That's one very minty 445!! NICE!! Deere's heavy-duty garden tractors are BEASTS and will last a long, long time as long as you do your part and take care of them! I have an X720 and a X485 that I use together on my acreage home and they are awesome. The mowing conditions at my place would destroy a Home Depot cheapie mower in short order.
My dad just gave me the 1994 John Deere 445 that he had bought brand new, along with the 54" mower deck he had gotten to go with it, another 54" that he got used (for spare parts), and a 48" deck that came off a junked 425, which has a Power Flow attachment on it. He also gave me the snowblower that he got a few years after he bought the tractor (he used to use a plow blade, before he got the blower). He upgraded the plastic valve covers to the later aluminum ones years ago, and before he gave me the tractor we replaced one piston and both sets of rings. He had replaced the failure-prone plastic gears as a preventative measure already. Runs nearly like new!
So you'll agree it's the last tractor you'll ever need 🙂. What a great amount of attachments and a legacy. Thanks for watching and sharing your comments
@@TNYankee2020Any thoughts on trading up to a X739? I was thinking of getting something a little newer than the 4x5 platform, for reliability and parts availability.
I have a 455 with the diesel and a 60 inch deck I’m buying a plow for it this weekend to add to my business fleet, these tractors are amazing lots and lots of implement options, with the quick hitch in the front you can put plows, snowblowers, brooms, you can put a loader on them, you can put a pto in the rear which is handy because you can also install a 3 point on the rear which opens so many more doors to implements, and a tank of diesel lasts forever, I can mow about 15 acres before it even crosses my mind to fill it back up, awesome tractors and yours is beautiful
Nice tractor! I now have a 2000 445 just like it. I just used it to snowblow out after the Blizzard we had here in Minnesota last night. I have a cab and 3 point on the back. Great for moving trailers. I like everything about mine also. In the past I did have a problem you did not mention but is an Achilles heal to these units. I had engine surging after 20 minuets and lack of power. Then I'd wait a half hour and it was fine. Then, it would do it again. I went through everything, plugs filters, connections you name it. Almost replaced the mass air flow sensor but resisted due to price. Two months of frustration and just prior to buying the mass air flow sensor, I read a guy's blog about his doing the same thing. I decided to do what he did. I inspected and found a small split in the two inch rubber gas line on the internal tank fuel pump assembly. I replaced it and she runs perfect and has never done it since. This was 4 years ago. I only have 402 hours on mine as of today. I will enjoy putting the next 1000 hours on it for sure. love the power steering too!! This tip is my gift to all 445 owners. Merry Christmas and Happy new Year.
Omg thanks. I'm having the exact same issue thought I was gonna have to try coil next I've done plugs, electrical connections, filter, gas, etc. Its so sporadic but acts like its firing on one cylinder when it happens. The day I made the video I replaced the fuel filter so hoping that was it. I'll have to look into this if you have a video please share never done any replacement of pressurized fuel line. Thanks!!!!
@@TNYankee2020 Glad you saw my post and it may be useful. This is a tough problem to diagnose but easy to fix. As I recall you can turn a bolt in the fuel line system to release the fuel pressure as if your replacing a fuel line filter. I'd recommend referring to the manual I do not recall the details. Disconnect the battery and be safe here. Get help form a friend or a dealer if you need it. Remove the seat and rear fender assembly exposing the gas tank. You should see the fuel pump on top held in with a plastic threaded ring. Remove it and inspect the 2 inch piece of flex tube for a split. Hoping you find a split like I did. Replace it as needed and reassemble. I'll look for the blog I found on this and if I still have it will share it with you. I may also have some photos. I'll try to find them for you. We'll get through this. Us 445 guys stick together!
@@cpwatching5647 Thanks. I found some videos on youtube of a guy working on an X485. Tank looks like the same setup, I see the little piece of fuel line you are referring too now. I'll put this on my to do list. Thanks!!! ua-cam.com/video/vk-IKXHRMzY/v-deo.html
@@TNYankee2020 That's it!! The 445 is similar the repair procedure is the same. Do it and your likely to have solved your problem!! I have never seen a video like the one you found fixing this. That gent figured it out and nailed it. It took me 2 months to get on to this fix. Good Luck!! Merry Christmas.
I have to agree. My 1993 445 is equipped with a front snow blower (with weights and chains), a blade. a 60" mower and a PTO tiller (front weights & 3pth of course). It has had its issues over its 1700 hrs. Plastic water pump, plastic cam gear, leaking power steering block, but it was the perfect tractor for my acreage. Not too big, adequate power, starts on the coldest days. A well built tractor always up to the job. Unfortunately it is just getting too old and the JDs present lineup offers no equal. Yours is in very nice condition. Thanks for the video.
I was fortunate when I bought my house they left the 445 in the garage. After repairing a couple of flat tires and charging the battery it fired right up. They left me a plow, wheel weights, and a 4' rototiller. None of which I've needed. Just keeping fresh oil and filter in it every year and sharp blades on the mower deck. I agree it is a very nice machine.
