5 Common Problems with John Deere 1445 (Solutions Included)

The John Deere 1445 is a 1400 series front-mount mower. It is a 31.1HP Yanmar 1204cc 3-cylinder diesel. It is usually good with mowing and delivers smooth performance. However, some mechanical and additional issues persist in this model.

The most common problems with John Deere 1445 include electrical issues, starting/stalling issues, overheating, hydraulic problems and bad wiring problems.

I will discuss these most common problems with John Deere 1445 in this article along with respective fixes. Stay tuned till the end to find out!

Problems and Solutions at a Glance:

5 Most Common Problems with John Deere 1445 and Their Possible Solutions:

You may experience John Deere 1445 problems due to many reasons. Here are some of the problems and how to solve them.

1. Electrical Issues

Due to various electrical issues, the mower may not start. Even if it starts, it may stop frequently. Turning the starter key, you notice that nothing is working. You may also find that the mower indicates overheating but it can’t shut down.

Due to electrical issues, you may also smell plastic burning inside. A small amount of smoke may also be visible to you. This is due to poor and damaging wiring.

And often, the terminals of the battery (mainly the positive one) could be burnt or very hot to touch. The cables, such as the throttle cable can melt into the housing. The symptom is the throttle not moving.

The Fix:

Two wire sets pass under the fender deck; one set is for the seat switch and the other is for the neutral start switch. The later is located right in front of the seat, near the shift lever.

The neutral start switch wires likely came loose. The micro switch is located on the reverse of the plate that encircles the shift lever.

Unplug the safety switch until you can get one in to replace it, and you should be good to go. It is located on the differential and alerts the tractor when you are not backing up.

On the hyrostatic unit, it is the right side on the mid-housing. Additionally, you should replace the wires that got burnt. If your battery terminals are getting hot frequently, take it to the dealer to find the problem.

2. Starting/Stalling Problems

The John Deere 1445, earlier models are more prone to stalling and stopping. The most common pattern is that the machine runs for about 10-60 minutes, then stops or stalls. The problem persists even after taking the tractor to the mechanic and fixing the issue.

There are two problems that frequently occur with this equipment. One problem with older machines is that the fuel line was positioned incorrectly at the tank, causing it to become pinched and restrict fuel flow.

It may get trapped in the line or in the space between the tank and the frame at the far rear or at the very top of the tank. The second problem is that the engine starts with too much compression due to the valve decompression setting.

The Fix:

These components need to be troubleshooted according to the manual. In addition, the vents on these machines may become obstructed by debris. When you mow, the tank shrinks because it can’t get enough air to fuel the mower.

When the engine’s compression exceeds its suction, there is no gas, and the tractor dies. During this time, the tank gradually fills back up with air, allowing you to restart it. Remove the cap and let it inflate until it’s empty. Then, replace the cap and re-start.

When the piston is 1/4 inch past the top-dead-center, the valves should be set accordingly. Intakes should be set at.004.

3. Overheating

The mower would overheat, and the PTO will shut off because of that. Due to overheating, the mower fan will also not engage. The fan will kick in however, once it has been jumped.

The Fix:

Ensure that the bypass rod and the engine-to-rear-end drive belt are fully inserted. Please don’t try to service the transaxle on your own at home. A dealer should take care of the repairs.

You may try changing the PTO solenoid valve after trying out new sensors and switches. Otherwise, the BCU will have to be replaced or bypassed in order to fix the problem.

4. Hydraulic Problems

The hydraulic may not be working on the machine. As a result, you may be unable to get the lift working.

Most people change the transmission fluid hoping that things work. But it may be the the hydraulic cylinder spool’s ball indent. The ball and spring becomes loose and jams the spool as the retaining screw backs out

The Fix:

Put the spool in a neutral position and you should be able to tighten the indent screw. If the spool on the control valve is leaking, reconstruct the valve.

If there’s a blow-by on a cylinder, replace the seals after disassembling the piston. If the cylinder’s fluid leakage doesn’t stop, the piston seal is compromised, necessitating cylinder repair.

Disconnect the a and b ports immediately after the valve to see if the valve spool needs to be repaired. Check for seepage from the disconnected lines after turning on the system (without moving the lever).

Additionally, make sure the air filter is clean.

5. Bad Wiring on Fan

A common problem with these mowers is the fan wiring going bad frequently. It is misleading as it indicates to a relay switch problem. However, the issue is due to other switches being misaligned.

The Fix:

Make sure your RIO switch wiring is sound before checking to see whether the switch needs to be adjusted. The most likely issues is the park brake switch. If it were anything else, the tractor won’t start when the crank is in the ‘on’ position.

What Majority of the Users Feel?

The John Deere 1445 is a good enough machine. If you’ve spent 40 hours on the machine, you will know that it is an amazing one.

The typical fuel usage is between 1.2 and 1.5 gallons per hour. Therefore, it isn’t the most fuel-efficient.

However, it is compatible with tools like leaf blowers. And for ditches, the four-wheel drive is excellent.

It can be a little difficult to reach the grease zerk on the pivot point on the back axle. The machine’s service is generally good other than it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

From what I’ve learnt, the JD 1445 is a good mower for it’s price. However, it is rather on the basic side. So the mechanical issues discussed in this article may not seem worth it.

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