looking for a rebuilder for my 425 engine

[Foxgap1]

Can anyone supply a name of a company I can get a rebuilt engine for my 1995 425? The engine is a FD620D. I see several rebuilders on Ebay and other sites but I was hoping someone would have experience with a company that they could recommend. Compression is down on the motor but it has not died yet.
I am planing on getting a new muffler and I am hearing there is an updated carb that I might be able to find for it also. Is there anything else I should think about replacing while the motor is out?

Thanks, Mark

 

[Richard001]

It would help if we knew your location. You don't what to have to pay a big shipping bill to get the engine to the repair shop.

 

[Foxgap1]

So Sorry, Bangor PA. 18013. A friend suggested I just go to John Deere and order a new motor. Gonna call tomorrow to the local place, Hilltop Sales and ask about it. I guess these days I am going to have to pay freight any way you look at it. The one place requires you ship your core to them before they ship you the new long block. I was just hoping to get a rebuilt and be done with it.

 

[Richard001]

Don't know if this is a good deal or not, but check this out:

FD750D-S08

Item Specifications27HPWater CooledOil FilterOverhead Valve: YesSleeved Bore: YesMounting: HorizontalStarter Type: 12V Starter (no pull start)Oil type: SAE 10W-30Fuel Tank: No Tank, with fuel pumpShaft Size: 1-1/8"Dx3-3/4"LMuffler: Not IncludedShipping Rate Weight: 151Product Condition...

www.smallenginewarehouse.com

 

[RandyT]

Richard that is a fair deal on a complete engine. To Foxgap1 you can drop $1500+ into a proper rebuild. and it looks like JD doesn't even offer a complete engine just short block only and when logged into my JD dealer account tells me to call dealer for pricing.

 

[Foxgap1]

Wow, that is one complete engine. A few things won't fit my 425 but swaping parts over should not be a big deal. The John Deere shortblock would be ok also. I get to find out today what the deal with that will be. I'll let you all know tonight.

 

[Foxgap1]

Ok, I stopped at Hilltop today, no motors are available according to them. The tractor is just to old. They did supply me with a name of a company locally that may do the rebuild on the motor. I am stopping at their shop tomorrow afternoon. More then.

 

[DanMc77]

If compression is down, but the current engine is still running, and you're talking about replacing the entire engine anyway, why not run it until it finally dies? If you run a little heavier oil, that may bring the compression up and it could run for a very long time.

Is it burning oil with a lot of blue smoke?

 

[IH3444]

John Deere Garden Tractors - Compact Tractors -Vintage Tractors - John Deere Gators

https://repowerspecialists.com/collections/john-deere/products/john-deere-425-with-kawasaki?variant=3988933771287

 

[Foxgap1]

Dann, The tractor is using oil now, every other start I will be topping the oil up. At the moment I want to be proactive because I don't want it to die on me during the busy mowing, yard maint. season. I am hoping for a call back from a machine shop today about a rebuild.

I had considered the aircooled repower set ups earlier, they seem to have come a long way from the Honda in the 318 days. I still may go that way if nothing else pans out.

 

[4get gto]

I've used these guys

Very knowledgeable about the 620d. I've used myself for parts. They rebuild, sell replacement motors and parts. I believe they're in the Lancaster County area.

BTW. I'm in Bangor too..!

 

[Foxgap1]

This is real good news! Still waiting on a call back from the other machine shop. If it is a no go with this one I will call Repower Pros. Lancaster is not far at all, Amish country!

 

[jaydee325]

Another option is to buy a lower hour 425 and swap engines. Then either keep one as a parts tractor or sell it to defray costs.

Lots of low hour 425's on Machine Finder. There is a AWS unit listed in IA with 671 hours for $3000.

 

[Foxgap1]

ya have a good point there, I am keeping all options open at the moment

 

[Foxgap1]

reviving an old thread here. Long story short instead of rebuilding the 20 horse Kawasaki in my 425 I did a repower instead. The kit I got came from this company.
https://www.repowerpros.com/products/john-deere-425-engine-replacement/12237
I picked up the engine at their shop and dropped it off at the shop that was going to do the replacement. In the meantime I figured a few other parts needed updating at the same time. I replaced the fuel pump and sender, the radiator cap, radiator hoses, temp sensor and the fan belt.
The shop had the motor out and replaced in one day. They started it and it runs fantastic. He was impressed how easy the install was and how powerful the tractor has become. According to him he will recommend this repower to other 425 owners. The motor does sit in the compartment tight. Small sections of the sidecovers had to be cut out for clearance, but it does not show from the exterior. So far cooling has not been a problem, the gauge shows temps right in the center. The one item I have not worked on yet is rerouting the air intake from the side cover to the air cleaner. Right now it has not seemed to be a problem the way it is.
My opinion on this project is if I would have to do it again I definitely would. The tractor is much more powerful than the worn out 20 horse motor that was in it and cost is about an eighth of what I would have spent on a new tractor of the same caliber. The mower deck now spins at really great RPM so grass clippings are cut better and thrown further than before. The yard looks great again after being cut properly.

Mark

 

[4get gto]

So who did the work for you Mark ?

Did you save the old 20 hp ? FD 620 d I believe it was... I'd like to see that.

 

[Foxgap1]

Brian Moyer did the work and bought the motor for spare parts. As far as I know he has not done anything with it yet. Now that I see what this 750D does I realize how bad the old motor was. It was to the point that it would cut the grass as long as it was within a week of cutting it before. High grass it chugged thru it but skipped a lot. The motor had 1904 hours on it when it was changed out.