Operator comfort..

JTKub · May 15, 2006

Maybe it was a 3cyl under there. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I thought I just saw two fuel injectors up top. Kinda packed under the hood. It's got the same radiator setup as the CC's. Radiator is right in front of the operators knees & it was plugged badly with cotton wood, etc.. It's funny how much different makes/models have in common!

Joel

JTKub · May 15, 2006

Maybe it was a 3cyl under there. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I thought I just saw two fuel injectors up top. Kinda packed under the hood. It's got the same radiator setup as the CC's. Radiator is right in front of the operators knees & it was plugged badly with cotton wood, etc.. It's funny how much different makes/models have in common!

Joel

EuropaChris · May 15, 2006

I recall someone here bemoaning the fact that the diesel Cub garden tractors had a real problem with inhaling all sorts of debris into the radiators and overheating.

What I find strange is the driving force to installing a diesel into a basic garden tractor. I feel that the rest of the tractor is going to wear out far sooner than the engine, as good diesels will run 5000 to 10000 hours before overhaul if maintained. This is far longer than any garden tractor is going to hold up. It's kind of like putting a Cummins engine in the Dodge pickups. The engine will go 500,000 miles, but the truck barely makes 150,000 before it falls apart or rots out. I hope I don't offend any Dodge lovers here....

Sure, it's *cool* to have a diesel, but not real practical. That said, I drive a diesel VW Jetta wagon, the wife has a diesel Liberty CRD, and I built myself a backup generator using a ChangFa R185 diesel engine (Chinese). For $600, it's an impressive little engine....

Chris (I like diesels)

EuropaChris · May 15, 2006

I recall someone here bemoaning the fact that the diesel Cub garden tractors had a real problem with inhaling all sorts of debris into the radiators and overheating.

What I find strange is the driving force to installing a diesel into a basic garden tractor. I feel that the rest of the tractor is going to wear out far sooner than the engine, as good diesels will run 5000 to 10000 hours before overhaul if maintained. This is far longer than any garden tractor is going to hold up. It's kind of like putting a Cummins engine in the Dodge pickups. The engine will go 500,000 miles, but the truck barely makes 150,000 before it falls apart or rots out. I hope I don't offend any Dodge lovers here....

Sure, it's *cool* to have a diesel, but not real practical. That said, I drive a diesel VW Jetta wagon, the wife has a diesel Liberty CRD, and I built myself a backup generator using a ChangFa R185 diesel engine (Chinese). For $600, it's an impressive little engine....

Chris (I like diesels)

JTKub · May 16, 2006

( ..Sure, it's *cool* to have a diesel, but not real practical.... )

That's true. The only advantage I can see in a garden tractor application would be in commerical service. You'd make up the cost in fuel savings being able to run all day on a tank (diesel) as opposed to filling up several times a day (gasoline). You dont get that kind of savings with a pickup truck. Diesels p/u's do get more MPG's, but not a huge amount more. How do you lke that CRD liberty? You cant get the darn things in NYS !@# /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Joel

JTKub · May 16, 2006

( ..Sure, it's *cool* to have a diesel, but not real practical.... )

That's true. The only advantage I can see in a garden tractor application would be in commerical service. You'd make up the cost in fuel savings being able to run all day on a tank (diesel) as opposed to filling up several times a day (gasoline). You dont get that kind of savings with a pickup truck. Diesels p/u's do get more MPG's, but not a huge amount more. How do you lke that CRD liberty? You cant get the darn things in NYS !@# /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Joel

EuropaChris · May 16, 2006

( How do you lke that CRD liberty? You cant get the darn things in NYS !@# /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Joel )

We like it a lot, but it has NOT been trouble free. We've replaced two EGR valves under warranty already early on, but the newest (updated design) is doing OK so far.

Had several ECM and TCM flashes to correct various issues (stumbling, weird shifting).

Had the lower front ball joints replaced and also the rear track bar joint already to find a 'clunking' noise that turned out to be a loose motor mount.

Then, to top it off, we had a seized rear brake caliper that caused a few issues of Holy Smoking Brakes, Batman!

This is all in one year of ownership and 21,000 miles.

Now it seems the hot issue with the CRDs is the transmission decididng to eat itself. DCX has had several TSB's for flashes, filter replacements, and other things, but it seems that when the tranny decides it's time to pack up, that's it. The torque converter fails and sends garbage throughout the tranny. Usually that means DCX buys a new tranny for you. So far we're doing good on the tranny, but it's a ticking bomb, as far as I can guess.

Even with all that, it is a BLAST to drive. It handles well, rides very quiet on the highway, and it has some serious giddyup! I can leave a V6 Liberty eating my soot off the line. It also gets a solid 25 mpg on the highway at 70 mph. Not bad at all.

