[turttle]

Need to repower a 1990 420 JD.---- HONDA? or BRIGGS VANGUARD? Welcome all opinions & suggestions Well aware cost is around $2000.00 I am comfortable making that investment in this tractor. Not sure what engine to use.

 

[jdmaninlouky]

I would certainly squeeze a Robin/Subaru 22-25 HP into it . IMHO - There is non better , and they are usually had much cheaper on eBay simply because they were not really "mainstream" in terms of Name recognition . Formerly Wisconsin , Tely-dyne , Robin , Subaru . Changed hands many times in the last twenty or so years . A VERY smooth - stout - quiet - strong - long life - Japanese made offering .

Hey ..., You asked :

Dave

 

[tadowler]

I re-powered a 318 with an 18 HP Vanguard. I was impressed with the engine and how smooth it was. I learned a lot from this forum and believe I could do it again without the aid of a "kit". A lot of guys repower their 420 with a 23 HP Vanguard. I picked up a used 23 HP Vanguard at a State Surplus auction and may re-power my 420 with it even though my Onan has 550 hours and runs great.

 

[dalekast]

Unless you are truly working the tractor to its limits, I do not believe you would notice a difference in power, between the brands. Honda and Vanguard are produced oversees, believe Kohler is still built here - but not sure. Your decision should also include 'Kit' vs 'No Kit'. If you intend to purchase a kit, I would give as much consideration to the quality (or lack thereof) of the kit, as I would about the brand of motor. I re-powered with a Honda, and while I love the motor, the kit and customer service, was nothing short of a complete debacle. If I had it to do over again, and based on comments in this site, I would buy kit from Jim's Small Engine - he uses Vanguard.

 

[44gun]

I agree with Dale. I really like Jim's service and he's done a lot of research on everything he sells. He is very willing to help and work with you on a re-power project.

 

[ab318]

I put a Honda GX670 in my 318 without a kit in 2007.
It's very reliable, quiet, low vibration and easy to start at any temperature and have a lot of power.
My Honda was made by Honda, they still made by Honda and if I need parts in the future they will probably are available from Honda.

Andre

 

[dan_hosler]

My decision to repower my 420 with the B&S Vanguard was mostly financial. At the time, the Vanguard could be had for $999 off of ebay (non-kit form). I see it has now jumped to $1299 but has free shipping.

If you're handy with tools, go without the repower "kit". There are many tutorials on this site that can walk you through the installation and save you a bundle. Specifically, Dan Dillner has an excellent tutorial through his Google-Photos website for the Vanguard repower. Dan Dillner gets all the credit here... https://plus.google.com/photos/106460198938703134721/albums/5618088907666583873?authkey=CKj71azXzvnyxwE&banner=pwa&gpsrc=pwrd1#photos/106460198938703134721/albums/5618088907666583873?authkey=CKj71azXzvnyxwE&banner=pwa&gpsrc=pwrd1

If Kohler or Honda had a better price, I would have strongly considered those options. Both appear to be quality engines for this application in my opinion.

Here's a teaser pic for you with the nearly-installed Vanguard, and the sad Onan in the background.

All the best,
-Dan H.

 

[knottyrope]

picking an engine is like picking oil

you will get 100s of opinions but whats best for you is up to you to decide

I would rebuild the onan first unless it threw a rod and broke the block.

 

[craft57]

ken trupke sr.: What are you Planning to use, or what were your existing uses for your 420 ??? ….

