$50 John Deere 455 DIESEL - Won't Start, What's Wrong?

[@curtisirwin644]

I have found with solenoids that you can actually tear them apart by removing the two screws that hold the plate on. Then once it's disassemble there should be one or two disc that make the connection. Those discs will get thin I have been able to turn them on 180 degrees as to where they're thick again. Thus giving it a good connection and then reassemble the solenoid.

[@Rein_Ciarfella]

I was thinking the same thing! Definitely possible to fix them!

@@Rein_Ciarfella If it was my tractor, I would try that; you want the best fix for your customer.

[@bigbob0042]

I worked at a jd dealer, look at the back of the old module circuit board for lifted/ broken traces and check the traces for continuity. It's common , you can repair the trace or solder in a jumper wire

[@dkeith45]

That brings to mind a fix me and my GF had to do on her 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan some years back. The dash lights periodically would stop working. As per instructions we found on the net, I pulled the dash panel out and found some connections that were obviously cracked. She's good soldiering so re-soldiered all the bad spots. I put it back together and it worked good as new from then on.

[@78trav]

I've fixed a lot of stuff just reflowing solder joints

[@mrboom4570]

I have fixed a few of those boards. They all had cracked solder joints. Look at where all the wires from the keyswitch connect for cracked solder joints at the board.

[@restick008]

I love how Taryl can also find a round about way to get things running. His ingenuity always keeps me interested.

I do the same, I have an old wine cork that I use as a prop for my microwave door so that it operates correctly. The wife thinks I can fix everything with the stuff in our junk drawer.

[@stevebrueggen800]

Best part of my Sunday mornings. Thanks Taryl!!

[@jeffclark2725]

My thoughts also

[@brnmcc01]

A quick way to check if glow plugs are bad, is just remove all the wires from the glow plugs, and connect your test light in reverse. (Put clamp on positive terminal). And then touch each glow plug, the light should light up to full brightness. Would be better to use a high current lamp, like a high beam bulb, because each glow plug should pull quite a few amps. An LED test light or continuity meter won't tell you much, unless it's completely open circuited. It needs to be able to carry a high current.

[@chasgoo]

Taryl, does great how to videos. Would be a great shop teacher, A1 in explaining stuff.

[@dkeith45]

Indeed. He'd be a GREAT shop teacher. Probably wouldn't make as much money though. I recall back in my HS days, my school had trouble keeping certain shop teachers, mainly auto-shop because the pay was so low they could make much more money actually repairing cars for customers. This was back in the mid 70's.

[@capsela2]

It said if it the relay clicks to skip to step 11. Lol, you did some extra work. Also you called start position run at 15 minutes. Excellent video, enjoyed.

He does that to see if we are paying attention! Extra work or extra video footage?

[@chuckp_again_and_again]

7,000 or 70,000 or whatever number that is. lol. Skip to step 11.

[@nephewIan]

always nice to see taryl fix something new and beat some people up in the same video :)

[@jshkskansas897]

Those 455’s are a heck of a machine. Last one we worked on it is all mechanical now. Ended up with a small turbo on it after a rebuild at 2500 hours. It is a beast now.

[@MyTwoCentsWorth199]

I had never seen a glow plug glowing before. I really enjoyed that demonstration. Thanks Taryl!

[@mcburcke]

My neighbor used a 455 in his lawn service for years...he really liked it. I think his son is still running it at his house.

[@lonhoschar1943]

That seat is brand new... worth a couple hundred dollars by itself!!! I'm never that lucky! Good job on getting it running!!

[@thekingsilverado3266]

I almost always get 🚜 that look brand new kept the seats look my pet Bobcat chewed em up and sheet em out.

[@Eric-fv4jx]

I work on diesels in the military and also in a shop that worked on cattlemens trucks which were typically 4WD diesels. This was cotton candy for me but you got through it fine. I have the JD 322 gasoline yanmar and had to go through a similar process. The carb had a sticky anti backfire valve and electric fuel pump from sitting. Some carb cleaner and cycling got them both working again.