Most of the issues aren't even related to the CRD engine. They seem to be very trouble-free so far except for the EGR valves. The issues are just stupid problems that DCX should have engineered out of the Liberty years ago already (ball joints, brakes, etc.)

And the US automakers wonder why the Asians are eating their lunch???? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

On the other hand, my '02 Jetta Wagon TDI has been remarkably bullet proof. There have been LOTS of documented achilles heel issues with these, most pretty stupid also, but I've had almost none at all.

Chris

EuropaChris · May 16, 2006

( How do you lke that CRD liberty? You cant get the darn things in NYS !@# /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Joel )

We like it a lot, but it has NOT been trouble free. We've replaced two EGR valves under warranty already early on, but the newest (updated design) is doing OK so far.

Had several ECM and TCM flashes to correct various issues (stumbling, weird shifting).

Had the lower front ball joints replaced and also the rear track bar joint already to find a 'clunking' noise that turned out to be a loose motor mount.

Then, to top it off, we had a seized rear brake caliper that caused a few issues of Holy Smoking Brakes, Batman!

This is all in one year of ownership and 21,000 miles.

Now it seems the hot issue with the CRDs is the transmission decididng to eat itself. DCX has had several TSB's for flashes, filter replacements, and other things, but it seems that when the tranny decides it's time to pack up, that's it. The torque converter fails and sends garbage throughout the tranny. Usually that means DCX buys a new tranny for you. So far we're doing good on the tranny, but it's a ticking bomb, as far as I can guess.

Even with all that, it is a BLAST to drive. It handles well, rides very quiet on the highway, and it has some serious giddyup! I can leave a V6 Liberty eating my soot off the line. It also gets a solid 25 mpg on the highway at 70 mph. Not bad at all.

Most of the issues aren't even related to the CRD engine. They seem to be very trouble-free so far except for the EGR valves. The issues are just stupid problems that DCX should have engineered out of the Liberty years ago already (ball joints, brakes, etc.)

And the US automakers wonder why the Asians are eating their lunch???? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

On the other hand, my '02 Jetta Wagon TDI has been remarkably bullet proof. There have been LOTS of documented achilles heel issues with these, most pretty stupid also, but I've had almost none at all.

Chris

coasterez · May 17, 2006

Sorry Chris, I would have to disagree on the diesel outlasting the rest of the JD 4x5 series machines. These machines are designed and built far better than any other garden tractor I have ever seen (sans maybe new deeres that replace them - just haven't seen these). There is absolutely no reason to believe that one could not get 5000 hours out of one of these machines if properly maintained and kept out of the weather.

I've seen some for sale with close to 2000 hours. Though, unless you're using it commercially, I don't see how that many hours could be accumlated (maybe in 3 lifetimes).

Mine (425) is now 13 years old, with 650 hours or so. Still looks and runs like new. All I do is keep the fluids changed and the zerks greased. Everything works and nothing has needed to be replaced or repaired. FYI: The 425 is gas carb; 445 is gas fuel injected (first ever I believe), and the 455 is diesel. 425's and 445's also had the option for AWS. Pricey garden tractor, no doubt. But, if you want a heavy, stable grass cutting killer machine that'll also plow snow as deep as 2 feet, and cultivate a garden plot, and do it all in a hurry for many many years, then one of these beasts is the perfect "once in a lifetime purchase". You'll never need another garden tractor, guaranteed. These machines are not your everyday garden tractor.

coasterez · May 17, 2006

Sorry Chris, I would have to disagree on the diesel outlasting the rest of the JD 4x5 series machines. These machines are designed and built far better than any other garden tractor I have ever seen (sans maybe new deeres that replace them - just haven't seen these). There is absolutely no reason to believe that one could not get 5000 hours out of one of these machines if properly maintained and kept out of the weather.

I've seen some for sale with close to 2000 hours. Though, unless you're using it commercially, I don't see how that many hours could be accumlated (maybe in 3 lifetimes).

Mine (425) is now 13 years old, with 650 hours or so. Still looks and runs like new. All I do is keep the fluids changed and the zerks greased. Everything works and nothing has needed to be replaced or repaired. FYI: The 425 is gas carb; 445 is gas fuel injected (first ever I believe), and the 455 is diesel. 425's and 445's also had the option for AWS. Pricey garden tractor, no doubt. But, if you want a heavy, stable grass cutting killer machine that'll also plow snow as deep as 2 feet, and cultivate a garden plot, and do it all in a hurry for many many years, then one of these beasts is the perfect "once in a lifetime purchase". You'll never need another garden tractor, guaranteed. These machines are not your everyday garden tractor.