John Deere 425 Price Check

[Mike1997]

I’m thinking about buying a John Deere 425. The guy is selling it for $900 it’s missing the headlights, has a broken hood, has high hours and smokes a little bit. If I can get it for $700-$800 is it a good deal even it needs some work.

 

[buck12]

Depends a bit on what your long range plans are for it, (i.e. heavy use or occasional). Find out the year or serial number and the hours. 425 and 445 models made before 1998 had a nylon cam gear that tended to fail around 800-1,000 hours. Engines marked FD620D-AS01, BS01 have a plastic cam gear.
Steel cam gears started with beginning serial 149283 for the 425.

My Dad and BIL both have 425s that have had the cam gears fail. The repair in both cases was under $500. JD and broken plastic go hand in hand. I have a GT 235 with a broken hood.

 

[Mike1997]

Depends a bit on what your long range plans are for it, (i.e. heavy use or occasional). Find out the year or serial number and the hours. 425 and 445 models made before 1998 had a nylon cam gear that tended to fail around 800-1,000 hours. Engines marked FD620D-AS01, BS01 have a plastic cam gear.
Steel cam gears started with beginning serial 149283 for the 425.

It’s a 1998 and has 2100 hours, he said it smokes o I’m not sure if the engine is worn out. It does run

 

[bigtiller]

I think I would keep shopping. It might be a bargain if you are a lawnmower mechanic.

 

[Mike1997]

I think I would keep shopping. It might be a bargain if you are a lawnmower mechanic.

Thanks, for the advice. Idk how much work I really want to put in it.