To Compact & Too Large Deere 455

[Haoleguy]

Recently we took delivery of a low hour Deere 455 garden tractor. It came with a 54 inch mower deck and rear bagger and a 2 stage snowblower. Very nice machine and really it's my spouse's baby. I find it is slightly cramped for me(6'1") and roomy for my spouse(5'1"). She's having to stretch for the pedals, even with the seat forward, and her light weight is triggering the safety kill switch when mowing. Looks like we need to change the seat rails to fit her better and place her weight squarely on the seat. At the same time I might lengthen them to possibly allow me to stretch out at the other end of the spectrum. Anyone change, or modify the seat rails or the seat?.......Cheers, Gary

 

[TomSeller]

Recently we took delivery of a low hour Deere 455 garden tractor..... Very nice machine and really it's my spouse's baby....... her light weight is triggering the safety kill switch when mowing.

Does she have a sister?

 

[Zebrafive]

When my girls would mow their light weight and my rough yard would cause the same problem, every time they hit a bump the seat switch shut it down. I had to jumper it out for them to mow.

 

[Zebrafive]

Low hour 455s are HARD to find! Nice score! You could probably trade it towards "his and her" machines, that fit each of you, then mow together. The couple that mows together, stays together!

 

[newbury]

Either get her to put on weight or hang some weight on the seat. A couple of diving belt weights might do.

 

[Haoleguy]

Low hour 455s are HARD to find! Nice score! You could probably trade it towards "his and her" machines, that fit each of you, then mow together. The couple that mows together, stays together!

We do feel fortunate that our Deere dealer has consistently been on the lookout for our needs without always dropping cash on new hardware. The 455 was a trade-in that he was the original salesmen for and knew the history since new. The snowblower looks brand spanking new. In terms of mowing together that might happen but it would be she's doing lawn and I'm doing a field with our JD5325 and rotary or flail mower.

 

[Zebrafive]

We do feel fortunate that our Deere dealer has consistently been on the lookout for our needs without always dropping cash on new hardware. The 455 was a trade-in that he was the original salesmen for and knew the history since new. The snowblower looks brand spanking new. In terms of mowing together that might happen but it would be she's doing lawn and I'm doing a field with our JD5325 and rotary or flail mower.

Try out an X4xx, x5xx, x700 series for you. I am not sure what series for her. But I do like the idea of saying "Honey you need to gain some weight"

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

Not familiar with that specific model, but would it be easier to make an extension for the pedals (maybe block of wood) than to change the seat rails?
Just a thought.

 

[om21braz]

Maybe a bag of lead shot spread out under the seat cushion - that's an easy 25 lbs. If the seat bottom separates from the cushion & cover, this may be an option. Obviously some method, wrapped in plastic/duct tape would be in order to keep shot in place.