I PAID $2,300 FOR A BROKEN 2001 JOHN DEERE 425 GARDEN TRACTOR OFF MARKETPLACE, CAN WE FIX IT? 

Deere GT 235e owner here and can honestly say that replacing the carb is about as far as I would go on my machine. I do recommend that you install the grass chute because that right side blade under that deck is exposed and anyone putting their foot near that discharge while running might be losing a few toes! Kudos for keeping an eye on your elderly friend!

That speaks volumes by helping a friend in need. I’m sure he appreciated the help and you done a great thing by helping your fellow man.

It's nice to see someone helping the elderly for free. You can hardly find folk's like that in the world so my hat's off to you! You have earned a subscribe from me!

That 425 is in amazing condition! Good find on the relief valve spring, you saved it from a premature death for sure.

Awesome troubleshooting to watch! Huge judges for helping out the elderly.

At $ 2300. the average person would have to use the mower for a boat anchor. Tearing into a new purchase is out of most peoples skill set. I salute you on your fearless attitude towards problems you face.

A good example for our young men to follow. I thank you.

Great result on the project. Also thanks for helping out the "Old Guy"...I'm an old guy who appreciates the help of the young ones. God Bless you man!

Your channel is so good. You do different types of projects and you compete them all. Your explanations are technically understandable and complete. Please keep up the good work. Hopefully your heart is better! TY for all your videos.

A lot of folks don’t understand the function of those so called “gauge” wheels. They are actually anti-scalp wheels. You set the deck cutting height using the height adjuster in front of the seat, then you adjust the deck wheels so they ride just above the ground, not on it, when the deck is at the normal cutting height.

You're a good mechanic, no hesitation, you went right through the job. Excellent work!

What a great mower. So smooth and fairly quiet. You can’t come even close to getting a new tractor like that for what you spent.

Your little friend sittin in the blower breeze at the end is priceless

That's cool you help your friend, you were raised right. I helped an older couple across the street when I was 11-15 weeding, mowing their lawn etc. they paid me $3.00 an hour. By the time I was done i had $10.00 in my pocket and felt rich. Ah, those were the good ol days. Im 61 an bored out of my mind being retired. I salute you.

Your little dog looks like he was a sky diver in his last life, that old Ford Falcon at your friends house is an old gem

That's one hell of a machine. All I do is mow the grass and occasionally move a trailer and log splitter so I can mow more grass. A simple air cooled engine gets the job done less things that can break. Using that just to mow is like that guy that's got that f350 for grocery shopping.

That is one of the best John Deere mowers you can buy..i know it cost a lot more than 2,300..thanks for helping the elderly man I'm sure he appreciates it..

Love this guy! One of my new favourite RU-vid DIYers/mechanics/wrenchers Keep it up. I watch at 2x by the way.

So glad you’re back!! You always have just the right amount of work and talk. Continue to enjoy the way you speed things up instead of making us watch the boring stuff. In addition you have a great heart and loved your cutting and weed eating your 90 year old friend’s yard. Best wishes and hope you’ll make more videos.

I used to own one, as well as a 420, 318, and 445. Now own a x730. You’ll be amazed at how much smoother it’ll ride and how much higher it sits if you upgrade it with the bigger tires like the 445 has factory. Night and day difference my friend! Job well done on the engine job. Word of advice, clean off the rust from the input shaft before reassembly and you won’t risk damage the new lip seal on the rust…been there done that

Great video! You are great at finding the problem even when the problem is not obvious. I look forward to your videos, cant wait to see the next gem you find and fix! Your little helper is so cute!

The design and power of this series of mowers was well designed, perhaps where metal instead of plastic was used. I have a similar model that needs a new engine or full rebuild. What I like is the blade configure and how clippings are moved from the swath. The hydralic components of the 425 model you now own were very useful, as shown. I very much followed along at the various fittings and kits as installed and thank you for the post. M.

Excellent video, helping out a friend at the same time. Cheers from Eastern Ontario 🇨🇦

Fantastic video again 😊 one of the best channels on RU-vid, how you explain everything.brilliant work

Like the way you repaired that: nice and clean with attention to detail; not letting junk get inside the engine, etc. Good job.