I recently purchased two 4X5 tractors. One was in rough condition. An AWS which I actually thought was 425 as the side panels had been changed. It didn't run at all and it wasn't until I got it home that I discovered it was a 445. (Never looked) I thought it would be a parts machine but that never seems to work with me. I ended up rebuilding it. The engine issues was all electrical but I did re-ring it and installed a steel cam gear. The cam was around $70 bucks and if thats all one had to to do, I wouldn't consider it to be an issue when purchasing one of these. It did cost a small fortune to replace the fuel injection components as most of it had been pretty well hacked over. It was because of this I decided to keep the 425 for myself. Once they were both running, I really couldn't tell the difference in power with the 54" deck and I really didn't care for the AWS. I'm much more comfortable with a carburetor than FI and the 425 pops right of with the turn of the key. Not much of an advantage there. Having almost every model since my original 210, I certainly agree the 4X5 series is one of the best. It's a true pleasure to drive. But I will disagree with you on one thing. The 317 frame is not cast iron and is far and away much stronger than anything after it. I still keep my 317 to do the nasty work, mostly dirt work. I have a 54" blade for the 425 with the shovel attachment and I have to say I'm not impressed with that. Thanks for the well done video.
Thanks for the feedback, Joe I certainly enjoyed reading your tractor stories, I did love the 317 I was just young and not much of a wrencher so I was scared to keep it. Not to mention that whole mower deck tensioner set up just pissed me off every time I had to mess with it. I agree I’ve never driven a AWS but they seem kind of gimmicky for what they are and I really love the huge tires on my 445.
Real nice! I have a 94 I bought new and with almost 3k on the meter is still my weekly mower and leaf collector on 3 acres. I have the blade for it but only for light grading now. I've always been meticulous about maintenance and only had one major issue with the plastic timing gear. Pretty much down to wear items and the occasional leak. Mower deck is definitely a challenge to keep up with so many hours. 3rd gear box but still original spindles. The new 700s are ok but I'll stick with the 445 forever!
Really enjoyed your 445 report. I bought a 1998 445 last summer from the original owner---800 hours on it. Have been doing a lot of research as to if I will need to replace the cam sometime in the future. It looks like it mayh need it. The serial # is 061379 and have received mixed measages as to if it was made with the plastic cam or Steel cam. The label on the engine says "Made in July 1997". Anybody who has further informtion on this would be greatly appreciated. Decided to buy a X724 as my main law tractor and to use the 445 with the power flow MC519 cart as a backup. What an amazing machine!! Listening to the engine purr is a wonderful sensation.
That thing is absolutely mint! I really want to find a 445/455 for my property. I was dead set on a 1025R/BX2380 until I learned of these and how they can have a rear PTO and FEL fitted.
Hey there, I would say if you got a great deal on one of these, that already had a loader or rear PTO go for it, but to add all those things later, you may be better off getting a subcompact like you mentioned I feel like you really need four-wheel-drive with a loader to be effective. I currently have a Kubota LX 2610 and it does things this John Deere could never do but they’re both great tractors. Thanks for watching.
@@TNYankee2020 Unfortunately up here in Canada any SCUT from Deere or Kubota is still getting 25k used with a loader/deck. I can find a 445/455 for 5-7k with attachments. Add a buck loader to it and I’m still half the price of a 1025r. Covid market is still crazy!
@@matthagge4792I see where you’re coming from. That makes a lot of sense. Plus you’re probably flat where you’re at I have major hills. Respond back and let us know how you make out.
That is awesome, you got quite the setup. I'd still be running my 317 if it weren't for that Kohler engine. I didn't really like the PTO setup though with that turning belt. Thanks for watching
I'm currently rebuilding one, and the plastic cam gear is/was an issue, a bigger problem is the oil pump gear which is plastic. When it goes, so do the rods, and rear main bearing along with the front which requires a total front cover replacement. I have a rebuilding kit with all steel gears that I'm installing. The FD620 Kawasaki is a good engine, but once the hours get high, it needs a replacement on all the plastic gears.
Awesome tractor. Wished I could by another 1997 like mine. Did a complete restoration with videos on my mind on UA-cam it's been the best tractor I've ever owned and you can restore that gauge panel pretty easy. I did mine and it came out beautiful.
i have a 455. all wheel steering . atm i taking it apart to fix a few seals in the rear end . going to have the deck sand blasted an fill some pitted rust holes the rhino line the top of the deck . just where the pullies an spindles are
Damn gotta love those old school badass JD's. See that fat ass rear axle and those hydros! Gotta love em! Way better than any junk zero-turn you can buy!
Just picked a 445 up for $4500. 1300 hours, 60 inch deck, snowblower, grater, bagger w/power flow, weights, and chains. The only other thing I’m after is the model 40 loader which seems to cost $2800-$3000 on its own.
Had one for over 6 years, have several videos with it tilling and using the 40 loader, I loved it but did upgrade to a 1023E. The 445 was very beloved though.
I know this comment is a couple years old now, but are you able to share what your experience is with the 1023 compared to the 445? Is the 1023 a more capable machine? is the build quality of the 1023 as good as the 445? I'm contemplating trading up from a couple 4X5 machines I have to a 1023 or 1025 but want to ensure there's comparable build quality and potential longevity. Any info is greatly appreciated!
