John Deere 430 I just bought

[arto98607]

Yes I see what you mean - solid jackstand under the yoke would probably allow chisel to be hammered in and get it to loosen up.
I will check that out tomorrow.

I think a new input shaft would cost around $1000+ so heating or smacking it otherwise should be avoided.

 

[arto98607]

Update:

The driveshaft yoke was rusted solid onto hydro input shaft, but it did slide out pretty easy after soaking it with ATF & acetone mix for few days, as suggested earlier in post #15 by 5030

The chisels helped to get the penetrating fluid in the right place for sure, but they need to be removed before trying to slide out the yoke - otherwise they will make the yoke to bind on!

 

[BravoXray]

So, how's the project coming?

 

[arto98607]

So, how's the project coming?

The JD430 is now tentatively back together, but I plan on revisiting the front axle and mower PTO setup bearings after having done little more test driving etc.




The tractor came with 50" mower deck and I purchased a used 60" JD400 deck and am in process of fitting it to JD430 which seems like a not bad fit, but required some fiddling with the front draft arms and pivot shaft.




The deck fits and the draft arms are now good fit:





I am little disappointed that it looks like JD430 mid-mount mower depends on the mower deck gauge wheels for cutting height adjustment, unlike the old JD300, which has easily adjustable mechanical setting on how low the hydraulic deck lift will drop!

IE.
The JD300 middle mount deck does not need to ride on the gauge wheels, which is great when mowing uneven areas like a sparsely forested areas & yard etc. etc.
Relying on the gauge wheels for cutting height adjustment gives more even cut on nice lawns no doubt, but lot more wear on those little wheels - oh well...

 

[arto98607]

Update & correction to above post.


JD 430 does have a mechanical mowing depth adjustment, unlike suggested in the above post!

The mowing depth (the deck low setting) is controlled with the rock shaft adjustment and it works great:





We did a little bit of test mowing yesterday now that the grass is finally starting to grow again.
Our grass has been mostly brown & dormant since late June, which is pretty well normal here every summer.

 

[arto98607]

Update:

After putting the engine to work for awhile I began to notice little uneven idle, unlike earlier so decided to do engine compression test which gave excellent on-speck results - no big surprise with only about 780 hours on the meter.

Next test was a quick fuel injector spray pattern, which turned out to be pretty poor on two out of three!
Took them to a local Diesel shop for rebuild.

Apparently the spare part nozzle body and nozzle valve on these have been updated so hopefully these will last little longer.

Due to (prematurely) worn fuel injectors I also decided to change the original single Stanadyne 10 micron fuel filter to a setup with a 50 micron primary filter, followed by 2 micron secondary filter.

Runs smooth now (that is smooth for a tractor engine).

 

[Richard001]

Thanks for the update.

 

[tacticalturnip]

The 430 is such a cool machine, they're possibly the most impressive garden tractors ever made.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

My advice: get rid of it. A fanboi will pay a ridiculous price.

I have one of these things. I got it for nearly nothing. I think I overpaid. I can't even recall how many times I've been unable to use it because it broke down.

The hydraulic cylinders are proprietary, and they can't be rebuilt. John Deere welded them shut at both ends solely to give a big middle finger to customers. They are way more expensive than comparable generic cylinders, which makes no sense, because they are simpler due to John Deere cheaping out by welding them.

The muffler costs $450, and it weighs a ton. Mine fell off. When I found out what it cost, I replaced it with a stainless exhaust tip and a motorcycle baffle. I think I spent $18. You can get a car muffler for $75. It's not like there is any reason for John Deere to charge so much, other than greed.

The grille is no longer made, and it falls off easily. You can't see it fall off, so you find out it fell when you run over it. John Deere does not sell new grilles. A good used one costs $900. That's because so many have fallen off. Last time I checked the price of a grille for my Kubota (bigger, nicer part) it was $75.

The deck and mulch kit weigh around 340 pounds. To remove the blades for sharpening, you have to pull the deck out from under the tractor sideways. John Deere made it so it won't slide out unless you jack the mower up or partially disassemble the deck.

Taking the deck off is a miserable experience. Depending on how badly your parts fit, it can take an hour for one person. The parts freeze up and don't want to come apart.

The alternator belt is behind the engine, and you have to separate the engine and driveshaft to put a new one one. Lots of fun for people who like lying on their backs under dirty tractors, turning wrenches 5 degrees at a time. Expect the

Some people talk about the 430 like God himself designed it. They get really angry when you criticize it. Those are people who love collecting and repairing tractors. They actually prefer machines that need a lot of difficult repairs. Don't listen to them. A tractor should be made for people who use tractors.

It really bugs me to see people talk this tractor up to others who are thinking of buying them. They are leading them into misery.

John Deere keeps discontinuing essential parts. Pretty soon, these things will be impossible to repair without custom fabrication and machining.

It's going to get worse.

The tractor is a horror to repair even when you can get parts. I guess you know that now. Have you removed the sheet metal to get at the parts beneath yet? There is really no way to get a wrench on the hex on the lever on the right footrest. You have be creative.

On top of all this, the 3-point hitch and loader are Barbie tools. Really small. The loader is rated for 500 pounds. Try clearing hurricane debris with that.

