkable care of the tractor then I would say it's a mistake to pass it up.

There's no other garden tractors that can compete with the 400 series without jumping to a sub compact.

oldnslo · May 10, 2017

Depending on your mechanical ability the cam gear is not that difficult to change on these engines. I would also replace the water pump while doing this since it has to be removed anyway.