I Had also just re-powered my 318, but it was with a high Hr Kohler CH22 hp engine ….. was at 5400 hrs on an original engine and have since put on another ~95 hrs over the last 2 months on it Mowing Hay !!! with ZERO issues …. the grass got away on me while the re-power project was in the works ….. one thing I will say is There is a huge noticeable difference of the extra 4hp over the old 1200hr Onan …. Love the Choice I Made !!! …… Now in most normal mowing applications the tractor is playing with work …… I Too never used a Kit to re-power, there is Really not much to it once you have a few Key components lined up …… I believe one being to buy an Engine with the correct 1-7/16" crank-shaft PTO end on it ….. makes things so much easier to install the JD OEM clutch ……. the Only issue that seems to Pop-up with ALL of the Engines (B&S, Honda, Robin Subaru, Kohler, etc.) is the issue of having to locate the muffler position/type to exit out the original hole in the Right side cover of the tractor, some are close but most are not perfect …. JMHO

J.Lang is a resident active WFM'r and has also got an extensive library of pics re-powering his 420 ….

He Re-powered with a 27 Hp Kohler fuel-injected Engine …. "Now THAT Is SWEET " !!! ……. I'm keeping my eyes open for a 420 to do the same kind of Re-power project (kinda like Jealousy streak in my blood ! ….. LOL) …. I want ONE ! ….. unfortunately in our areas they are very Few and Far Between ! …..

J.Lang is on Holidays , but I suspect will be back soon ….

Looking forward to seeing another follow up of a Project in the works !

Have Fun …. Cheers …. GK

 

[leadslingingdaddy]

I repowered both a 318 and 420 with a Command 18 and placed a 22hp carb on them (bought from epay).... Never had a power problem.... Can be found off of numerous 2000 or 3000 series Cub Cadets for a reasonable price....Did it without a kit...

 

[turttle]

I am setting this unit up to use with my 47 snow thrower. I have another 420 {1986] 500 hrs. on it but I am getting lazy and do not want to keep pulling heavy 60" deck off/on spring/fall; install weights,chains,ect. GREAT,GREAT FEEDBACK THANKS TO ALL FOR YOUR THOUGHTS &INFO. At this point I am leaning towards a kit from JIMS.

 

[jdrye]

I bought my 420 with a Kohler CH20 already in it, and it has plenty of power with my hydraulic tiller and 47 blower. I love the engine and it starts up right away no matter what the temperature.

 

[cdisbennett]

I'm with Dale on this one. I repowered with a VanGuard and the kit was terrible, service was non existant and ended up making all the parts except the base myself. THE company also has a good kit.

 

[dalekast]

T.H.E. co is who I purchased my re-power from - of the four pieces they manufacture, I had problems with three of them; only the sleeve for crank shaft (1" ==> 1 7/16") was correct. Two mufflers, one base plate and one shaft adapter, went to the scrap pile.

 

[ab318]

Another supplier with Honda but I don't have any idea about the quality.
The description for the muffler seem strange to me.
http://www.repowerspecialists.com/johndeere420.php
All the V twin Honda are very similar and the bigger GX690 is probably available.
Andre

 

[denniscary]

Randy, you mentioned you repowered a 420 with a magnum 18, did you have any horsepower issues? I have a 400 and I desperately need a motor for it. That being said I also have a magnum 18 for another repower project, a 317. Do you think that 18 hp with the 22 carb has enough horsepower to run my 400 with a 60 in deck.

 

[leadslingingdaddy]

Dennis,
I used Commands in both JD's...

 

[vmf214]

I have two 420's (1986/1988). Both are repowered with Honda engines. One was done with a kit from SEW (Honda GX670) and the other kit was from THE Company (Honda GX630). Neither kit was perfect, but I would say the quality of the SEW kit was better. Both tractors perform well using a 60" deck to mow 2.5 acres each week in the summer and a 46 snowthrower in the winter for a 280' driveway. The engines have given me no issues. The 670 has about 100 hours and the 630 is only at 35 hours.

 

[denniscary]

Randy sorry for the mistake on the command motor. I have access to both a 18 hp magnum and an 18 hp command, my question is do they have enough power to replace the old k series or onan 20 hp you had on your 420?

 

[leadslingingdaddy]

I would go with the Command repower...The Mag is getting expensive to rebuild when needed....No power issues with the Command and uses less fuel...See my post on the PTO sleeve I had made up...