John Deere 420

The 420 is my favorite lawn and garden tractor built by John Deere. They are a big, strong, reliable tractor with lots of great features. These tractors were built from 1983-1991. They were powered by 20 HP Onan opposed twin cylinder engines. a few of the features of these tractors are: shaft driven attachments, differential lock, Hi & Lo hydro trans, individual brake pedals, multiple hydraulic ports for running attachments, electric PTO clutch, ability to add rear PTO and 3 point hitch, shaft driven trans, and a hydro oil cooler.

[@benschlechter]

My Uncle(owner of the Everglades Farm Equipment in Florida), brought a John Deere 420 in 1989 up to the family's summer property in North Carolina to mow 3 acres. It replaced a 318, that my grandfather used for several years. They had the 420 until 1998, when my uncle brought over a JD 455. The thing with the 420, was it got the yard mowed in about an hour or so, which was neat. Of course, trying to mow with it on a slope near a spring was tough, as sometimes the tractor would slide.

[@EshlemaniaTV]

The 420 in high range had some really good ground speed.

[@ChrisDIYerOklahoma]

As a kid in the 1980's, I mowed lawns with my neighbor's new 318. Loved that tractor. Then I went to work for an estate that had a new 420 with the big mower deck. Holy Moses, I thought the 318 was good. The 420 is fast and powerful and cuts grass like a mad dog.

[@EshlemaniaTV]

Yep, the 420 was just in a class of it's own. 2 speed trans, smooth running Onan twin cylinder, dual brakes, diff lock, so much more.

[@johnpyle8027]

LOVE my 430 Diesel! 1170 lbs just the tractor. It is a beast...

[@EshlemaniaTV]

That long nose made them look cool! Tons of torque from that engine.

[@edcardinal7504]

What u said about the grass in the fins is exactly right. Bought several used JDs with Onans with more than a shoe box of greasy grass stuffed under the shrouds. 420 is a beast.

[@Andy-ky5lt]

My Onan engine developed a crack, probably because of the overheating problem mentioned in this video. My John Deere dealer was no help. Online I found at Small Engine Warehouse, Dunkirk Indian, a Honda GX670 engine kit to replace it. I had them ship it to my local small engine repair shop which installed it. John Deere wouldn't do it. Kevin said he had a little trouble installing the throttle linkage but other than that it wasn't bad. Everything fits okay including the muffler. I now have a "Johnda" and everything works as it should and it pulls strong. The only difference is I have to remove the side cover to drain the oil. I didn't have to before.

[@jeremymettler2785]

First guy heard say always runs smooth

[@EshlemaniaTV]

Those opposed twin Onans run real smooth

[@dhenschel4]

Thanks for the overview - seems maybe the 420 was the model Honda used for their 5000 series tractors. Honda decided for a manual trans, which may have led to the demise of the line....

[@hankstains603]

Hey great vid, just got me one of these and I love it, it has the kohler v twin as a replacement but still very good, few teething problems like the hydro creeps etc, was hoping you could do a setup of the mower deck, have exactly the same setup but can't for the life of me work out how to set it up, level etc and stop the wheels ripping up the lawn.....please please do a vid showing your setup, cheers Hank

[@The420Landshark]

Good video. I would love to own a JD 420 because of the larger size and extra features.. one day. Until then my JD 140 h3 and JD 314 are my daily work deeres.

[@EshlemaniaTV]

The high and low trans in the 420 is a great luxury to have.

[@railfanjames7699]

Eshlemania TV what size mower deck is on that 420? By the way nothing runs like a Deere!

[@EshlemaniaTV]

60 inch deck

[@robertduncan2742]

Any pics of the belt tentioner, I have one and doing some work but I need a few things

[@robertduncan2742]

I'd like to get a second one. Add a small cooling fan on the I side of the grille but add bars to mount from the sides. My blade sure pushes snow. I want to find a tiller but the dollars are to high

[@EshlemaniaTV]

They are strong tractors! They definitely don't make them like this anymore! I know what you mean about the price tag on a tiller for one of these machines.

[@robertduncan2742]

@@EshlemaniaTV thanks for the reply, I call mine the brigadeere since I added a 23hp vanguard since the 24hp honda had a couple issues which I think it's the coils since it runs and stops when warm. I got a easy buck loader and adding pirana teeth. If I cant find a decent one I'll find decent parts to have around. Hope to chat again

[@sentinel8711]

the locking differential is a big Plus

[@EshlemaniaTV]

So is that 2 speed transmission with a true neutral. Just an all around beast of a tractor.

[@sentinel8711]

yeah that would be nice and the 420s are hard to find at least here in the northwest .. still see the 400s though

[@robertduncan2742]

Anyone know wheres a tiller for a deer 420

[@stevehanna100]

How can I turn the pressure up on hydraulic pump for bucket on front

[@bartbodeen8457]

2:25 Diferental lock... Where is it? Also.... Hydro lvl Where do you check and what type of fluid do you use?

[@benschlechter]

I noticed that the early versions of the JD 420 had different rear wheels than the later versions

[@rone9306]

How do I know what year my 420 is

[@alexandermeagher8802]

@@rone9306 by the serial # available at Tractor Data.com

[@williamriley2528]

Need to take those belt safety covers off.. unless you want a fire, or your deck to rust thru...

[@johnbailer2231]

I have a John Deere 420 garden tractor having problems with it in reverse with a snowblower on The Front Climbing up a small incline it will stop anybody got any help

[@patrickflohe7427]

I’d put a question to Norman At Isavetractors.com. I know he had a 400 that he rebuilt.

[@marjoriereeves2087]

I have one that keeps loss in power need how

[@patrickflohe7427]

Huh? What are you trying to say?

[@kentwood6099]

Cub Cadet is a 982 not 920. Kent

[@EshlemaniaTV]

Good call! You are right, it was a 982 that had the Onan opposed twin! Just a case of looking at one number while talking about another. The 982 was the biggest tractor in the 82 series line up and a beast of a machine!