My John Deere 425 Tractor

Well, to really play on my new land, I really needed a new toy - so here it is!

OK, here is my latest toy - a 2001 John Deere Model 425 Garden Tractor. Not a big box store special, this is a JD working machine with numerous attachments available.

The two photos to the left are the ones posted on Craig's List that I purchased it from.

20-horsepower Kawasaki liquid-cooled engine
Full-pressure lubrication with replaceable oil filter
No-clutch shifting with infinite control of ground speed
Power steering for quick, precise control
Cruise control is standard
Heavy-duty robotically welded frame
3-point hitch available
48-inch mower deck

425 Garden Tractor
Engine
Manufacturer	Kawasaki
Horsepower	20
Cylinders	V-twin
Cooling Type	Liquid
Transmission	Hydrostatic
Cruise Control	Standard
PTO	Hydraulic
Tilt Steering	Yes
Power Steering	Yes
Approximate Weight	1050 lbs. (4WS)

Here is the right side of the tractor. The discharge chute cover is missing - I wonder what that cost's at the dealer??

Here you can see the missing tail lights and if you look closely, the rear skirting is bent and a little wavy.

Installation of a Johnny Buckets Sr. Loader JBSr. First of all, let me admit I'm like a kid on Christmas morning. I keep the 425 at our new land, which at this point doesn't have a building. I drove up on a Friday night with the JBSr. still in the boxes in the back of my truck. I arrived just before dark, but still wanted to play. All of the assembly below (prior to the hydraulic work) was completed by me alone, in the dark, on the ground using a flashlight. Mechanical assembly time was about 1 1/2 hours. Hydraulic assembly time was about 45 minutes the next morning. I'm sure in a garage with tools where you can find them quickly would reduce the assembly time. Please Note: The installation and use of this accessory is your liability. It involves a certain amount of mechanical ability, correct usage of tools and lifting heavy objects. Once installed your tractor will operate differently. It will change the weight and balance of your tractor, so you may not be able to drive in areas you once drove in. I put this page together as a help to anyone who decides that a Johnny Bucket Sr. is the right product for them. I have no affiliation with Johnny Products other than as a satisfied customer.
1	To make the JBSr. work, you need to have two available hydraulic circuits. On the 425 you have two, but one is utilized to raise and lower the deck. Normally the second circuit is unused, but available. Note the two levers to the right of the steering wheel. The upper control lever controls the deck raise/lower circuit and the lower control is unused.
2	Well, the first step in getting the JBSr. working is to make sure I can utilize the hydraulics on the 425. To the left you can see the access for the hydraulic circuits. On the back side are the two hoses going to the mower deck lift which as I pointed out above are on one circuit. The additional circuit is unused on my tractor. Note the four plugs, two for each circuit. If you don't understand the four plugs for two circuits thing, check out: http://www.rarecomp.com/aux-hyd/index.php?section=hydraulictheory
3	To the left are two different "parts" I needed to get my 425 ready for the JBSr. The four connectors at the bottom along with the four color coded dust covers are the "Hydraulic Quick Coupler Kit" I picked up from Aux-Hyd.com $69.10 Plus shipping. These quick couplers will replace the four plugs above and allow the four hoses form the JBSr. to connect in a flash. Now, remember above I said one circuit is being used to raise and lower the mowing deck? To use this circuit you need to install (if your tractor doesn't have one, some do) a a mower lift cylinder lockout valve. Pictured in the upper left hand corner of the photo to the left is the stock lockout valve from John Deere. For the 425 it is JD part number AM118213, a mere $85 plus shipping. Aux-Hyd.com also sells an aftermarket valve, but they were out of stock when I purchased mine.
4	This is where the lift cylinder lockout valve is installed. Remove the elbow on the hydraulic tube (put a few paper towels under it, some fluid will leak out) and replace it with the lift cylinder lockout valve pictured in photo #3. When I first removed the elbow, I would have sworn that the running board would have to be removed to get it in there, but this thing is engineered perfectly. The elbow comes right out and the valve goes right in. When finished, the valve handle faces the side of the tractor and is close to the bottom of the running board. Once installed, you run the mower deck all the way to the top, then close this valve. This removes the mower deck lift cylinder from the hydraulic circuit. Now the hydraulic circuit that would normally be used to raise/lower the deck is used by the JBSr. through the quick connects.