I have a '93 John Deere 445 and has been a great tractor. However, after mowing for an hour or two it will not start back. I have to let it sit over night to cool off then it will start. Any suggestions?
I would start with the coils, I have another video related to that. I had a similar issue and it was the coils. It was an easy fix. After some time, the engine either stalls or won't restart after being turned off. This happens because the ignition module or coil heats up during operation, and if it's failing, it may stop working once it reaches a certain temperature.
I would really like to see a video that shows how to change the fuel filter on a JD 445. There isn't a single well made video on the entire internet. Thanks.
Just got a 425 and front blade for 500. Guy was elderly, his son had one and he said his son can cut the grass now and knew he was selling it cheap but didn't wanna sell high in case of major issues. Plastic cam gear was the issue and it had 500 hours so it's basically all original. From my understanding the main thing is to change the cam gear to steel and the rest are fine but replacement is recommended as I'm betting the plastic/nylon is better quality now. Also if you ever have oil pressure that's fine but the lights on, check the spring on the oil pump relief in our case the spring was weak causing a light despite it having very good oil pressure. You can get rear pto kits for these, or a hydraulic tiller that runs off the front mount rear driveshaft. 445 and 455s did have better seats though. Oh and the 425 carb still has a electric fuel pump too. Besides deeres new ones, this was one of the last big and true garden tractors as sub compacts were pushing into the market fast and most companies got bought out, discontinued or got way cheaper in quality.
@@TNYankee2020 I think it has it. Thankfully to make loading easier we dismounted the blade from the hitch. The guy said he messed with the blade to move dirt but being in a suburban area he hardly used it It shows, there's hardly any rust or scratches. Only cosmetic issue is the throttle handle, seat and one panel. Other than that it's fairly immaculate. (One scratch on the hood that could be spot glazed and sanded lol)
Just bought 2 425s. I have wanted one for years but we just moved to a place that we need them with 3.5 acres. I got some nice goodies but I need the snow blower and I would like the tiller. Both are pretty expensive. I would of liked to had the 445 or even a 455. Maybe one day I will find a sweet deal on one.
Bought my 445 in the summer of 2000 with a blower and 60 inch deck. Since then I put on a front bucket system , have moved approx. 300 TONS.. YES TONS of dirt to re structure my tile system around my home. Saved nearly twice the money I spent on the tractor. Maintenence? Absolutely. Plugs, hydraulic hoses and a bearing set on the blower. I could elaborate more but enough is enough.
@@TNYankee2020 it took an equivalent of 4 "belly loader" trucks to remove the rocks and sand. That did not include the 35' by 4' by 3 inch thick feet of cement walkway . At the very end,, they brought in another belly load of black dirt mix just for land scaping. I put on about an extra 200 tractor hours during that Summer. Saved me nearly 15000 bucks of some else's digging and making a French culvert. My 445 John Deere is a King. I could add alot more to this but I'll stop now.
Well the tractor was my step dad's but I started using it while there property was being rid of poison ivy,oak and sumac. Dug many 15ft long 8ft deep trenches with that 445. Took a 25,000 property to a value $130,000. Major improvements naturally on house but, landscaping that took a old junkyard/overrun 3.2 acres that was the 445s area
I’ve got a few gear driven tractors mostly cuz that’s what I can get my hands on that’s not beat to crap not running. Just dsl swapped my sears st16 & my 212. My 212 had the original Kohler in it & ran great. It started to have more issues, replaced carburetor, fuel lines, head gasket, & it just started to burn too much oil. When I got it home not running it was a tad low on oil, something you check before changing. If the old oil is right on the mark then it’s probably fine, if it’s a tad bit low then it’ll need to be rebuilt. I don’t have to $ to rebuild the Kohler for now so I dropped is a small dsl just to let it drive around. The deck needed to be rebuilt, so the $ I would’ve spent to rebuild it I could just save the $, & get a pull behind mower. I currently have 5 tractors. 3 of em run & drive fine. Sears needs some axle seals I’ve gotta instal for it. Got a 212, 216, 110RF, 116, & sears st16. I’m good on tractors for a while. If I need a larger tractor later on I’d probably just get a mid size tractor w a loader cuz if I got 2 or 3 of my smaller tractors in-line I’d could pull anything w 2 other people.
Gravely is a odd one. They had rear engined garden tractors and most of them were gear drive instead of hydro. Similiar to sears with their Onan powered front engines.
I agree 4 wheel drive would be nice but the diff lock has got me out of some sticky situations But not all I've had to winch my tractor up a hill when I went a little too far
My 445 jphn deere doesn't like to start right away and I ware down my battery trying to get it to start but once I get it started it starts right away Do you have any suggestions on what might be wrong in this situation
First thing I would check is the battery itself. Does it have enough cold cranking amps, is there corrosion on the terminals? If all cleaned up and charged and still issue, sorry, not sure where to direct you other than starter? Is it getting fuel? Thanks for watching.
