This is a heavy-duty tractor packing amazing power that is why it was nicknamed the “Cadillac”. John Deere 420 and 445 are similar tractors to JD 455 but with a different engine. JD 455 uses an 881 cubic inch Yanmer 3-cylinder diesel engine.

It was manufactured in Horicon, Wisconsin, USA. What this tractor brings to the table in terms of sheer durability and performance is hard to find in many of the new generation tractors now. Its awesome performance is further helped by its liquid-cooled engine that ensures you do not have to shut it down to cool off after working for a while.

If you want to know more about the John Deere 455 garden tractor, then you’re in the right place as I’ll be showing you everything about this tractor.

Features

Here are the features that make up the John Deere 455 lawn tractor. These features are what will make or mar your decision to purchase this tractor for your garden, so feel free to go through them.

Physical Specifications

John Deere 455 garden tractor weighs 480 kg for AWS and slightly lower at 437 kg if the tractor is 2WS. It is also 74.8 in long, 47.6 in wide, and 51.2 in high. This is a decent-sized tractor considering it is mainly for home and garden use.

Engine

This tractor uses a Yanmar 3TNA72UJ3 engine model. It is a 3-cylinder engine with a displacement of 0.9L and a compression ratio of 21.6:1. If you’re wondering what type of oil it uses, well, it uses the SAE 10W-30 oil type and has an oil and coolant capacityof 2.8L each.

It is a four-stroke, liquid-cooled diesel engine with 22HP and an electric starter for the quick running of the engine.

Battery

A battery is needed to power all the electrical systems and this tractor is fitted with a 21V battery with CCA 470A for this.You can easily charge the battery with a 20A alternator.

Power Take-Off (PTO)

The PTO is needed to transfer power from the tractor to its attachments. For the John Deere 455 tractor, it features an independent middle PTO with a hydraulic clutch and a rating of 2000rpm. The rear PTO is optional and is also independent with a hydraulic clutch but with a rating of 540rpm.

Transmission and Chassis

Its transmission model is Tuff Torq K91 while its chassis is 4×2 2WD. It is a shaft-driven hydrostatic transmission type with infinite forward and reverse gears. The maximum forward speed you can get is 13.7 kmh and a reverse speed of 6.8 kmh.

It has two steering types; the standard hydrostatic power steering or the option of four-wheel steering while the brakes fitted are wet disc brakes.

Power steering helps the task of maneuvering the field so you can gain cruise control and do very little handling when working with your 455. There’s also a tilt steering addition so you can adjust the steering to fit your height.

Hydraulic System

The hydraulic system controls the 3-point hitch and all the mounted attachments. And this system which consists of two levers is located at the right side of the steering column.

While the lower lever controls the elevation of the front mount and the optional hydraulic ports at the rear end, the upper level has a host of other uses. These include controlling the mower deck and other optional features like the 3-point hitch and angle adjustments of the front mount.

Pros and Cons of 455

If you want to get a clearer view of whether you should buy JD 455 or not, this pros and cons section will help you.

Pros

• It can accept exterior attachments
• It has cruise control: this is important to save your energy when working on a wide area
• Tilt steering: vital so people of varying height can adjust the steering to a more comfortable height when using the tractor
• Power steering: for easy maneuveringaround edges
• Wet disc brakes for added reliability
• Powerful tractor running on high RPM
• Efficient fuel consumption

Cons

• Parts are hard to find and expensive
• Foot controls may be hard to understand
• Poor ground clearance

Price

John Deere 455 garden tractor was sold for $10,995 in 1995 but you can get a neatly used 455 today for between $1,700 to $3,300 depending on the year of manufacture and condition.

Conclusion

John Deere 455 tractor is a powerful and reliable tractor that is not too old and boasts of some modern inputs. Its price is also fair considering its many advantages.