John Deere 425 Rear Axle Lube

[Mike Simmons]

I have a Deere 425 Garden Tractor. When making tight turns cutting grass around trees, the inner rear wheel gouges the turf as it seems that the clutches in the rear diff are not releasing. This tractors uses a hydraulic fluid for both motive power and the rear diff. I'm considering adding a limited slip diff additive to the hydraulic fluid to eliminate this problem. I emailed Deere about this and they referred me to the dealer who hasn't a clue if it will work or not. Is anyone familiar with the diff on a 425 and also familiar with the Deere hydraulic fluid and its potential (in)compatibility with the limited slip additive?

 

[Don Stefanik]

My soninlaw works for the local dealer here.
I'll call him and see what he knows.
Don

 

[Don Stefanik]

Hes gonna do some searhing on it.......thinks theres a servi e bulliten on it regarding the alluminum and steelparts binding.

 

[JTK]

I didn't know a limited slip diff existed in a garden tractor application. Lockable diffs are common. Did your 425 just start doing this?

Joel

 

[Mike Simmons]

It is not a limited slip, it is lockable but the additive I'm contemplating is for a limited slip axle. The additive merely increases the lubricity of the fluid. It just started recently in the lst year so I'm going to check it more carefully when the weather warms up.

 

[JTK]

Mike I don't know the design of the drivetrain on your machine, but the locker diffs on GT's are either in full lock, or full open with the push of a switch of movement of a lever. Maybe yours is staying locked? That will tear up the lawn like a skid-steer on turns. I'm not aware of any with wear clutches like an automotive style limited slip diffs. I'd use whatever oil JD recommends or an aftermarket that is known to work. I gave up trying to find a suitable alternative to the "cub cadet drive system fluid plus" that my CC 2544 uses 6+qts of. It looks/smells/flows like a heavier motor oil, yet cub charges ~$8/qt for it! Same setup on mine, the hydrostatic drive and diff share the same oil. The diff housing is the oil sump.

G/luck
Joel

 

[Don Stefanik]

Mike. I need your eamil so I can sned you a PDF from my soninlaw about the 425.

 

[mrgl02]

Mike-

Is this an all wheel steer version of the 425?