Just to document this for others...
This spring, bought a used 1997 John Deere 425 AWS with a 60 inch deck. Only 1000 hours. Engine already has the cam update. I already own a 1995 John Deere 425 AWS with a 54 inch deck, with 3000 hours (bought new in 1996).
It developed some odd behavior when starting, almost like a weak battery (cranking was trailing off, the longer it cranked). Battery was 3 years old, so I replaced it.
The odd starting issues continued. Maybe it is the starter or the solenoid. Once I discovered that JD wants $400+ for a new starter and solenoid, I decided to wait in replacing it.
Since I now have a backup unit, and that I can also use to swap out parts on to troubleshoot this, I never "found" the time to work on it.
Then it started occasionally missing on one cylinder when good and hot. Bad coil? Hmmm... this pesky issue seems to be moving around. And add a couple of instances of run-on when trying to shut it down.
After enough of these issues had come and gone, it finally quit running. Dead. No spark at all. Something has finally failed completely.
NOW, I can finally troubleshoot this.
I began by swapping a simple module with about five wires on it, between the two units... and the 425 springs to life. The starter barely engaged, and it was running. This is more like it!
Here's the fix, and it is $20 from any John Deere dealer... and 15 minutes to install.
It is John Deere part number AM128906, Ignition Time Delay Module.
http://www.greenpartstore.com/John-Deere-Time-Delay-Module--AM128906_p_4451.html
This spring, bought a used 1997 John Deere 425 AWS with a 60 inch deck. Only 1000 hours. Engine already has the cam update. I already own a 1995 John Deere 425 AWS with a 54 inch deck, with 3000 hours (bought new in 1996).
It developed some odd behavior when starting, almost like a weak battery (cranking was trailing off, the longer it cranked). Battery was 3 years old, so I replaced it.
The odd starting issues continued. Maybe it is the starter or the solenoid. Once I discovered that JD wants $400+ for a new starter and solenoid, I decided to wait in replacing it.
Since I now have a backup unit, and that I can also use to swap out parts on to troubleshoot this, I never "found" the time to work on it.
Then it started occasionally missing on one cylinder when good and hot. Bad coil? Hmmm... this pesky issue seems to be moving around. And add a couple of instances of run-on when trying to shut it down.
After enough of these issues had come and gone, it finally quit running. Dead. No spark at all. Something has finally failed completely.
NOW, I can finally troubleshoot this.
I began by swapping a simple module with about five wires on it, between the two units... and the 425 springs to life. The starter barely engaged, and it was running. This is more like it!
Here's the fix, and it is $20 from any John Deere dealer... and 15 minutes to install.
It is John Deere part number AM128906, Ignition Time Delay Module.
http://www.greenpartstore.com/John-Deere-Time-Delay-Module--AM128906_p_4451.html