[@mikecastillo3419]

I know two brothers that has one of those. One brother took the alternator company apart and repaired it so that it would charger the battery. They looked one up and it was to expensive for them to buy. That is why he took it all apart and repaired it. The other brother who has trouble walking uses it in there garden with a tiller on the back to get everything ready to plant every year.

[@Lon-up8bq]

It's my birthday today and I am not being bothered watching Taryl. Wish every Sunday was my birthday!

[@silent1967]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !🥳

[@chrish3720]

Happy birthday

[@jimbrewer2893]

Worked Kubota diesels for several years. Actually, I worked on three fuel versions of Kubotas, diesel, gas, and LP. Reliable engines. The only Yanmar engines I worked on were gas in commercial mowers. As to the JD, great find. I would drop $50 for it. Excellent troubleshooting video.

[@prevost8686]

Kubota makes the best compact diesel engines made. As long as they are not run hot and serviced properly they will last a long time and they get great fuel economy. I purchased three of them twenty years ago and have only had regular maintenance on them. Proper maintenance is key on compact water cooled diesel engines.

[@storytimewithunclekumaran5004]

I just got a Kubota T2080 riding mower from my local country dump.. Got it right off the truck before it hit the dump.. It was the government throwing it away. It was in mnt shape and had never seen outdoor storage.. the oil was so clean you could read a book through it.. I called my neighbour who came with his tractor and took it home for me.. It came with the key and a full tank of gas.. After digging in I saw the fuel pump was no good. $21.00 from the internet .. then I took the carb apart and gave it a good cleaning and lo and behold she fired right up... I went out and found the rare snowblower attachment for it less than a hour from my house and bought it.. After getting the unit for free it seemed reasonable to pay up for the snowblower attachment.. I have been walking behind my snowblower for years so this is going to be a nice upgrade... I live in Canada..

[@korhing1066]

Great Work Taryl Thanks for Taking us Along . $ 50.00 Dang !

[@jerryaugustine1329]

I like the piano music at the end. Nice touch.

[@satchelh]

That Old Style sweater is fabulous!

[@davegeorge7094]

Use current clamp to test glow plugs before removal. Low current it's bad. Cool mini tractor find!

[@michael931]

Yes but it needs to be DC current clamp and many are only AC.

[@RANDY12764]

Outstanding job Taryl!

[@joedawg7275]

We had one of these 455 at work to cut our grass. We bought it new in 96 for around $12k. I bought it from my company for $500 in 2012. I spent around $400 fixing leaks and a couple of body panels. It's still running fine today.

[@caidenlawler9009]

Taryl makes me laugh every sunday

[@michaelfinney2160]

I think those little diesel engine tractors are a bit easier to work on. My BX Kubota is very much like that John Deere/Yanmar engine set up. Have a Blessed Day 🇺🇸

[@philipbarstow9605]

Deere uses yanmar engines in these

[@fromagefrizzbizz9377]

You'll find that many of the diesel compact utility tractors available in the 24-ish horse power glass either have Yanmar or Iseki 3 cylinder engines. Eg: the MF MF1526, MF1800, GC17xx, GC22xx and GC26xx all use Iseki. Other tractors use Kioti and Mitsubishi. My son scored an Italian brand (Lombardini) 3 cylinder 24HP diesel engine. Quite the engine. Doesn't start yet, but getting there.

[@caveman6141969]

Best video ever. I have recently bought a ford gt75 diesel lawn tractor and I also have no experience with diesels either. My tractor starts hard like yours did so now I’m gonna replace my glow plugs and hopefully it will solve my hard starting issues. Thanks so much for the videos.

[@KirkSpradling]

Nice pickup on the tractor. I enjoy the videos however step 4 says if relay clicks, go to step 11. That wouldn't have been as long of a video. The board appears to contain resistors, relays, a capacitor and diodes. No special components. That should be fairly easy to diagnose and repair. I had problems like that on my 1988 F150 and 1998 Jeep ZJ. Cracked solder joints likely on the back of the board. Anyways, good video for those who aren't comfortable with component repair/replacement on circuit boards.

[@ScottGovey]

Great vid taryl, that's why I say there's a difference between parts replacer's and technicians.

