[SmallEngineGuy]

My two Cents - rebuild the engine in a 400 and keep it stock. I bought an '82 400 back in 2005 with a deck and Johnson Workhorse Front End Loader. It had a SEW replacement Kohler 20hp VTwin engine that was installed about 100 hrs before I bought it at 1500 hours. I have put 500 more hours on it. It runs great but starts kinda hard. The side panels do not fit with the SEW kit engine. It has been a workhorse of a tractor. I push snow in the winter with a 56 blade or a 47" two stage blower. I clear about 1/3 of a mile with it. Has not let me down. Also use the FEL with clamp on forks for material movement. I have been looking for a decent rebuildable stock Kohler to put back in it once I have a bit of free time.

 

[northstarcycle]

When you say the engine scattered, can you elaborate exactly? These engines are better and more powerful than they get credit for and I’d fix it before I ever thought about repowering. Might take some time but a repower is not a straightforward drop in either.

here’s one I did two years ago View attachment 286660 View attachment 286661

Very nice job mister !!!!!!!!!

 

[northstarcycle]

My two Cents - rebuild the engine in a 400 and keep it stock. I bought an '82 400 back in 2005 with a deck and Johnson Workhorse Front End Loader. It had a SEW replacement Kohler 20hp VTwin engine that was installed about 100 hrs before I bought it at 1500 hours. I have put 500 more hours on it. It runs great but starts kinda hard. The side panels do not fit with the SEW kit engine. It has been a workhorse of a tractor. I push snow in the winter with a 56 blade or a 47" two stage blower. I clear about 1/3 of a mile with it. Has not let me down. Also use the FEL with clamp on forks for material movement. I have been looking for a decent rebuildable stock Kohler to put back in it once I have a bit of free time.

Totally agree !!!!!!! rebuild that engine.......

 

[jdjim]

I have acquired the tractor I learned to do work on about 30 years ago. THE John Deere 400!. My grandfather bought it brand new in 79 or 80. My dad used it from 1992ish until 1996ish when the engine scattered. This tractor has been sitting untouched in my garage since the last time it moved about 25yrs ago. Other than the scattered engine, it is cherry- Grandpa and dad took very good care of it. My question is........is it worth my time and money to get the beast going again? (After my son and I get our 60 rebuilt [see introduction thread])

Don’t ruin it by repowering it. Rebuild the Kohler to keep it original, and add it to your collection.

 

[TempletonJDguy]

I like this guy ☝

 

[TiredDeere210]

I like that guy too.

 

[markdtn]

I sold my 400 last year when I got a ZT. I had had it since 2006. It had the original Kohler K532 in it with 1300 hours. I did a lot of thinking on what I would do when it died. Until recently you could buy a new K582 mini-block and use your heads. But when I looked today they have been priced out of reality. I also looked at buying a genset with a K582 in it which is a possibility if you are in the right place, right time. I've seen 400s with Predator repowers, I've seen Vanguard. I was going to do a Honda. For me it had to look pretty original from outside. For you, I would at least tear it down and see what happened. You might get lucky and it didn't damage the cylinder. Or not. But you won't know until you tear it down. For me if I couldn't rebuild, it would be a Honda then Vanguard. I know people have done Kohler swaps, but I have not personally seen one. 10 years ago there was a guy offering a 30HP Generac repower kit that was appealing, but he is gone now. I could not do a Predator in anything, but that's me. I know many people have. Good luck. 400 is a great machine. I never really had a problem with mine. Fix it and enjoy it.