I keep looking for a good used Kubota diesel zero-turn. They come with jacks built into the decks. If you need to sharpen the blades, you turn a little handle with one hand, and up the deck goes.

I know a zero-turn isn't a tractor, but there has to be a better tractor out there.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

Great news: John Deere discontinued the rockshaft cylinder (rear hydraulic cylinder). Before they did that, they jacked the price up to about $450. A reasonable price would be more like $100.

No rockshaft cylinder, no tractor.

 

[arto98607]

Please tell us what you really think about JD 430

 

[5030]

Update

My plan all along was to service & dismantle my "new" 87 JD 430 enough to be able to inspect hydraulics, drive train, belts, drive shafts etc. in order to repair or replace whatever is needed, in order to make this into a long term use reliable garden tractor.

I have ran into a little difficulty when trying to remove the drive shaft rear yoke from the hydrostatic pump shaft!

It looks like it has never been removed previously, and has gotten stuck in the shaft (IE. rusted in place over 37 years). The front end is already loose and has cleared the engine V-belt pulley so that's not holding it.

I've been spraying WD40 over two or three days and trying to removed it gently, without hammering chisels in too hard in order to loosen the yoke.
Hammering chisels in too hard could easily damage the hydro pump outboard bearing & shaft surface.



Anyone else here who has had to deal with the same issue?


Panels removed for better access:
View attachment 883292


Two chisels, one on each side of the yoke split:
View attachment 883293


Lots of WD40, but so far it has not budged:
View attachment 883294

Switch to PBlaster Arto. PBlaster and a bit of heat from a propane torch and it will come loose. Needs a bath underneath and some JD yellow paint on the wheels but I know you are a resourceful operator. You are like me, we hate grime and dirt. Actually, I use PBlaster every time I attach or detach any PTO coupling. It's an excellent rust release agent and provides lubrication to sli8ding surfaces. I use it all the time. I have a gallon of WD in the shop I never opened.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I mean, it is just a garden tractor, a 1025R will outwork it all day. It's still a piece of history, and a machine some folks have a soft spot for.

 

[arto98607]

I mean, it is just a garden tractor, a 1025R will outwork it all day. It's still a piece of history, and a machine some folks have a soft spot for.

Sure JD 1025R will outwork 430 and they are not really competing anyway.

Two of my neighbors have 1025R's, one has 2038R

I have no need for 1025R and would never spend money buying one of those since it would be too small when I need a tractor and not really practical lawnmower compared to a professional mowers in my opinion - I know we all have one...

Like mentioned in post #1 my intention was to find a suitable Diesel replacement for JD 300 since I do not like parking gasoline powered anything in my barn, when the engine is hot after some hard work.

 

[beenthere]

The JD 430 is between 32 and 40 years old. Can't expect Deere to re-stock parts in their warehouses forever. And what is left in stock, should indeed bring a higher price due to value.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Sure JD 1025R will outwork 430 and they are not really competing anyway.

Two of my neighbors have 1025R's, one has 2038R

I have no need for 1025R and would never spend money buying one of those since it would be too small when I need a tractor and not really practical lawnmower compared to a professional mowers in my opinion - I know we all have one...

Like mentioned in post #1 my intention was to find a suitable Diesel replacement for JD 300 since I do not like parking gasoline powered anything in my barn, when the engine is hot after some hard work.

Please don't think I was talking down the 430, I was just trying to emphasize their value as a historical piece.

 

[bg71361]

Great news: John Deere discontinued the rockshaft cylinder (rear hydraulic cylinder). Before they did that, they jacked the price up to about $450. A reasonable price would be more like $100.

No rockshaft cylinder, no tractor.

LOL your clueless

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

That was a stupid comment, so I'll give it all the consideration it deserves.

LOL your clueless

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

The JD 430 is between 32 and 40 years old. Can't expect Deere to re-stock parts in their warehouses forever. And what is left in stock, should indeed bring a higher price due to value.

I'm talking about the 430 as a useful tool that has a future. I'm not talking about buying one as a hobby so you can enjoy searching for parts and looking for workarounds when the machine breaks down and your grass grows for weeks.

It WILL break down. Every machine does. Then comes the realization that proprietary parts are being discontinued.

A lot of people love working on old machines that aren't practical any more. I get that. But there are guys who listen to old JD fanbois who think the gates of heaven are green, and they don't all know about the problems they are buying, because the fanbois don't talk about them.

Brand loyalty is a state of delusion.

"They run forever!" No, they don't. Not without parts. My tractor needed a rockshaft (discontinued), a grille (discontinued), an exhaust pipe ($160 for a $50 part), a fuel line, an alternator (an incredible $600), and a muffler (over $400). Thank God I was not stupid enough to buy a rebadged JD alternator.

I'm looking forward to dumping this thing (just as John Deere has) and having a mower that works for me instead of having it the other way around. I really want to unload it before I have to pull the deck out again. It will be so nice, working on a modern machine that makes things easier and cuts much better to boot.

 

[bigtiller]

The Deere 430 garden tractor is somewhere between 32 & 40 years old, depending on the year it was made.
It's no longer a work horse, it's a parade queen.