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Hello,
I have a 2010 John Deere Z425 with a B&S Intek, 23 hp v-twin engine w/ about 120 hours and it sees rugged use on my property, but now its dead.

The engine has thrown a rod which I verified by disassembly. It also cracked the lower skirt of the cylinder so in short, it needs a new block and connecting rod plus gaskets and whatever other small items. It appears to me that a rod cap bolt might have backed off causing the carnage cause it was laying loos in the block and not attached to any part of the rod.

I am a very skilled mechanic so rebuild likely wont be a concern if I decide to go down that road but I am evaluating all of the options based on cost. The parts are going to be around $400 to rebuild this motor assuming the crank is good and I am wondering if this is just a crap motor and not worthy of rebuilding or should I consider a 27HP B&S cyclonic for around $750 off ebay. If I did upgrade, would said upgrade properly fit my Z425. I believe this 27HP cyclonic is the same engine JD uses on the Z445.

What can you guys tell me about my situation? Rebuild or bite the bullet and get a hopefully better engine?

Thanks
Bill

wrd1972 said:

Hello,
I have a 2010 John Deere Z425 with a B&S Intek, 23 hp v-twin engine w/ about 120 hours and it sees rugged use on my property, but now its dead.

The engine has thrown a rod which I verified by disassembly. It also cracked the lower skirt of the cylinder so in short, it needs a new block and connecting rod plus gaskets and whatever other small items. It appears to me that a rod cap bolt might have backed off causing the carnage cause it was laying loos in the block and not attached to any part of the rod.

I am a very skilled mechanic so rebuild likely wont be a concern if I decide to go down that road but I am evaluating all of the options based on cost. The parts are going to be around $400 to rebuild this motor assuming the crank is good and I am wondering if this is just a crap motor and not worthy of rebuilding or should I consider a 27HP B&S cyclonic for around $750 off ebay. If I did upgrade, would said upgrade properly fit my Z425. I believe this 27HP cyclonic is the same engine JD uses on the Z445.

What can you guys tell me about my situation? Rebuild or bite the bullet and get a hopefully better engine?

Thanks
Bill

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To me there had been way too much damage to the older engine to even think of a rebuild since you can put a new one on for $750. If the mower takes a lot of abuse I might consider going over to a Kohler Command or the Briggs Vanguard or a poss swap to a Kaw engine as well. The Z425 is the higher end JD's correct? So I'd try and put a better engine back on if possible. Just my thoughts.

Hi Bill,
I recently repowered my Scag Tiger Cub with a Briggs Commercial Turf series/Cyclonic Air Filtration System. Original engine was an ELS 26HP that was loosing compression by the rings in the L/H cylinder, it had 472 hours.
I ended up with a 30 HP as lower HP models were not available earlier this year.
I'm pleased with this engine and it's ability to filter the air as I have a collection system on my Scag and the bags hang close to the engine.
I'm a retired mechanic and I priced the parts to overhaul the 26 HP engine, but decided to go with a new engine with a 24 month warranty. This was an easy repower as the same muffler and cables were reused. The amount of cable extension on both the throttle and choke cables is less on the new engine than the old one. I installed a stop plate in the idle position on the throttle control lever and I adjusted the choke to be full open with the lever all the way back and full choke is at about 3/4 of lever position.
I haven't noticed any increase in fuel consumption and I'm satisfied with the air filtering quality of the Cyclonic air filtration system. About 50 hours on the engine at present. At the end of this season, I will decide to change to synthetic engine oil or stay with dino oil.
A good indication of an engines predicted life is found on the emissions sticker on the engine. My Intek ELS had 250 hours on the sticker, the new engine has 1,000 hours on the sticker.
If you decide to repower, make sure of the crankshaft length and diameter. My engine came from Equipatron.com.
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile: