1957 420c

[Jimmy in NC]

This is my lil 420c. It's a '57 ser. number 107,xxx

Recently converted it back to 6v pos. ground and reworked the accesories on the motor. Recent job to tackle was the clutch casing on one side that was cracked and to tighten up the carriages for the tracks.









It's a working tractor.. so as of now it's not kept real pretty.. (the battery box etc). I think it's just too fun to play with to have restored.

Jimmy

[JD40c]

Great looking tractor, though the tracks look like they need some adjustment. My 40C had saggy tracks like that when I first brought it home.

[Jimmy in NC]

Yeah.. that's actually why it came off the site I'm clearing and grading.. to tighten the tracks.

Here is what it looks like right now...











The age old.. one thing led to another.. and then.. we're this far why turn back.. etc etc etc. (Adjusters wouldn't adjust due to being bent badly and having run over rocks destroying the threads... pulled the idlers.. then to fix a cracked lift arm we had the whole carriage out.. then.. we were close enough to fix the clutch housing.. you get the picture)

Ohh well.. it's fun learning and I'll know it's done right by the books when I put it back together.

[Lavoy]

Jimmy,
Not to add insult to injury, but it has 40 sprockets on it instead of 420.
Lavoy

[Jimmy in NC]

Will that hurt it any? Seems to have been running fine.


I'm pretty sure someone had a 40 parts tractor since it has lots of 40 parts on it.

[DiggerLarry]

Nice little crawler Jimmy. I don't think it will hurt to have the 40 sprokets on, if you have 40 chain on the tracks. If you didn't, I would think it would like to throw the track off. They're a little different pitch.

[Lavoy]

It will be hard on the sprockets and the bushings. 40 has 1 1/2" bushing, 420 is 1 9/16" bushing. It is only 1/16", but it is cumulative, on the second bushing contacting the sprocket, it is 1/8" off, on the third, 3/16" and so on. It effectively makes the track out of pitch. Now add in some wear on the pins and bushings, and it makes it that much worse.
Measure your bushings, and you will be able to tell which rails you have.
Lavoy

[Jimmy in NC]

Alright.. I'll do that first thing in the morning. Thanks for the info.

That was my next question... how to tell the two apart!


Jimmy

[Jimmy in NC]

Best I can tell they are the right chains... I 'm pretty sure at this point that someone had a whole 40 crawler for parts they were robbing at some point. Ohh well...