Hey Darrell, another great video. As always! Awesome job repairing the John Deere. Very nice of you to help out an older American, not a lot of people would do that. I am 65 and my wife is 63 and I just had both hips replaced and still have to have both knees replaced, and we have to almost beg our only son to help with anything. I can tell you are an awesome person. Please keep up the great videos. I have watched and liked EVERY one on your channel and will continue to do so as long as you keep making them. I wish you and your family health and happiness. Thank you.

Your mechanical skills are superb and now the mower has great oil pressure. You were so nice to mow and give the brush a 'haircut' at Charles' home. Blessings to you.

I really enjoyed watching this. You got a real deal on that machine and your fix was perfection. Tractor runs great, handled that tall grass at your friends house with ease. Beautiful tractor. Glad you helped your friend. Poor old fella still has everything he ever bought on his property

I cant quit watching this guy work.hes good

Great job! Beautiful unit! Hats off to you brother on being super knowledgeable. Did a good deed helping your elderly friends yard, shows you’re definitely a good dude. 💪😎👍

You did a really good job on that mower. As was said by someone else, I probably would have replaced the spring, but all the cleanliness was spot on. The video was excellent, very clear and concise. And the little guy at the last looked like the wookie from star wars!!!😅 The 425 is a really great mower, easy to handle and lots of attachments for it. You did well.

I'm glad to see back posting again. Thanks for the new video

I was hooked after watching your Goldwing video. Been busy watching your older videos. Excellent content.

The dog in front of the fan was epic 😁😆👍

That’s your new baby! House proud, mower proud! Well done on another excellent video.❤

First time seeing your channel It sure is a humbling experience seeing a young man with so much talent and professionalism. Your approach to your work at hand looks so silky smooth ,it makes me feel dumb . I was an electrician for 50 years and never really worked on any of my own stuff lawnmowers,cars and such . I sure wish I had because it would really help me now I’m retired You tube has saved me a lot of times for small repairs This repair you just pulled off would be way out of my safe zone for any type of success!!😂😂 Thanks man much appreciated Great job

400 series tractors were some of the best garden tractors Deere ever made. I loved mine. Upgraded to a 1025R but still can’t bring myself to sell the 425. I love that damn thing. Thankfully it’s never had any issues except one small seal on the rear axle that we had to split the tractor in order to fix. But it was relatively easy. Just a long process for a seal the size of a quarter.

What an enjoyable video...great troubleshooting as usual and spending the time to help your neighbor was truly humanitarian. However, I would have sprung for a new spring.

When mowing grass that high, raise your deck to the top for first cut. Put the shield on the Discharge Chute. Most would put on a new Oil Pressure Sending Switch before tearing down the entire engine. Sand that crank and install a new seal that would have been ruined by pulling it off that rusted snout. Good find on the Spring. Strange that the right front wheel has valve on inside and the Left Front had valve on the Outside. I have had to adjust the ridiculous Reverse Pedal. On the L and LA models they should be same height and there is a slot in a lever arm that allows this to be done. I much prefer the Fender mounted lever which was also cruise control. Lights are great. Hope the wiring can handle them. You did good on the price. Gutsy move to tear into the engine. Great to help folks. Don't see many 1960's Falcons!

Great job as always, Darrell...love your attention to detail. You certainly aren't afraid of digging deep to rectify an issue..👍 You have ended up with a really nice little tractor there, buddy...😊👍

Nice to see people (U) that know what they are doing 👌 Great vid man 👍 Looking forward for ur next vid, Grtz from Belgium ✌️

Great job. Very clean machine. I have a an 04 GT-235 that I inherited. Pops wasn't the greatest for maintaining his gear so I am doing a full service cleaning on it. Even though it was neglected, it still runs like a champ 👌

I like the way you work methodical and clean.

Awesome! Now I’m looking for a 425.👍

Great job on your 425! I just saw this video. I bought my 425 new in 1993, its a 4 wheel steer, and still going like new today! Good job! Thats a nice tractor you got!

A simply masterful job on that repair. Well done.

