John deere 425

[duramaxman05]

I recently bought a john deere 425 all wheel steer and 54" deck. I bought it non running and as a project. I got for $200. It's got 1079hrs. The plastic cam gear stripped out which is common on the kawasaki liquid cooled engines. I have done a few. I am going to use this as a spare mower and for the wife and kid to use. I have a grasshopper zero turn to do the main mowing. My question is, has anyone used the aftermarket cam kit which comes with the gaskets off Amazon? I know it's a lot cheaper but won't be a main mower and won't get many hours on it in a year. Just trying to save a little money on it. For curiosity I called a deere dealer and they quoted me $1700 to fix it.

 

[PaulOinMA]

Is the part available from Jackssmallengines? I'd be more confident about a part from there rather than Amazon. I'd also call them, if I couldn't find the part on their site.

https://www.jackssmallengines.com/manufacturer/kawasaki

https://www.jackssmallengines.com/jacks-parts-lookup/manufacturer/john-deere/garden-tractor/425

 

[duramaxman05]

Is the part available from Jackssmallengines? I'd be more confident about a part from there rather than Amazon. I'd also call them, if I couldn't find the part on their site.

https://www.jackssmallengines.com/manufacturer/kawasaki

https://www.jackssmallengines.com/jacks-parts-lookup/manufacturer/john-deere/garden-tractor/425

I have looked up a few different places on oem parts. Also found out that parts for a 2510 kawasaki mule are the same. I can get better pricing through rockymountainatv on most of the parts and they have the same part number.

 

[duramaxman05]

Finally got the bugs worked out of this thing. I think anyways. Ran into several other problems along the way. Built my own gauge cluster and also the fuel pump and sending unit. I gotta say it's quite the beast. Mows great. And the most important thing of all, the kiddo loves it. I set the cruise control on al let him drive it around the yard.

 

[hedge wood]

Looks like you did some nice work. Everyone I knew back in the day that had the all steer's liked them. Most have moved on to zero turn. One guy I know still has his.

 

[duramaxman05]

Thanks. I have a grasshopper zero turn as well. This mowere is more for the kid and wife.

 

[hedge wood]

Thanks. I have a grasshopper zero turn as well. This mowere is more for the kid and wife.

Years ago I bought and fixed up and sold a lot of mower's regular and zero turn and for the past twenty five years or so my personal mower has always been a grasshopper. About 18 years ago because of some health issues at the time my wife didn't like front mount so I bought a mid mount grasshopper and have had mid mount since. Was going to go back to front mount a couple of years ago and found a deal on a new left over two year old mid mount diesel grasshopper. Its a loaded model. I really like it. Hasn't rained in my area the last two years so I still don't have a hundred hours on it. We normally put hundred to hundred fifty hours on a mower a year. Its funny as its pretty green around here on the farm but I still like grasshopper mowers over JD mowers.

 

[duramaxman05]

Years ago I bought and fixed up and sold a lot of mower's regular and zero turn and for the past twenty five years or so my personal mower has always been a grasshopper. About 18 years ago because of some health issues at the time my wife didn't like front mount so I bought a mid mount grasshopper and have had mid mount since. Was going to go back to front mount a couple of years ago and found a deal on a new left over two year old mid mount diesel grasshopper. Its a loaded model. I really like it. Hasn't rained in my area the last two years so I still don't have a hundred hours on it. We normally put hundred to hundred fifty hours on a mower a year. Its funny as its pretty green around here on the farm but I still like grasshopper mowers over JD mowers.

Grasshopper is the mower I least work on. I do mechanic work on the side. They are just good mowers. Mine is a 2010.5 223 and it has 230hr on it. I bought it new. Should last me a long time yet.