@@TNYankee2020 brand new battery, getting fuel, it will sometimes fire back at you through the intake, I got spark and I have gas. Is there such a thing that the starter is not turning over fast enough? I am stumped but once you get it to start once it will start over and over again. You canot let it sit very long because then it wont start again
I've owned several of this series including many 455s and they are great tractors, but.... They are fuel-injected and computer controlled. Unlike many other tractors like the 425, which is carbed, if you have an issue with the injection system you must go to the dealer to get it fixed. They are much more complicated than older tractors and like today's cars, require special equipment to repair. The simplest one of the bigger JDs is the 420. It has the Onan engine but comes with a two-speed transaxle and locking differential. It is really a big simple tractor but does not come with foot controls like the 445. I do agree that the 445 is a great tractor but like I say, if you are a DIY type of guy, there are things that you cannot do yourself on it.
The only problem with a 445 is if the hydro starts leaking jd charge a bunch to fix it, and most are missing the taillights, they tend to pop out, I know, ours is at the dealership
Thanks for watching. I did have a hyrdo leak out of the PTO seal about a year after I picked up the tractor. I did have my dealership fix that wasn't too bad but i hear what you are saying if any of the other seals go out and you have to remove the whole transaxle.
I have a 2000 445. Recently the forward/reverse pedals have developed a pulsing action when I'm mowing. Also it is having trouble climbing inclines in my yard. Any ideas? Don't want to take it to JD without knowing what I'm getting myself into money wise.
Me and Dad have one here in Australia and was wondering if anyone could tell us if there are any attachments I can get for the 445, I'm mainly looking for a bucket or forklift like set up for it as it is a great little machine and wouldn't mind getting the most out of it, any help would be greatly appreciated
I'm in the market for a garden tractor and can't get past the cost of the new X series. There's a mint condition 2001 445 on facebook marketplace with a touch over 400 hours on it. He's asking $4200. Good deal? Or should I try to get the price down? No deck.. but has a brand new plow and a used snow blower attachment.
Kind of unusual it doesn't have a deck, but the snow blower and blade really bring the cost down especially if you want to sell them. That's very low hours and a good year, would have the metal cam gear. It's probably a good price if mint but everything is usually negotiable so I'd certainly try
I believe the diff lock disengages when the parking brake is on. My diff lock pedal always drops down to almost flush when I depress the parking brake pedal.
I didnt make a video. But I have a after video of it and mine was broken and faded worst than yours. I will post a link to the video of it in the next message.
That's one very minty 445!! NICE!! Deere's heavy-duty garden tractors are BEASTS and will last a long, long time as long as you do your part and take care of them! I have an X720 and a X485 that I use together on my acreage home and they are awesome. The mowing conditions at my place would destroy a Home Depot cheapie mower in short order.
My dad just gave me the 1994 John Deere 445 that he had bought brand new, along with the 54" mower deck he had gotten to go with it, another 54" that he got used (for spare parts), and a 48" deck that came off a junked 425, which has a Power Flow attachment on it. He also gave me the snowblower that he got a few years after he bought the tractor (he used to use a plow blade, before he got the blower). He upgraded the plastic valve covers to the later aluminum ones years ago, and before he gave me the tractor we replaced one piston and both sets of rings. He had replaced the failure-prone plastic gears as a preventative measure already. Runs nearly like new!
So you'll agree it's the last tractor you'll ever need 🙂. What a great amount of attachments and a legacy. Thanks for watching and sharing your comments
@@TNYankee2020Any thoughts on trading up to a X739? I was thinking of getting something a little newer than the 4x5 platform, for reliability and parts availability.
No, I'll stick with my tank 445, parts. Have not been a problem so far.
They are great for sure. I have a 445 aws. Deck are getting as expensive as some box store mowers! If you can find one even.
I liked mine so much I now have 2
That sounds like a great idea, thanks for watching!
The 445 is without a doubt my favorite of the "4x5" series. Great machines that still hold up today with all the modern features.
I have a 455 with the diesel and a 60 inch deck I’m buying a plow for it this weekend to add to my business fleet, these tractors are amazing lots and lots of implement options, with the quick hitch in the front you can put plows, snowblowers, brooms, you can put a loader on them, you can put a pto in the rear which is handy because you can also install a 3 point on the rear which opens so many more doors to implements, and a tank of diesel lasts forever, I can mow about 15 acres before it even crosses my mind to fill it back up, awesome tractors and yours is beautiful
Wonderful I bet the diesel is really awesome. Thanks for watching.
Excellent video…👍
Thank you very much!
Nice tractor! I now have a 2000 445 just like it. I just used it to snowblow out after the Blizzard we had here in Minnesota last night. I have a cab and 3 point on the back. Great for moving trailers. I like everything about mine also. In the past I did have a problem you did not mention but is an Achilles heal to these units. I had engine surging after 20 minuets and lack of power. Then I'd wait a half hour and it was fine. Then, it would do it again. I went through everything, plugs filters, connections you name it. Almost replaced the mass air flow sensor but resisted due to price. Two months of frustration and just prior to buying the mass air flow sensor, I read a guy's blog about his doing the same thing. I decided to do what he did. I inspected and found a small split in the two inch rubber gas line on the internal tank fuel pump assembly. I replaced it and she runs perfect and has never done it since. This was 4 years ago. I only have 402 hours on mine as of today. I will enjoy putting the next 1000 hours on it for sure. love the power steering too!! This tip is my gift to all 445 owners. Merry Christmas and Happy new Year.