5	The JBSr. will arrive in three boxes (OK, I got four because I purchased the optional tooth bar). To the left is the contents of box #1, which is the instructions and the bracket for the front of the 425 connected to the raise/lower portion of the JBSr. The hydraulic cylinder to raise/lower the JBSr. is already attached, as well as the hydraulic lines.
6	Box #2 contains the JBSr. bucket. I'm sure the UPS guy will always remember me after delivering this to my house!
7	Box #3 contains the bucket arms with the dump hydraulic cylinder and hoses attached. The two 2X4s are removed after shipping, they just hold everything together while in transit.
8	The first step I took was to mount the front bracket on the 425. The JBSr. bracket comes with a solid bar that you slide through the top front two holes on the stock JD front bracket. Once this bar is in place the JBSr. bracket hooks over the bar and is held in place by two spring pins.
	The next step is to attach the bucket arms to the bucket. While I was able to do this alone, the instructions say it is easier with two people and I believe it. The arms span the bucket and are. held in place with pins and spring clips. The dump hydraulic cylinders are also attached to the bucket at this time, again with pins and spring clips. (sorry, no picture of this, I'll take some in the future)
	Now connect the bucket arm assembly to the front bracket. Four bolts connect these two assemblies together. (sorry, no picture of this, I'll take some in the future)
9	Now, remember the four quick connectors from photo #3? Remove the four plugs on the front of the hydraulic assembly under the left footboard. Again, a few paper towels will catch the fluid that will leak out when you remove the plugs. All are "O" ring sealed, just just snug them up. I recommend rubbing a little hydraulic fluid on the "O" ring before you put it in place. The instruction that come with the quick connectors have the color codes, but just in case, looking from the front: Upper Left - Yellow Upper Right - Silver Lower Left - Black Lower Right - Green Funny how things work, but the hoses that come on the JBSr. are also color coded! Now, don't ask how I know but be very careful when you put the yellow quick connector on. Because of it's placement it is possible to hit the one below it with your wrench causing you to think it has been completely installed - when in fact it is not tight. Also, when you are done remember to top off your hydraulic fluid!
	Well, here is the final product. I don't know what I was expecting, but the product really impresses me. This product is extremely well built and I can't see how it could be damaged in normal homeowners use (OK, other than cutting a hose).
	It will never replace a front end loader. As you can see from the photo to the left it doesn't raise that far off the ground.. But, I can say that it was never designed to replace a FEL. It is a mechanical replacement for a wheelbarrow. I used it all day the first day. I found myself moving rocks I would never have been able to move before. I was able to move material (soil/rock/stone) in a shorter length of time than I ever had. The only "part" that wasn't included with the JBSr. that I added was a large cable tie. In the photo to the left you can see the four hydraulic as the are routed between the body and the left front tire. I loosly tied them to the front bracket to keep them from getting into the tire. All in all, I'm extremely happy with the purchase!

	Now, my issue that I'm sure is unique to me. Even before I purchased the JBSr. I noticed that the mowing deck would slowly lower over time. Once I installed the lift cylinder lockout valve (photo 3/4 above) I was able to really see this. I raised the mower deck all the way to the top, then close this valve. This should seal the mower deck hydraulic circuit. With this circuit closed, the deck should not move. But, mine still slowly lowers. I can only assume that fluid is bypassing inside the hydraulic cylinder allowing the deck to lower. For now, when it gets too low, I just open the valve, raise it again and then close the valve.

Revised: August 05, 2007

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