[@johnsonworks3724]

Soapbox time, often, you point out how crappy other makes are. This machine was made in 1993, which makes this unit 31 years old. Sure, some Deere parts are pricey, but you can still get parts, and it's back running in the yard. I have a 1994 455, and it's a true workhorse. Love my Deere's.

[@Jeffrey-t8g]

What I learned about working on Diesels from this video Taryl; you better know what your doing, check everything carefully or you could spend a lot of 💵 on part's didn't need. Oh yeah, need a Shop Manual too.

[@len4338]

Thanks for learning me about diesel engines Taryl !! It was pretty cool watching you troubleshoot the troubleshoot on that tractor. And the instructions were really helpful, you don't see that too often anymore.

[@dkeith45]

While I applaud Taryl for fixing it 'the right way', personally if it was my machine, instead of purchasing a $300 part, I would have simply installed a push button switch the same way he uses the jumper wire to start it and called it done. Push and hold till it starts, then release the button. Maybe my reasoning is flawed though? Any reason why that wouldn't have worked?

[@ProblemChild-xk7ix]

It would bypass safeties and glow plugs. Wire glow plugs by themselves with a hold down for 5 seconds button.

[@bc5968]

Great video Taryl! That's an insane price. What a steal! The 445 (22hp Kawasaki water cooled gas engine) and 455 (22hp Yanmar diesel) garden tractors are BEASTS! They revolutionized the garden tractor world and we're manufactured from 1992 - 2001. The original price of a 1995 model was $10,500. The frame at the rear is 9" tall setting on a top of the line Tuff Torq hydro transmission. They have power steering, shaft driven transmission, up to 60" hydraulic lift mower deck, 26-12x12 rear tires and could be bought with several optional implements such as rear pto, front end loader, snow blower, rear tine tiller, 3pt hitch and front, rear wheel steering and 4 hydraulic outputs for implements. Their only takeaway is the high price of Juan Deere Parts! These are really rugged machines!

[@jdh395]

Awesome awesome and awesome great video and skit .... you guys are the greats !

[@davidgibbings6085]

Great vid taryl , we sell isekie tractors the sxg series have kabota deisel units , even from new at least a minute 35:07 of pre heat else they don’t like firing up good engines , 👍

[@bw1841]

My brother in law has 13 THOUSAND hours on his JD diesel mower. But if I had this one, I would sure try to make a work around for a 3 HUNDRED dollar control board just to get 12 volts to a starter solenoid.

[@edgarcornette6387]

wow that board is easy to test and repair .. its a single sided through hole board .. compared to most things today that is easy.. I wish all the things I had to fix were like that .. surface mount stuff is much harder .. for me even more so cause I have a spinal injury and its hard to keep my hands steady anymore .. but you are most likely correct in that the fleabay one will be junk parts for sure ... LOVE ya brother..

[@richardwernst]

Nice! Those Yanmar diesels are excellent and last a long time if maintained (absolutely regular if not early oil/filter changes) and fuel additive to keep mold/fungus/something that will grow in diesel fuel (ask me how I know... :) So except for specialized parts, that starter board/module, everything should be readily available from other places, vs. JD's prices for same exact parts. Wonderful when JD actually made manuals, especially such detailed service manuals available, not like today, that's for sure. Nice diagnostics and showing how you went through them. Lastly, I noticed a LOT of corrosion on those spade connectors. Hope it wasn't just that the problem of the $300 module... :) There's a terrific product called De-Oxit that will both clean corrosion and lubricate connections like these but is NOT conductive so great for such things (doesn't clean ALL/heavy corrosion). Just pull connector apart, spray both parts, and reattach (or pull apart/reattach a couple times to loosen any residual corrosion and let the De-Oxit work. Fixes an amazing number of connector issues.

[@jaryljackderriere1232]

Great job on the fix. Moochy & Leechy are great. Make sure to get those two back again. I think I could get a lesson in cheapness from them. 😀

[@notajp]

I just went thru this same process on my 425. In my case it turned out to be a bad brake switch. You don’t have to remove the fender deck to get to the switch. Just remove the bolts on the left side and loosen the ones on the right. You can then prop up the fenders enough to get to the switch. All the 4x5 series tractors are basically the same.