Omg thanks. I'm having the exact same issue thought I was gonna have to try coil next I've done plugs, electrical connections, filter, gas, etc. Its so sporadic but acts like its firing on one cylinder when it happens. The day I made the video I replaced the fuel filter so hoping that was it. I'll have to look into this if you have a video please share never done any replacement of pressurized fuel line. Thanks!!!!
@@TNYankee2020 Glad you saw my post and it may be useful. This is a tough problem to diagnose but easy to fix. As I recall you can turn a bolt in the fuel line system to release the fuel pressure as if your replacing a fuel line filter. I'd recommend referring to the manual I do not recall the details. Disconnect the battery and be safe here. Get help form a friend or a dealer if you need it. Remove the seat and rear fender assembly exposing the gas tank. You should see the fuel pump on top held in with a plastic threaded ring. Remove it and inspect the 2 inch piece of flex tube for a split. Hoping you find a split like I did. Replace it as needed and reassemble. I'll look for the blog I found on this and if I still have it will share it with you. I may also have some photos. I'll try to find them for you. We'll get through this. Us 445 guys stick together!
@@cpwatching5647 Thanks. I found some videos on youtube of a guy working on an X485. Tank looks like the same setup, I see the little piece of fuel line you are referring too now. I'll put this on my to do list. Thanks!!! ua-cam.com/video/vk-IKXHRMzY/v-deo.html
@@TNYankee2020 That's it!! The 445 is similar the repair procedure is the same. Do it and your likely to have solved your problem!! I have never seen a video like the one you found fixing this. That gent figured it out and nailed it. It took me 2 months to get on to this fix. Good Luck!! Merry Christmas.
I have to agree. My 1993 445 is equipped with a front snow blower (with weights and chains), a blade. a 60" mower and a PTO tiller (front weights & 3pth of course). It has had its issues over its 1700 hrs. Plastic water pump, plastic cam gear, leaking power steering block, but it was the perfect tractor for my acreage. Not too big, adequate power, starts on the coldest days. A well built tractor always up to the job. Unfortunately it is just getting too old and the JDs present lineup offers no equal. Yours is in very nice condition. Thanks for the video.
The good news is, there’s always gems hiding out there with lower hours. Thanks for watching.
I have a 425 and a 455 they are wonderful tractors I just recently put tractor tires on mine r1 type
Well I bought a 455 and I love that, but I didn’t realize the 445 was a fuel injected kawasaki v twin! Sounds like the perfect gas mower to me!
Oh yeah, they are both great. I would be happy with the Yanmar diesel too. Great machines.
you got a steal of a deal on that one!! Excellent informative vid. Thanks
Oh for sure. Thanks for watching 😁
I was fortunate when I bought my house they left the 445 in the garage. After repairing a couple of flat tires and charging the battery it fired right up. They left me a plow, wheel weights, and a 4' rototiller. None of which I've needed. Just keeping fresh oil and filter in it every year and sharp blades on the mower deck. I agree it is a very nice machine.
That is awesome you are very fortunate. Thanks for watching
I've got a 425 wood over 2000 hours on. It still runs like a tank, nice tractors
Awesome, love to hear these stories. Thanks for watching
I have a 1999 425 had for 20 years love it
Great machine. Thanks for watching
Video very helpful. Your comment about rear wheel in the way led me to removing it which made driveshaft access much easier. Thanks so much!!
Thanks. Somebody later gave me a tip to just hook it up from the rear. That works equally as well. Happy Tractoring and thanks for watching.
I recently purchased two 4X5 tractors. One was in rough condition. An AWS which I actually thought was 425 as the side panels had been changed. It didn't run at all and it wasn't until I got it home that I discovered it was a 445. (Never looked) I thought it would be a parts machine but that never seems to work with me. I ended up rebuilding it.
The engine issues was all electrical but I did re-ring it and installed a steel cam gear. The cam was around $70 bucks and if thats all one had to to do, I wouldn't consider it to be an issue when purchasing one of these. It did cost a small fortune to replace the fuel injection components as most of it had been pretty well hacked over. It was because of this I decided to keep the 425 for myself. Once they were both running, I really couldn't tell the difference in power with the 54" deck and I really didn't care for the AWS. I'm much more comfortable with a carburetor than FI and the 425 pops right of with the turn of the key. Not much of an advantage there.
Having almost every model since my original 210, I certainly agree the 4X5 series is one of the best. It's a true pleasure to drive. But I will disagree with you on one thing. The 317 frame is not cast iron and is far and away much stronger than anything after it. I still keep my 317 to do the nasty work, mostly dirt work. I have a 54" blade for the 425 with the shovel attachment and I have to say I'm not impressed with that.
Thanks for the well done video.
Thanks for the feedback, Joe I certainly enjoyed reading your tractor stories, I did love the 317 I was just young and not much of a wrencher so I was scared to keep it. Not to mention that whole mower deck tensioner set up just pissed me off every time I had to mess with it. I agree I’ve never driven a AWS but they seem kind of gimmicky for what they are and I really love the huge tires on my 445.