Always enjoy your videos, pleasure to watch.

Good video I always cut tree stubble flush with the ground to prevent spears from pointing up ........

Well worth what you paid for it. Job well done, glad it went to a good home where it will be well cared for.

One of the best videos I've seen on this subject. You're a very good mechanic and wouldn't hesitate to have you work on my equipment. I would add when you mentioned so many transmissions for this model being available that isn't necessarily due to the quality of the machine. Many of these are "parted out" for relatively minor reasons due to the parts being much more valuable individually than the whole tractor. Many "recyclers" purchase these machines just for that purpose. It's a shame but they do provide us with affordable parts. Something John Deere obviously won't do.

Good job. Glad to see your doing ok from the looks of things. Keep it up.

Thanks, that was interesting. you're a great mechanic. keep up the good work. And I liked the background noise. Reminded me of summer nights outside my little shop. Cicadas, locusts and the occasional bark of a dog! thanks again.

Good idea. For a small garden tractor that little thing did ok with a loader. I loaded the tires with washer fluid and had some ballast on the rear as well. I also shimmed the relief valve a little higher that recommended for lift capacity. The only thing that tractor need was 4wd like our Steiners. I sold it and still wish I had it.

I’m a new subscriber I really enjoy your videos. Also praying for your heart condition. Keep the videos coming

Your a good neighbor and that 425 looks great, the Lord bless you.

the 400 series are nice machines. I have a tow 316. And God bless you for doing your neighbors grass.

I was never a big J-Deere fan but that's a nice ride. It look's showroom fresh but I cann't afford one anyway good job. Thanks for posting !

Kudos for helping out your friend with his yard, made me happy to become a subscriber to your channel..

Another great video, thank you for sharing, I am very enjoy watch your project, I like the small tractor 👍👍👍👍

I ran across your channel on the John Deere. Very informative. You cut grass like I do clockwise and Re mulch til there’s no more awesome.

Good job. I recently picked this channel up and im glad i did.

That's an awesome garden tractor. It's very very fortunate that you fixed that oil pressure issue though. I think you got a good deal in the end.

Great video.. Love guys that have the patience to tear into problem like this.

Nice to see someone who takes pride of in things to keep them going. Apparently too many folks have money to throw around in my neighborhood. I try to keep things going for ever if I can.

Good as new. Great video, both informative and entertaining. Best wishes.

Bravo bon mécanicien, good job guy's...!

EXCELLENT!! Thank you so much. Great video and quality. Appreciate fast forward of redundant tightening. Grease fititng wow!

First time viewer of your channel and I subscribed right away. You are a talented young man and helping your neighbor speaks to your character - both attributes are in short supply these days. I have a 425 that I bought used as well, to go with my 445, that I have had for 25 years and it's still going strong. They are great tractors. I'm looking at a x738 to replace the 425 although I doubt I will let it go. Watching you tear into that engine was fascinating as a 66 year old construction guy that can take anything apart but putting it back together usually doesn't work out too well. On top of that, your video skills are very good with clear views of what your working on. Keep up the good work and you will do well in life. I plan on watching your channel grow - albeit pretty great now with 43k subscribers. Happy New Year.

That motor should be running good for years to come for you. Great job!!

Enjoyed it bro, glad you seem to be doing well. I laughed so hard at that last bit with the pooch in front of the fan!

I had the x 360 for many years. I would say it was the lawn mower from hell. Hydronic bed lift, power steering , crusise . It all started when I ran into a stomp and broke a steering arm in half and it was just a light bump. Then after mowing for an hour or so it would just shut down, I have replaced everything on this machine, the hydronic system, carb, plugs. Wires, and gas pump twice. Last week I sold it for 3000 , I could not believe it. I told the guy all that was repaired on the unit. Then I went to our local canadian tire and bought a Husqvarna 54 inch without hydronic bed lift and steering. With the 3000 I got for my old one and 1600 more I have a brand new unit with a 24 hp Kawasaki . I know my unit must have just been a lemon but all the hype about John Deere and all the head aches I have had with this machine, I just had to tell this story. So for anyone reading this, buy a machine with a a great motor and metal transmission and enjoy your summer.