[@GhostTownOutdoors]

As soon as I saw Mike and Larry, and especially after they dissed Hamm's, I figured they were going over the fence, but minus the cash and through the door worked just as good!

[@robertmorin6495]

Nice going Taryl. Yeah I learned a little about diesels. Thanks for the tips. By the way, in step 4 of the troubleshooting it says to go to step 11 in the book if relay is clicking.

[@laughton57]

Great episode Taryl. I had a chance to buy a similar JD when my neighbor moved back to the city - 3 years ago. His was 4WD and 4WSteer. Mower deck and snow blower. That thing could really move snow. He originally asked $14K and finally sold it for $10K. Like new - anyway, your buddy got a really good deal on that JD for $50. Nice job tracking the problem down.

[@TheHomePros6221]

I love these 455 diesels!! I own a mint 425 that you can see on my channel and I also have a 445. These 4x5 series tractors are the best garden tractors John Deere ever made!

[@foreignisdomesticnow2142]

That was one awesome episode Taryl and crew! 👍 Really nice job. 🤙 Taryl, you're one of the best AND honest mechanics I've seen. Thank you for the education and entertainment.

[@iulianolariu1959]

Diesel is king !!!

[@bobsmith1101]

Cool stuff Taryl, I would have done differently. If it was mine, I'd just attach arm to the fuel arm and have it reach outside, easy. But, for a customer , how about a 12v door lock actuator from a car? Or, any kind of general purpose solenoid really.

[@Travis141123]

If I recall (it's been a long time), they have a start/run circuit in them. In the start position it gets an extra shot of fuel to help start...

[@andeechris]

mike and larry are my new favorite cgaracters, another instant classic

[@koerttijdens1234]

That was a great reperatation. Interesring. Thanks.

[@calholli]

I came across a SLT1550 for two hundred.. After looking over it for only 2 minutes, I realized that the solenoid had blown completely apart.. so I cleaned the carb and slapped on a new solenoid and it runs like a champ. He must have kept it in a garage, because it still looks brand new in my eyes. Big captains chair with arm rests, 3 blade 50" deck, hydrostatic of course; 26hp twin Kohler, has the larger wheels in the rear, like a garden tractor. It's a monster though. Works fantastically. I drove out to the old farmers house and picked it up, he had already got a new one... I got a screaming deal: but this diesel still tops mine. lol. What a find.

[@dirtfootracing8788]

My dad bought a $50 John Deere tractor from a shop - like new - except the prevoius owner ran it low on oil - it threw a rod but really didnt make a mess inside the engine. We replaced the rod and a couple other parts and it ran great. That little diesel engine is worth mucho dollars

[@cgfreshmaker]

With all of the kids buying electric battery equipment and driving out gas mowers, you may want to consider adding diesel mowers and subcompact tractors to your repair business. They are more efficient and may take off again.

[@rodneyedington6329]

$50 for a 455 is a steal. Great detective work Taryl. This is why the "TM's" are worth what they cost. I have 2, 455's what I don't here when the key is in the "on" position, is the electric fuel pump that's in the fuel tank. It will run without it without much of a load. Once you start putting a load on it like mowing, it will bog down and starve for fuel. One of mine is down right now cause of the tank fuel pump.

[@phil36135]

I got some pals like them 2 when I see them coming I go to running. My Papa used to say A friend in need is friend indeed.

[@jerryspinosa5466]

Excellant lesson in diagnostics!

[@franklovell3149]

As always, informative video and a pleasure. Looking forward to next Sunday!

[@williamkirby-wt7su]

Looks like a yanmar engine. Mine gave same trouble. I know a shop can't do this, but I just bypassed the control module by finding the start wire on the key switch and going straight to the solenoid on the starter. If mine went below 12.5 volts to the solenoid it refused to open the circuit.

[@themowerman]

Love a big love letter... Hope all uou guys are going ok... Keep em coming

[@prevost8686]

Kubota and Yanmar make great compact diesel engines especially the emissions exempt small engines. Good to see Elk Skins make a cameo appearance.👍

[@bartdaw6681]

Awesome work! The way the engine is in the frame I figured it was a Kubota motor.

[@kaithomsen9726]

Dinner time ! Woohoo!!

