What did you do to or on your John Deere today?...2.0

smcgill said:

Ok how do you store your single stage throwers... I place mine on a pallet and cover it with a tarp ?

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I have a two-stage, but it shouldn't matter, its just a big attachment. If you can't store it indoors, at least put it onto a pallet to get it off the ground, and cover with a tarp. Coating the metal with paint, wax and/or oil also helps in the off-season.

Mike

jmb6420 said:

Started installing my H3 kit in my 445 from Auxiliary Hydraulics. Great instructions and straight forward install. It's a little tough for an old man with big hands but I'm gonna finish it up tomorrow.


Mike in Okla

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We’ll need some pics!

I’ve been playing with the herd a good bit. The 4066 has gone through 15 gallons of diesel in the last 10 days, I’ve officially doubled my PTO hrs in one winter (compared to the previous 4). Lots of time just sitting and watching the snow fly.

In the evenings I’ve been working on tearing apart a 400. That’s been an interesting process. Having lots of experience with 140-430, the 400 is an odd ball in every way. Learning lots though, it will be good if I ever have to change out something on my other 400. This is about all that is left, hopefully tonight I can get the differential apart and start cleaning up in preparation for the next victim.

I have a 445 that has a bad fuel pump, no deck, and terrible cosmetically, good machine otherwise. A perfect candidate for parts. Bought it a couple years ago from a local flipper that took it on trade. Got it wedged into the shop last night late and it is ready and waiting for me when I wrap up the 400. Dribble some gas into the throttle body and made sure it ran, just a bad fuel pump.

Cruisin'n5thgear said:

I'm just catching up on posts in this thread - how does the 4066 compare to the 1585? Looks like the 4066 was featured more prominently in recent posts so I was curious how the recent 1585 acquisition has been performing.

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The 4066 is still the go to for snow removal and I never really expected that to change. Horsepower and width gives the 4066 the nod each time, 74” blower and 52 PTO hp vs 60” blower and ~30 PTO hp. More importantly, my wife loves the 1585, which is the reason I bought it. She’s helped me move snow a couple times and she just rocks out in the cab and stays warm. I’ve used it a couple times, it’s a really nice machine and you can certainly tell the 31 hp in the 1445 vs the 38 hp in the 1585. We’ve talked about taking the blower off and installing the broom for the garage apron but haven’t done it yet. Depending on how bit the drifts are with the current winter storm, the 1585 might come out tonight to clear some snow. The 1585 will really shine in the summer and mowing duty. I am looking forward to that!!!

It's nice to have a helper sometimes.



Mike in Okla

Mr Beef, I am making my maiden voyage into a 318 Onan (1987 with P218G engine). Those models scared me because I feared they would be over my head. Surprisingly I am finding the tractor relatively simple to work on. Doing some service work on the engine to fix massive oil leak problem. I bought it as a non-runner. When I have it back together I will have it running to see if I screwed up by not rebuilding the engine. Work continues.

Seeing your 445 is the reason I have never and probably never will own that series of Deere GT's. I love the Kawasaki engines but the plastic hood/shield parts are a bigger problem then the Kohler KT17 lubrication problem in the 317. I have a 1979 317. It is my money pit tractor. Never will recover money I stuck into it but I love that tractor. It is a 317 w/ KT17S2 engine, Brantly power steering, Deere OEM 3PH, 4-bolt front rims, 26-12x12 rear Ags, and flip over seat. I have a pulley on the engine (I think I got it from you) that powers the 318 quick hitch/attachments. I will probably loose but will challenge a 445 for tractor capability.

Keep us posted on progress with the 400 ... Gabby

GreenGabby said:

Seeing your 445 is the reason I have never and probably never will own that series of Deere GT's.

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Ha, tell me about it! I love my 425 but I was browsing some "like to haves" like a new hood and instrument cluster and the cluster alone is $458 new. The hood is ~$150

Paradigm11 said:

Ha, tell me about it! I love my 425 but I was browsing some "like to haves" like a new hood and instrument cluster and the cluster alone is $458 new. The hood is ~$150

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I have had this discussion with other members. Often they disagree with me saying I only have "antique tractors". Not true. I have an X485 and an X720 as mowing machines for my two properties. My favorite if the two is the X485; have had some issues with the X720.

You hit the nail on the head with the $458 for a new hood. I have a stack of open and closed frame hoods that I cannot sell because people do not need them as they are repairable. The "plastic" hoods on the 45 series tractors are not repairable and a fortune to replace. I know there are aftermarket companies now that supplies these but the problem is the durability of the original parts.

Gabby, just wait till you start buying Onan parts. You will think $150 for an aftermarket hood is a bargain.

I loved my 318, but I would take any of the 4x5’s hands down for a regular use tractor. The garbage plastic is more than made up for by the foot actuated hydro, stronger hydraulics, and smooth, quiet Kawasaki engines.


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I have been buying P218G engine parts for the 318 project I am working on. Mostly gaskets and couple of other parts like oil pressure switch and fill tube seal. Buying from Onanparts has been cheaper than buying from Deere.

Agree the foot hydrostatic control would be nice on my 420 with 44 loader. Stronger hydraulics is questionable. I bought a 318 quick hitch setup with model 47 snowblower in Ohio. Seller used a 445 with I think it is a model 40 loader to load the snowblower. Tractor/loader would not pick up the model 47. It took a person on each side to help lift the loader to get it to proper height to load into pickup bed. Kawasaki engine is definitely a plus.

Every Deere model has good points and bad points and everyone has the right to have a favorite model. You can have all the 4x5's running around with no hoods and side shields. I'll take the open/closed frame and X4xx/X5xx/X7xx models. I'll be honest the 4x5's are a nice looking tractor but between the plastic parts and the cam gear issues I have decided to stay away from those models.

Getting ready for mowing season here with the L130. Ran across a complete deck rebuild kit on Ebay for $120 shipped (seriously). Probably a bunch of cheap junk but couldn't resist. Where does the OE stuff come from for the new mowers? Seems like I'm replacing bearings all summer these days, maybe all new stuff will last a while?

Earlier this week I walked into the back yard. I realized I didn't get the walnuts cleaned up last fall. Squirrels made a heck of a mess with them but I should be able to vacuum them up with the bagger on the X720. It's Thursday. All the snow we go last Thursday was almost all melted but got a ground covering again tonight. Predicted to get < 1".

GreenGabby said:

Earlier this week I walked into the back yard. I realized I didn't get the walnuts cleaned up last fall. Squirrels made a heck of a mess with them but I should be able to vacuum them up with the bagger on the X720. It's Thursday. All the snow we go last Thursday was almost all melted but got a ground covering again tonight. Predicted to get < 1".

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I’m expecting to be mowing in a week or two, at the most. All of the JD’s are serviced. The 60” Land Pride Z, I store at Grammy’s still needs service and blades.

Back at the daughters house yesterday, I just went through my pics and I can't find any before pics, I know I took them. Anyway, it's getting to where you can really see the difference. We took out 6 big Blue Spruce in the side yard, all of the old split rail that was completely entangled with "weed trees" and vines. First to bat was a big bush nobody liked. F150 1, bush 0. JD just played movable seat for me to ride around on the first couple hours. Took down another 5-6 Cherry's in the back. Tried loading the 1/2 cord trailer but the 15 year old tires look like they could blow any minute. So, I only loaded two rows, about a quarter cord. Still have the weight box on the X540 with a couple logging chains in it. Found out that the hitch sticking back an extra 18"s made the tractor light in the front end. I have to take it off anyway, it gets in the way mowing.