I almost scrolled by your video but I'm glad I didn't. You do great work and have good mechanics instincts. Good video.

You are a good man helping your neighbor! Sorry that man took advantage of you on the Deere. New subscriber.

I wonder how many 285, 320, 345, 425, 445 liquid cooled kawasaki engines have been junked because the plastic cam gear broke and they assumed the engine was no good? The new cam gears have been steel since 1999 so no worries after the new cam is installed. I've done a few plastic to steel cam gear upgrades myself and its surprisingly easy to do.

Another great video, and content, and I am impressed the way you think outside the box, and future proofed some of the internal parts of the engine, and the magnet mod was brilliant, keep up the great mechanical mods and builds, looking forward to the next video. 👍🚜 👍

Outstanding job! 👍👍👍👍

This is a really good video. Great troubleshooting and really easy to follow.

You're right about the guard on the brush cutter. It would work a lot better. Been using an Echo 410u for years without one. It's more effective, less frustrating and, believe it or not, safer as you're not always struggling to get the cutter in the right position.

What a jewel there Darrell! Another great video. Allan up in Columbia, SC

Great job ! Really don’t know why that oil pump would have failed at such low hours. Kawasaki should have never used plastic parts in a lot of those areas ! They just don’t build equipment to last anymore, seems like it’s done on purpose so it will fail quicker and we’ll have to pay a high repair cost or buy another expensive fail quick tractor ! It’s really sad ! Glad you caught the problems and potential problems and addressed them now so you’ll get several hours of service out of it ! Have a Blessed Day

Thumbs-UP for the engine rebuild, and a big thumbs-up for cooling the dog off! I just subscribed. 👍

You are young man that has learned a lot and has put your knowledge to good use! I am very impressed! Who taught you or how did you learn this? Thanks a million and I really enjoyed your video !!

I sure do like those older JD mowers. That was a nice thing that you did for your friend. I really like his old Falcon. I hope you have good luck with your mower.

I thought u did a BEYOND INCREDIBLE JOB!

Thanks for sharing! Stay safe 👊🏻

Great instructional video, you know looks can be deceiving, for the not trained eye this machine could be perfect but there is always something and I am glad it end up in your hands so it would last forever. Not surprised at all of a great work done. Stay safe brother ! 👊🏻

Nice bro. Good skips love them. Glad you got your dream machine 🎉 I'm still looking 4 mine

You did exactly what I would have with the tractor....turned out nice with the cleanup 'n new headlamps....Nice machine

This is my dream garden tractor. hopefully looking to find one some time soon. I had a JD 345 for a while. awesome video and I enjoy watching your videos. I enjoy working on things like you do for a hobby!

The J.D. 425 's are great machines . Bought mine in '98 and now has 2300 hrs. on it and still runs great , and doesn't use any oil , ( mobile 1 10w- 30 ) although did have have to replace the plastic gear at about 1500 hrs. I think you made a wise choice .

you are one hell of a mechanic

Great video. Really enjoyed it.

Seller totally knew there was an issue, that sucks but glad it was an easy fix! Did you sell the Kubota?

You got good deal, clearly the guy before you took excellent care of it even if he could have been a little more upfront about the oil light, " he may have suspected the worst or may not have known " and granted you put some time and money into it I'd still say great deal

I now suspect the spring was the whole problem. But now you have the peace of mind knowing the plastic gears are not going to fail you on short notice. It is great you were comfortable and capable of making those repairs. I hope that machine is as good to you as my JD's have been. My oldest was new in 1987 and still runs great. Not hydraulic anything. Manual deck lift, manual mower engagement and manpower steering. So, it had the advantage of being simpler, with less to go wrong.

Good work, young man.

Another nice video Darrell! Makes me wish I would've filmed my Kubota L35 restoration! You do nice work and vids are well-edited!

Sweet machine. Nice fix.

I love my JD 425. Thanks for the great video. I'm going to order a new reverse lever.

Just saw the end of this video 🤣🤣🤣your little buddy was TOTALLY enjoying that blower 🤣🤣🤣🙏🏼❤️🤙🏼