[@ronaldandolsek4637]

Excellent. Thank You. I have a Kubota tractor with a diesel engine and would have no idea of how to diagnose it. The engine was starving to fuel and i saw goobers in fuel filter. The Kubotski dealer told me that the problem was probably ALGAE in diesel fuel. I thought they were making it up It's not algae like in water. It's actually a microorganism and happens frequently.

[@joedyer8824]

Man the things you find at the scrap yard

[@mattclark5480]

Thanks for the video you guys must be having some warm weather 👍

[@davebarnes9099]

Great fine for the person who bought that mower

[@carloskawasaki656]

Thank you for sharing, i learn a lot eatch video 👍👍👍👍

[@dougkubash8673]

That is quite the find! It would make a good project!

[@NovaBill6264]

Awesome video God Bless you and your family Amen

[@independentthinker8930]

That seat is worth fifty bucks!

[@SteveKluver]

That was my very first thought too! 😊

[@dalepoppenhagen8549]

Yes it is u r right about that

[@doglegjake6788]

Thanks for sharing another cool video !

[@robertmailhos8159]

Taryl working on a diesel engine👍

[@boydwalker161]

I got a similar deal spring of 2023 buying a 65 hour Toro 523Dxi diesel and 60” deck for $300. Engine had multiple holes in the block and dismantling I found 2 of 3 connecting rods broken. The story passed to me was that the engine was ran low on oil. 2 of 3 60” deck spindles were stuck, rear tires flat. Just from the major parts from the engine I’ve brought in around $1600. I traded the deck plus 4 new spindle bearings for a 5xi tiller and a pair of ag tires and wheels. I still have lots of engine parts left.

[@JosephTaverna-u4f]

Good video my friend God Bless You and the Crew

[@wickerman9569]

Very interesting video. What a lucky find for $50. Would have liked to just found the engine for that price. Always a dollar short & a day late ⏰ ugh Thanks for all the info.

[@wg4405]

Fifty dollar , what a steal . I have a front deck Cushman with a Kubota diesel that the injector pump shut off solenoid burned up and I just took it off and put a pull cable on it to shut it off . I do have three John Deere 332 and one has had a push button added by previous owner because of that problem there . Once in a while it will start with the key switch but I don't use that mower . The other two I have work right .

[@rverro8478]

What a good idea ! A circuit board, continuously exposed to dampness.

[@mitchelloates9406]

The guy that bought that mower really lucked out. The cheapest diesel riding mower that John Deere has on their website these days is a 700 series, over $15,000.

[@chadjustice8560]

A descent 455 will still bring 5-6000

[@DavidPotter-k1d]

I bought a 790 three cylinder compact tractor for $12, 799. 60 inch Woods grooming mower. Why in the world would anyone spend $15 k for a riding mower 🙄

[@ezl8002]

What a buy, the Bad is that a circuitboard is expose with it's components, a No No with electronics. People don't know any better and will wash the engines off with pressure washers which will ruin exposed electronic systems. That also goes with the new cars! Having a good service manual like you have is a Huge Plus with saving time and $$$ servicing equipment.

[@dennisclapp7527]

Thanks Taryl

[@rodbuilder3y]

I bought a 1993 445 (gas Kawasaki) for $150 that wouldn’t run because the ignition board was bad. This mower has a computer, fuel injection, electric fuel pump in tank, come to find out it needed a new mass air flow sensor and intake air temperature sensor as well. It’s like a modern day car! These parts were very pricey from JD… I still have the tractor today, it’s a nice tractor and it’s in nice shape, but man what an over engineered engine for a mower in 1993!😱 It’s a lawnmower, not a space shuttle, c’mon JD what were ya thinkin??? If I remember right the 425 is carbertraded, the 445 is computer controlled fuel imjectorrated, both with the same saki engine…

[@dkeith45]

I suspect the source of the problem is the EPA. I have a 1997 Toyota Tacoma that has a vortex MAF which when it gets dirty enough, it cuts off all spark to the plugs. Then I have to remove it and blow it clean with compressed air and it's good to go again for a year or so. I miss my old 1986 Toyota that just had a regular carb, no MAF etc. Was a great machine, but it got to rusty and had to retire it.

