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| The 425 has issues with the plastic cam gear, a few hours give or take to replace, then they are a good engine. They perform very well with a 54" deck.
Its possible to get a 425 AWS ( all wheel steer ). I have had customers go both ways, either love or hate, I always liked them, but takes getting used to at first.
I always thought the 425's liked there fair amount of fuel, even more so with the 60" deck. A 425 with a 60 in heavy grass and especially very green or wetter will give the ole girl a good workout, no speed record, but will work, but not my 1st recommendation.
The first ones we sold like to go thru spark plugs, I think there was a PIP or update for a fix on those...like the Gators had.
I liked the 445 better, just a little more snot in them, better suited on the 60" deck.
455 is on my wish list. I have a 332 diesel, and love it to death, but of few 455's we sold and that I worked on, they are the one me. They were not a cheap mower in the day. They had a nicer seat and the whole tractor rides / floats better.
The 455 has a bigger alternator.
They all could have optional 3 point hitch, many 455's had them on when ordered.
Both decks are good, but I always thought the 60" stayed cleaner better than the 54, and fanned out grass better, my opinion. Weakest link is the idlers / brgs and the gearboxes IF the bottom seal failed and let out all the gear lube. I think they are over $ 700.00 for a complete one. I just rebuilt one ( gearbox ) a couple of weeks ago for $ 125. ish. I been filling them with corn head grease.
I am kind of partial to that 60" deck, they take more road / commercial abuse better and I think it allows you to trim easier and I think they level better.
The only downfall I see with them, around here when guys mow roadside banks, sometimes a 54 fits the angle or contour of the bank better than a 60, but thats really a situation thing.
I normally pay extra attention to the radiators on them too, making sure they stay clean.
Make sure the front axle gets grease, and if sloppy, they can be rebushed and pinned.
Keep the hydros blowed clean, change the filters and oil, and they have been good too, really good..
Those hours work out around 75 hours per year...for me and my customers, that is about average.
You could get a rear PTO on some of them.
The 60 and 72" decks were called a commercial deck, I dont remember for sure....but I think you could get a 72 for a 455, dont pin me to that though....and if the deck would be green, they called that the 7 Iron deck, supposed to be a little heavier yet. Thats what I have on a 4200.
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John deere 425 and 455 mowers
