John Deere 125 Lawn Tractor: Problems, Durability, Repairs

People have got used to the fact that John Deere equipment is a big combine harvester or a huge and powerful tractor for professional use. But the company manufactures a lot of other equipment which is smaller and very smart. Just like the John Deere 125 Lawn Tractor that can be used for both commercial and private purposes.

Today, we are going to look at the John Deere 125 and outline its common problems. Also, we'll look at the advantages of this equipment and ways to use it. We should start with compliments to John Deere because it was pretty hard to find common problems that may happen with the 125 tractor model. The majority of owners and mechanics say only good things about it.

So, we'll talk about the following today:

• What should you know about the John Deere 125 tractor?
• How long will the 125 tractor model survive?
• What are the common problems with the John Deere 125?
• How exactly can you use your John Deere 125?

Let's get started!

Basic facts about the John Deere 125 model

This model is not available new now. It was first produced in 2006 and then it only cost less than $2000. So, if you still want to buy this model, you'll be able to find one at a really good price of $400 to $600 approximately. But of course, this is not going to be the lawn tractor in perfect condition due to its age and hours.

Now, we would think about the John Deere S110 as an alternative to the 125 model if you want the new lawn tractor. It costs about $2,5K and it's much more technological than the 125 model. But today, we'll concentrate on the older lawn tractor and tell you more about its advantages and problems.

Here's what you should consider before reading further:

• the John Deere 125 model is quite old, so it will have more problems than expected just because of its age and hours;
• the tractor is equipped with a 724cc engine with only 2 cylinders that offers 20 horsepower, the engine is Briggs&Stratton;
• the fuel tank is only 2.1 gallons or about 8 liters which is still completely enough for the majority of possible tasks;
• the tractor has a 2WD transmission and simple manual steering, the operator's position is open;
• the transmission is pretty simple and has forward and reverse gears for maneuvering and other basic tasks;
• the only attachment that came with the tractor is the lawn mower - the mid-mount mower deck - but you can find other attachments for the tractor.

Among interesting attachments, you can find carts, brush guards and bumpers, additional light, material collection units, and also other things. Unfortunately, there are no attachments that can turn your 125 tractor into something bigger than just the lawn mower. The tractor doesn't have any active shafts for attaching equipment with different functions.

But we should say that the machine is pretty good at doing the job that it was made for. Also, all its units and parts are very durable and more or less problem-free. Of course, when using the tractor for some years, you are still going to see some inconveniences and issues happening. But this is common for all special equipment on the market.

How long will the John Deere 125 tractor survive?

We believe the average lifespan of the John Deere 125 lawn tractor is going to be about 4,000 hours. The commercial lifespan should be about 8 to 10 years while in private use this tractor can work for dozens of years if it's provided with optimal maintenance.

In most cases, private owners use the 125 tractor in spring and summer. The average hours per month should be around 20-30 hours. This means that some tractors that were made in 2006 still have a lot of potential and are durable.

But still, if you want to buy a used John Deere 125 tractor, you should be careful. If you buy the one that has been used commercially, the only thing you are going to do with this tractor is repairing it. Unfortunately, OEM parts are pretty expensive and the repair procedures are not that easy, too.

So, find a privately-owned 125 tractor with 500-1000 hours on it and it will still have a lot of life in it. Otherwise, you will buy a box with problems that will spring out of this tractor once you've dealt with the previous one.

What are the common problems with the John Deere 125 tractor?

Speaking about problems of the old John Deere 125 Lawn Tractor can be a very long story. We'll still try to cut it short and show you only the most common major problems that may make your experience with the 125 tractor awful. Nevertheless, the list of problems given below is not full. Given the tractor is quite old, it can also develop different minor issues and general problems that we just don't have time to point out.

So, here are the most common issues that may happen with your John Deere 125 tractor:

1. Carb problems

Carburetor engines aren't the most convenient in use. They often need attention from the owner of the tractor and this annoys. For example, you may find your engine running at high or low RPM or stalling every other minute. It may mean that the fuel-air mixture is wrongly prepared because of air leaks that are pretty common for this engine.

Also, the fuel supply is not that good. It doesn't have the high-pressure pump like with injector engines. The pump is pretty weak and the filter is not really efficient. So the fuel lines and filter may get clogged really often and will need maintenance. All these factors influence the quality of the fuel-air mixture.

2. Fuel tank problems

Mechanics say that they often repair John Deere 125 tractors after their fuel lines are completely clogged. Just replacing the fuel lines with new ones saves the situation for a short time only. After that, the problem returns. The root of this issue is the fuel tank.

Over time, the tank gathers some mud, particles, and small metal debris in it. These parts will obviously clog the fuel lines after some time. Also, if the fuel filter is clogged, the fuel pressure will not be good enough for the lawn tractor to work properly.

Replacing the fuel tank along with all lines and the filter is the only good solution for this problem.

3. Starting problems

The whole system of the ignition is not really reliable. For example, if you don't put your John Deere 125 into a garage but just cover it with something and store outside, you will struggle to start it in spring or autumn because of the high humidity. Also, spark plugs will require replacement often because of that.

The engine is very old-fashioned. It means you will often have a lot of minor problems with it. But still, this engine is really reliable and can be used for years with just some minor maintenance and simple repair.

4. Solenoids going mad

The starter solenoid and also carb solenoid may just go mad because of the weather or because of the weak battery. Once this happens, you won't be able to start your tractor. Also, the solenoids are really hard to find to replace them. We mean, you won't find them in your local store where they sell parts for agricultural equipment. John Deere dealers don't sell them either.

By the way, finding good parts for repair and maintenance is one more problem you should be aware of. While filters and spark plugs are easy to buy, other more specific parts are unavailable and will require some research.

5. Age problems

This is the massive group of problems that will touch the engine, transmission, attachments, body, wiring, etc. Even the body parts can suffer from corrosion, so after 15 years of use, you may need to maintain the body and repaint it to save it from extensive rust.

Of course, this will take some money from your pocket and you should always check whether it's worth your time and effort to repair the old lawn tractor or maybe you should just buy a new one. We would certainly go for the new option if we had a choice.

Final words

We have to say that the John Deere 125 tractor is pretty good. If you find a model with less than 1000 hours on it, you can definitely buy one and be happy with what you get for this money. But also, you should be ready to encounter some possible problems. And they may be devastating sometimes.

This is the lawn tractor with simple technologies, it isn't filled up with cutting-edge electronics and other things. On the one hand, it's good because it's easy and cheap to repair this tractor. But on the other hand, it will require more attention from you and more maintenance.