Kawasaki FD620D-AS17 Cam Gear

[DennisThornton 4,771]

Seems to me I read that most all plastics will go from 500hrs to 1000hrs with a significant chance of more going than the gear, but I can't find that note and might not have kept it...

My engine:
Kawasaki FD620D-AS17 serial 128730

What I've read:
"In February of 1998, steel camshafts went into all 620D engines.  The following engine(s) should have the steel camshaft and stiffer valve springs.  FD620D-DS02 with the beginning engine serial number of 149283…"

Sounds like mine was a bit too early to get a steel one.  Hopefully yours is 149283 or newer!

Steel camshafts replaced the plastic version in production models starting in February 1998 in FD620 engines so this problem does not apply to the following engines.
FD620D-CS00 – Beginning serial 153727 – John Deere Model F911
FD620D-DS02 – Beginning serial 149283 – John Deere Model 425
FD620D-CS01 – Beginning serial 150198 – John Deere Model 445
FD620D-ES11 – Beginning serial 152490 – John Deere Model 6×4 Gator


Videos of replacing cam gear    Http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/topic/55095-1998-520-lxi-worker-rehab-survivor/#comment-512059
http://jdtechtalk.com/john-deere-models-425-445-f911-and-6x4-gator-kawasaki-fd620d-camshaft-replacement/
http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/topic/55095-1998-520-lxi-worker-rehab-survivor/?hl= lxi

Kits:
Http://www.wycous.com/index.php/kawasaki-small-engine-parts/kawasaki-small-engine-repair-kits/kw-620d.html
http://www.ebay.com/itm/John-Deere-Camshaft-And-Gasket-Kit-425-445-Kawasaki-FD620D-Cam-Rebuild-Gear-Part-/311011477686?rmvSB=true
http://www.mowerandtractorparts.com/p-311-john-deere-camshaft-and-gasket-kit-425-445-kawasaki-fd620d-cam-rebuild-gear-part.aspx

Notes:
You can change the springs without taking the heads off if you blow compressed air into the cylinder via the spark plug hole.These parts work on most FD620D engines except spec numbers ES01 and FS01, these specs have a different governor arm & gear. We can get the correct parts, email spec and serial numbers off your engine so we can be sure what to order. From factory it would have been a white label that was put on the 1" x 4" raised part on the back cover of the engine facing the battery. after several years of engine heat and washings the labels would dry up and fall off. we can normally tell be the serial number if this cam kit is compatible with the engine you have. Please note that in the picture it shows the two O ring style valve cover gaskets. we are now shipping the flat Grafoil gaskets that John deere recommends you use. these gaskets are less prone to leak than the o ring gaskets. there recommendation is that you keep the O ring gasket in the valve cover, put some high temp rtv sealant on the O ring gasket then place the flat gasket between the head and the valve cover and tighten to the proper torque spec.

Suggest changing water pump, governor gear, and oil pump while in there. Watch the PTO seal.

Wondering if anybody has anything else to add to this.  Sound like I need to schedule an operation.

[emdmat1981 62]

Hey Dennis,

 

I realize this is an older thread, and wanted to confirm I am reading the above right.

 

With the Kawasaki FD620D-AS17 (SPEC AS17), were the steel cam gears used from serial # 149283 and beyond?

 

Based on the below I see the FD620D-AS17 spec was used in all 520Lxi's built from 1998-2001.

 

I would expect anything from 1999 on (models 73547 and beyond) would have steel as Kawasaki converted to all steel in February 1998 ... but unsure if that holds true for all the 520Lxi's built in 1998.

 

Kawasaki FD620D-AS17 used on

1998 520Lxi model 73545 Serial 8900001-8999999

1998 520Lxi model 73546 Serial 8900001-8999999 - Export model

1999 520Lxi model 73547 Serial 9900001-9999999

1999 520Lxi model 73580 Serial 9900001-9999999

2000 520Lxi model 73547 200000001-200999999

2000 520Lxi model 73580 200000001-200999999

2001 520Lxi model 73547 210000001-210999999

2001 520Lxi model 73580 210000001-210999999

 

Appreciate any insight you or the Read Square experts can provide.

 

Thanks,

 

Ed

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,711]

We have recorded a 1998 very early tractor serial number of 8900241 which could have been produced mid to late 1997.

 

Garry

[emdmat1981 62]

Thank you Garry.

 

I do have a tractor model # 73545 and serial # 8900782 ... so it was produced after that but not sure how much longer date wise.

 

Also just wondering who if anyone has found plastic and what the details were as far as AS17 engine serial numbers and / or tractor serial numbers.

 

Information is very spotty on this even over in John Deere land where the 425 guys have trouble as well.

 

Regards,

 

Ed

[DennisThornton 4,771]

10 hours ago, emdmat1981 said:

Hey Dennis,

 

I realize this is an older thread, and wanted to confirm I am reading the above right.

 

With the Kawasaki FD620D-AS17 (SPEC AS17), were the steel cam gears used from serial # 149283 and beyond?

 

Based on the below I see the FD620D-AS17 spec was used in all 520Lxi's built from 1998-2001.

 

I would expect anything from 1999 on (models 73547 and beyond) would have steel as Kawasaki converted to all steel in February 1998 ... but unsure if that holds true for all the 520Lxi's built in 1998.

 

Kawasaki FD620D-AS17 used on

1998 520Lxi model 73545 Serial 8900001-8999999

1998 520Lxi model 73546 Serial 8900001-8999999 - Export model

1999 520Lxi model 73547 Serial 9900001-9999999

1999 520Lxi model 73580 Serial 9900001-9999999

2000 520Lxi model 73547 200000001-200999999

2000 520Lxi model 73580 200000001-200999999

2001 520Lxi model 73547 210000001-210999999

2001 520Lxi model 73580 210000001-210999999

 

Appreciate any insight you or the Read Square experts can provide.

 

Thanks,

 

Ed

What I posted is all I gathered elsewhere.

[emdmat1981 62]

Thanks Dennis.

 

What you posted was very helpful. 

 

A few other comments on this:

• to complicate matters the engine model / serial # sticker often heats up and falls off over time
• some of the John Deere users have said that the plastic gears were specific to JD only (unsure if true)

If anyone has any other experience on finding plastic / metal as they have torn into their 520Lxi FD620D-AS17 and can share the result ... we may be able to establish a cutoff (either based on tractor serial # or engine serial # if tag is present).

 

Another less scientific approach would be if you have say 1500+ hours on a 1998 with a low serial #  machine / low serial # engine we could perhaps use that data point as well. 

 

Thanks,

 

Ed 

 

 

 

[DennisThornton 4,771]

Can't imagine a production line swapping cam gears for just JD, though I wish since I haven't tore into mine yet.  Just been sitting and waiting for me...

 

I wish there was another way to tell beside tearing into it!

[Mikr Piknup 0]

I have a 520lxi/73545 S/N 8900242 and it has the plastic oil pump gear. A third of the teeth sheered of at At 177X hours. The engine serial sticker is missing but the air intake has a sticker for the engine manufacture date code as 0697.

[Lee1977 7,371]

A friend of mine has a JD 425 with a Kawasaki FD620D.Water cooled He Had To change the Plastic Cam at 900 hours.