Real nice! I have a 94 I bought new and with almost 3k on the meter is still my weekly mower and leaf collector on 3 acres. I have the blade for it but only for light grading now. I've always been meticulous about maintenance and only had one major issue with the plastic timing gear. Pretty much down to wear items and the occasional leak. Mower deck is definitely a challenge to keep up with so many hours. 3rd gear box but still original spindles. The new 700s are ok but I'll stick with the 445 forever!
Thanks for watching, yeah, especially since the new ones are around $17,000 for the same albeit lighter frame mower, Insanity.
445 I think thats my favorite.
Really enjoyed your 445 report. I bought a 1998 445 last summer from the original owner---800 hours on it. Have been doing a lot of research as to if I will need to replace the cam sometime in the future. It looks like it mayh need it. The serial # is 061379 and have received mixed measages as to if it was made with the plastic cam or Steel cam. The label on the engine says "Made in July 1997". Anybody who has further informtion on this would be greatly appreciated. Decided to buy a X724 as my main law tractor and to use the 445 with the power flow MC519 cart as a backup.
What an amazing machine!! Listening to the engine purr is a wonderful sensation.
Thank you for the comments, you most likely have the plastic cam gear in that year. Thanks for watching
That thing is absolutely mint! I really want to find a 445/455 for my property. I was dead set on a 1025R/BX2380 until I learned of these and how they can have a rear PTO and FEL fitted.
Hey there, I would say if you got a great deal on one of these, that already had a loader or rear PTO go for it, but to add all those things later, you may be better off getting a subcompact like you mentioned I feel like you really need four-wheel-drive with a loader to be effective. I currently have a Kubota LX 2610 and it does things this John Deere could never do but they’re both great tractors. Thanks for watching.
@@TNYankee2020 Unfortunately up here in Canada any SCUT from Deere or Kubota is still getting 25k used with a loader/deck. I can find a 445/455 for 5-7k with attachments. Add a buck loader to it and I’m still half the price of a 1025r. Covid market is still crazy!
@@matthagge4792I see where you’re coming from. That makes a lot of sense. Plus you’re probably flat where you’re at I have major hills. Respond back and let us know how you make out.
I have a 317 repowered with a 20hp Honda, its our tilling machine. the 318 is for mowing. just bought a 425 with a 40 loader!
nice rig btw
That is awesome, you got quite the setup. I'd still be running my 317 if it weren't for that Kohler engine. I didn't really like the PTO setup though with that turning belt. Thanks for watching
I'm currently rebuilding one, and the plastic cam gear is/was an issue, a bigger problem is the oil pump gear which is plastic. When it goes, so do the rods, and rear main bearing along with the front which requires a total front cover replacement. I have a rebuilding kit with all steel gears that I'm installing. The FD620 Kawasaki is a good engine, but once the hours get high, it needs a replacement on all the plastic gears.
Wow good to know. Thanks for watching
Very nice !
Thanks for watching
Awesome tractor. Wished I could by another 1997 like mine. Did a complete restoration with videos on my mind on UA-cam it's been the best tractor I've ever owned and you can restore that gauge panel pretty easy. I did mine and it came out beautiful.
Thanks for the idea on the gauge, do you have a video on that?
@@TNYankee2020 here's a video of it it's at 32 seconds you can see it really good.
ua-cam.com/video/9dZg5CUyipk/v-deo.html
Got one..they are beasts..only repairs hydro seal, press switch..love it!! Have 54 deck.front hydraulic blade.
Yes Sir!!! Thanks for watching.
Lt166 still works fine for me
That’s a fine tractor.
i have a 455. all wheel steering . atm i taking it apart to fix a few seals in the rear end . going to have the deck sand blasted an fill some pitted rust holes the rhino line the top of the deck . just where the pullies an spindles are
Sounds like a fun project, thanks for watching.
Damn gotta love those old school badass JD's. See that fat ass rear axle and those hydros! Gotta love em! Way better than any junk zero-turn you can buy!
Baby got back.
Just picked a 445 up for $4500. 1300 hours, 60 inch deck, snowblower, grater, bagger w/power flow, weights, and chains. The only other thing I’m after is the model 40 loader which seems to cost $2800-$3000 on its own.
Congratulations, at first I winced about your price but then saw all of your attachments, great job.
I have a 455, great series of mowers from Derre,
Had one for over 6 years, have several videos with it tilling and using the 40 loader, I loved it but did upgrade to a 1023E. The 445 was very beloved though.
I know this comment is a couple years old now, but are you able to share what your experience is with the 1023 compared to the 445? Is the 1023 a more capable machine? is the build quality of the 1023 as good as the 445? I'm contemplating trading up from a couple 4X5 machines I have to a 1023 or 1025 but want to ensure there's comparable build quality and potential longevity. Any info is greatly appreciated!
I have old beast John Deere 214 1977 still runs everyday. This thing has torgue engine use pull fire wood , rocks, loges and dirt with trailer
Good stuff. So much torque on these old machines. Thanks for watching.
