Converting a 425 for Snow Duty

1638 Views 8 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Cementhead, Dec 16, 2011

69project

Discussion Starter · Dec 14, 2011

I have a 425 that has never been used for anything but cutting grass. I have blade for my 400 that I am thinking about putting on my 425 since I installed my loader on the 400. The wife wants a tractor to clear snow with if I am gone and is afraid and not trained on the loader. She isn't a big fan of the 400anyways because of the hand controls. The prices for a blade/mount for a 425 are too high for me(I have seen two for sale around here, 1 for $600 and 1 for $1100). I think converting my existing blade will be cheaper, at least on paper is seems that way.

I know Alzwelding sells a frame squeezer and he says it will work with a 400 mount but my question is what else do I need?

I know I need longer hoses, that should be an easy fix, just spend money.

My control valve doesn't have any hydraulic connectors on it. I assume the dealer still sells them? Do they simply screw on to control valve by the left foot pad?

Do I need anything else? I have seen threads talk about a lock out valve to isolate the hydraulics from the deck lift to provide more pressure, how/where do I install that on the tractor?

Thanks,

Lee

:thThumbsU

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Cementhead

· #2 · Dec 15, 2011

Deere sells a kit with the 4 hyd. couplers and the rubber plugs for them the lockout valve is the better way to go you don't have to have it but it does make the blade easier to use and it is around $100. BILL

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Wfburton159

· #3 · Dec 15, 2011

They have those kits on ebay for pretty cheap. But most of that stuff can be had for cheaper at the dealer. So check there as well. You will want a lockout valve so the blade will angle faster and also without one the blade will not want to stay in one position side to side. I dont think you will find any adapter to go from 400 to a 4X5 series mount. I cut mine down on each side and had to relocate the pins on the bottom when I converted mine from a 400 I had before. Very easy and way cheaper than a quickhitch setup. Hoses I bought from Fleet Farm.

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69project

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 16, 2011

Wfburton159 said:
I dont think you will find any adapter to go from 400 to a 4X5 series mount. I cut mine down on each side and had to relocate the pins on the bottom when I converted mine from a 400 I had before. Very easy and way cheaper than a quickhitch setup. Hoses I bought from Fleet Farm.

When you converted yours did you know about Alzwelding's frame squeezer and decide it wouldn't work?

This is what I am looking at from Alzwelding(scroll down the product line until you see frame squeezer). The vendor emailed me back and said it would work with a 400 mount, but as you know 400's are different than most JD's. I was very specific with my question, but I am still leery about it.

http://www.alzwelding.com/product.html

I still want the capability to go back and forth between the 400 or 425 because in the future I may decide I do not want the loader and if I keep the 400 it will be the work horse of the two. :thanku:

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sacnho

· #5 · Dec 16, 2011

My control valve doesn't have any hydraulic connectors on it. I assume the dealer still sells them? Do they simply screw on to control valve by the left foot pad?

Dealer still sells them I bought a kit from my JD dealer last year for $50 it had the couplers and 4 color coded caps. The kit I got had instructions for installing and yes basically all you do is remove the 4 plugs and screw in 4 couplers.

Do I need anything else? I have seen threads talk about a lock outvalve to isolate the hydraulics from the deck lift to provide more pressure, how/where do I install that on the tractor?

The lockout valve goes on the back side of the valve that you install the couplers on. There are instructions for installing the lockout valve on this ebay auction.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/JOHN-DEERE-425-445-455-ROCKSHAFT-HYD-LOCKOUT-VALVE-/400263040781?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d31894f0d#ht_2995wt_907

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Wfburton159

· #6 · Dec 16, 2011

69project said:
When you converted yours did you know about Alzwelding's frame squeezer and decide it wouldn't work?

This is what I am looking at from Alzwelding(scroll down the product line until you see frame squeezer). The vendor emailed me back and said it would work with a 400 mount, but as you know 400's are different than most JD's. I was very specific with my question, but I am still leery about it.

http://www.alzwelding.com/product.html

I still want the capability to go back and forth between the 400 or 425 because in the future I may decide I do not want the loader and if I keep the 400 it will be the work horse of the two. :thanku:

The info is correct but the picture is wrong. I knew he had one that squeezed down to 300 series width(the picture is what I am talking about). He must have one that will work for you, expensive piece of steel

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Wfburton159

· #7 · Dec 16, 2011

I just looked again and am confused still. The 400,420,430 have wider frames than the x series and the 4X5 tractors. So something is a miss.

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5isalive

· #8 · Dec 16, 2011

Email Ron at http://aux-hyd.com/ he makes a lockout valve that only takes a quarter turn for the 425. He doesn't show it on his site but he will get one for you. He also has the coupler kit but his prices seem higher then ebay.

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Cementhead

· #9 · Dec 16, 2011

Al Z has very high quality stuff tell him what you need and he will build it I have the frame squeezer for using the old style blade on my 425 not cheap but you get what you pay for and he has free shipping through dec. 31. BILL

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