[@marshallsayre58]

Wow Taryl, u found the part, it's available, and ane they had the part too?...well 2 out of 3 ain't bad...the odds were against you as you've well documented...OH and it's made in the USA..too...wow..😊good job.

[@BigBlock-wf3mh]

Great Video Taryl, thanks for the show and like the saying goes “Nothing Runs Like Diesel Deere” …… Cheers! 🛠️😢

[@howardharmon3451]

That scrapyard in Cedar Lake had a giant crate of small engines.. mowers and mower decks. They sell by weight for slightly over scrap value.

[@dkeith45]

Is that the one past the Shillings warehouse? Midwest PGM?

[@VernonTate-y1i]

That was a great deal for 50 bucks and about 500 bucks into parts 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@mikehors7351]

cool skit and the guy lucked out on that 50.00 dollar deer smoken deal. Keep up the cool vid's.

[@off_grid_life]

I have watched your channel for years, I do mechanical as a hobby. About 10 years ago i got a 332 JD that was parked in a barn, i assume being how it wouldnt start. All 3 glow plugs were shot, $53 canadian each at the local dealer, they had 3. I made it there at a quarter to 5 grabbed them and by 6pm it was running. An amazing beast, mine is a 3cyl yanmar idi (indirect injected) so it will NOT start without the glow plugs only smoke. Most idi's require their glow plugs to work, the direct injected will start without glow plugs if its not cold, I dont know about the 455 maybe its direct injected? I know the 332 were made late 80's untill '94 ish. A 4 or 5 year run and quite, bases on a 318 just with a diesel. Best machine I ever had. Uses less then half the fuel I was burning mowing a 5+acre yard. I used to have a big ayp with a 48" deck and a 18hp vanguard briggs v twin. The 332 is 18hp diesel with a 50" deck so very comparable. Watch the radiator and the air intake screens are clean, diesels make ALOT of heat in the summer and my experience the JD radiators are undersized for the engine. You want all the air flow u can get and no restrictions.

[@BearE9090]

Great find and well done on the fix.

[@Rein_Ciarfella]

Looks like Taryl’s gonna be a diesel head! 😂🔧👍

[@calholli]

I don't like john deere. but you can't beat a yanmar

[@jamesfrost5261]

Step 9 wanted the key in start not run with the fuses removed. I know you probably did it right before the video bur just incase. That's still a he'll of a find. Worth buying the genuine part.

[@MikePagenkopf]

Keep up the awesome work

[@djsi38t]

Heck...that mower will run for many more years now..pretty cool stuff..

[@edward-x3s6f]

The Man 👍

[@JohnR9965]

Keep em coming….

[@davekauffman8727]

Sweet find, although I'd have figured out a more cost effective way of getting that starting circuit operational. I've been used taken advantage of too bud, it sucks.

[@Iowa599]

You should build a mini tractor pull sled to test that diesel & other rider mowers. Like Torque Test Channel, but for lawn tractors 😀

[@michaelglynn2638]

Great video 👏👏👍

[@JB-ro3sz]

I sure miss those old manuals, they are great for diagnostics, now we have them on the c computer and it sucks. I have a 455 all wheel steer I use to pull a leaf bagging cart, it works great and ruins like a top, one of my neighbors has one i used to own it has north of 3000 hours and still runs perfectly. the biggest issue with these mowers was transmission oil leaks.

[@sylkelster]

Probably some point to point troubleshooting of that module would be worth a try vs crapping out $290 right off the get-go. Probably a fouled relay contact in one of those PCB relays. Diode checks are easy, and a resistor color code available online would allow you to check the resistors. A potential savings of $270.

[@Logjam5]

Good one Taryl.

[@chuckmayerchak3071]

Love your videos, Taryl! Have you noticed that the manufacturers have eliminated low oil pressure warning in indicators on some tractors. I have a 2023 John Deer X 580 with a Kawasaki engine, and although it has the top end digital dash and the manual states it has a warning, the engine has no wiring or sending unit above the oil filter. My neighbor has a Huscavarna with a Kawasaki and also no warning. I'm going to add the parts to mine. But I find it sad that a high end tractor wouldn't have a basic warning system.