I didnt get mine yet .....but when I do
That’s the spirit👍
Hey - I'd like to see you make a video of the repair. I'd like to follow and see how it goes.
I have a '93 John Deere 445 and has been a great tractor. However, after mowing for an hour or two it will not start back. I have to let it sit over night to cool off then it will start. Any suggestions?
I would start with the coils, I have another video related to that. I had a similar issue and it was the coils. It was an easy fix. After some time, the engine either stalls or won't restart after being turned off. This happens because the ignition module or coil heats up during operation, and if it's failing, it may stop working once it reaches a certain temperature.
ua-cam.com/video/UjDSCrujJKg/v-deo.html
99 445 bought new 2768.6 hours
Sounds like it's the last tractor you'll ever need 🙂.
I would really like to see a video that shows how to change the fuel filter on a JD 445. There isn't a single well made video on the entire internet. Thanks.
L O L, probably because it’s a terrible job. I think I’m good on mine but when I get around to it, I will post one. Thanks for watching.
awesome mech. I have a 425 which is a great tractor
It sure is, thanks for watching
Just got a 425 and front blade for 500.
Guy was elderly, his son had one and he said his son can cut the grass now and knew he was selling it cheap but didn't wanna sell high in case of major issues.
Plastic cam gear was the issue and it had 500 hours so it's basically all original.
From my understanding the main thing is to change the cam gear to steel and the rest are fine but replacement is recommended as I'm betting the plastic/nylon is better quality now.
Also if you ever have oil pressure that's fine but the lights on, check the spring on the oil pump relief in our case the spring was weak causing a light despite it having very good oil pressure.
You can get rear pto kits for these, or a hydraulic tiller that runs off the front mount rear driveshaft.
445 and 455s did have better seats though.
Oh and the 425 carb still has a electric fuel pump too.
Besides deeres new ones, this was one of the last big and true garden tractors as sub compacts were pushing into the market fast and most companies got bought out, discontinued or got way cheaper in quality.
Thanks for sharing, I love hearing about these great finds, you really got a sweet deal and the blade will be fun, did you also get the quick hitch??
@@TNYankee2020 I think it has it. Thankfully to make loading easier we dismounted the blade from the hitch.
The guy said he messed with the blade to move dirt but being in a suburban area he hardly used it
It shows, there's hardly any rust or scratches.
Only cosmetic issue is the throttle handle, seat and one panel. Other than that it's fairly immaculate. (One scratch on the hood that could be spot glazed and sanded lol)
Just bought 2 425s. I have wanted one for years but we just moved to a place that we need them with 3.5 acres. I got some nice goodies but I need the snow blower and I would like the tiller. Both are pretty expensive. I would of liked to had the 445 or even a 455. Maybe one day I will find a sweet deal on one.
Congrats and thanks for watching
I love my 445 and like you said their a beast 👍
They certainly are, thanks for watching
Bought my 445 in the summer of 2000 with a blower and 60 inch deck. Since then I put on a front bucket system , have moved approx. 300 TONS.. YES TONS of dirt to re structure my tile system around my home. Saved nearly twice the money I spent on the tractor. Maintenence? Absolutely. Plugs, hydraulic hoses and a bearing set on the blower. I could elaborate more but enough is enough.
Great stuff, thanks for watching and commenting. 300 tons is impressive for that little guy :)
@@TNYankee2020 it took an equivalent of 4 "belly loader" trucks to remove the rocks and sand. That did not include the 35' by 4' by 3 inch thick feet of cement walkway . At the very end,, they brought in another belly load of black dirt mix just for land scaping. I put on about an extra 200 tractor hours during that Summer. Saved me nearly 15000 bucks of some else's digging and making a French culvert. My 445 John Deere is a King. I could add alot more to this but I'll stop now.
Id love an X758 but its way past my price range so im looking for a very low hour 455 ...
Excellent choice. If you are on Facebook join the 425 445 455 owners group. Lots of options to find one quicker.
@@TNYankee2020 i wont go on any on line deal never been on any of them craigslist is my go to
Enjoyed watching I just purchased a 425
What part of Tennessee are you in? I’m in middle Tennessee.
Thanks. I’m in Rockwood. East TN.
I played basketball at Roane State
That was back in the 80s
Had a 445 it was a very good tractor, but traded it in for a full implement x720
And now you are reminiscing ? 😀
Well the tractor was my step dad's but I started using it while there property was being rid of poison ivy,oak and sumac. Dug many 15ft long 8ft deep trenches with that 445. Took a 25,000 property to a value $130,000. Major improvements naturally on house but, landscaping that took a old junkyard/overrun 3.2 acres that was the 445s area
Good stuff!
I just traded my John Deere GT 235 for a 445 with plow and a JD 80 model wagon it has the 48” mower deck as well
Do you love it? Night and day right.
@@TNYankee2020 I pick it up Saturday I can’t wait
Congrats can't wait to hear.
Is it still worth buying in 2023? I see them running around $4K in NC.
In my opinion. 100. Seems like about the right range 3k-4k.
I’ve got a few gear driven tractors mostly cuz that’s what I can get my hands on that’s not beat to crap not running. Just dsl swapped my sears st16 & my 212. My 212 had the original Kohler in it & ran great. It started to have more issues, replaced carburetor, fuel lines, head gasket, & it just started to burn too much oil. When I got it home not running it was a tad low on oil, something you check before changing.
If the old oil is right on the mark then it’s probably fine, if it’s a tad bit low then it’ll need to be rebuilt.
I don’t have to $ to rebuild the Kohler for now so I dropped is a small dsl just to let it drive around. The deck needed to be rebuilt, so the $ I would’ve spent to rebuild it I could just save the $, & get a pull behind mower.
I currently have 5 tractors. 3 of em run & drive fine. Sears needs some axle seals I’ve gotta instal for it. Got a 212, 216, 110RF, 116, & sears st16. I’m good on tractors for a while. If I need a larger tractor later on I’d probably just get a mid size tractor w a loader cuz if I got 2 or 3 of my smaller tractors in-line I’d could pull anything w 2 other people.
Gravely is a odd one. They had rear engined garden tractors and most of them were gear drive instead of hydro. Similiar to sears with their Onan powered front engines.
1-445, 1-425, 2-425 AWS in my fleet
“Fleet” is right 😁
love mine only complaints are fuel economy and not having four wheel drive.
I agree 4 wheel drive would be nice but the diff lock has got me out of some sticky situations But not all I've had to winch my tractor up a hill when I went a little too far
I like your tractor. How much you want for them?
I appreciate it, not for sale though. Hopefully this'll last me till my last day of mowing several decades from now Lord willing
My 445 jphn deere doesn't like to start right away and I ware down my battery trying to get it to start but once I get it started it starts right away
Do you have any suggestions on what might be wrong in this situation
First thing I would check is the battery itself. Does it have enough cold cranking amps, is there corrosion on the terminals? If all cleaned up and charged and still issue, sorry, not sure where to direct you other than starter? Is it getting fuel? Thanks for watching.
@@TNYankee2020 brand new battery, getting fuel, it will sometimes fire back at you through the intake, I got spark and I have gas. Is there such a thing that the starter is not turning over fast enough? I am stumped but once you get it to start once it will start over and over again. You canot let it sit very long because then it wont start again
Yeah sorry I got nothin.
I've owned several of this series including many 455s and they are great tractors, but.... They are fuel-injected and computer controlled. Unlike many other tractors like the 425, which is carbed, if you have an issue with the injection system you must go to the dealer to get it fixed. They are much more complicated than older tractors and like today's cars, require special equipment to repair. The simplest one of the bigger JDs is the 420. It has the Onan engine but comes with a two-speed transaxle and locking differential. It is really a big simple tractor but does not come with foot controls like the 445. I do agree that the 445 is a great tractor but like I say, if you are a DIY type of guy, there are things that you cannot do yourself on it.
Can’t beat my X758 😉
Sharp indeed. 4WD would come in handy :)
The only problem with a 445 is if the hydro starts leaking jd charge a bunch to fix it, and most are missing the taillights, they tend to pop out, I know, ours is at the dealership
Thanks for watching. I did have a hyrdo leak out of the PTO seal about a year after I picked up the tractor. I did have my dealership fix that wasn't too bad but i hear what you are saying if any of the other seals go out and you have to remove the whole transaxle.
I have a 2000 445. Recently the forward/reverse pedals have developed a pulsing action when I'm mowing. Also it is having trouble climbing inclines in my yard. Any ideas? Don't want to take it to JD without knowing what I'm getting myself into money wise.
Sounds related to the hydrostatic transmission have you checked fluid levels? I'd start with a filter and fluid change.
When you sell it tell me that is my dream garden tractor
Lol, I'll be dead. It'll be auctioned probably 😂. Thanks for watching
You need a 455! The diesel just sips fuel.
Me and Dad have one here in Australia and was wondering if anyone could tell us if there are any attachments I can get for the 445, I'm mainly looking for a bucket or forklift like set up for it as it is a great little machine and wouldn't mind getting the most out of it, any help would be greatly appreciated
45 loader will go on it. Tons of attachments for this series. Enjoy, thanks for watching.
I'm in the market for a garden tractor and can't get past the cost of the new X series. There's a mint condition 2001 445 on facebook marketplace with a touch over 400 hours on it. He's asking $4200. Good deal? Or should I try to get the price down? No deck.. but has a brand new plow and a used snow blower attachment.
Kind of unusual it doesn't have a deck, but the snow blower and blade really bring the cost down especially if you want to sell them. That's very low hours and a good year, would have the metal cam gear. It's probably a good price if mint but everything is usually negotiable so I'd certainly try
Appears the Diff lock is not connected. The rod in the rear of the transaxle probably has came loose.
Interesting good eyes, but my diff lock is always worked??
I believe the diff lock disengages when the parking brake is on. My diff lock pedal always drops down to almost flush when I depress the parking brake pedal.
I didnt make a video. But I have a after video of it and mine was broken and faded worst than yours. I will post a link to the video of it in the next message.
Take nothing from the 445 but the 455 will make that one look bad if you want tork
For sure 455 is a beast.
Battery change
Iit looked pretty gnarly didn't it, st ill running the same battery just needed some cleanup and protectant