JDcrawlers Messageboard

Hi, The early 450's have dry steering clutches, the later ones are wet. I think the change occured with the 450C, but if the 450's are like the 350's then there were some late-production 450B's with wet clutches. As I recall, you figured out your 450 was a straight-450 (no suffix letter), so you'd h...

Hi, Actually, there is only one small issue with using an 8v battery in these old girls. If you don't twiddle the regulator you'll discharge into the generator at idle. At operating RPMs, they charge fine. Just watch that ammeter and you'll know what it's up to. The 8v trick was one just about every...

Hi, I prefer to keep the system original. Six volts works fine as long as you keep the connections clean. The hardest part these days is coming up with the number zero gauge battery-to-starter wire. I see way too many number four gauge wires on the old girls, and that leads to hard starting. The big...

Hi, Wow. I really ought to bring my 420c up there one day and let you re-do her. That's much nicer than what I usually turn out. ;) BTW, did they always say 'crawler loader' on the loader arms like that when new, or is that something cool you add? I can't recall ever seeing that script before, but t...

Hi, Looks like a couple nice projects there. ;) Just in case you don't already know, that MC has the early Lindeman track pads on it, and they're on backwards. Well, I can't see the right side pads in those shots, so that side might be on correctly with the 'grouser' part to the rear as viewed on th...

Hi,

I was always fondest of the model 51 hoe, which is the one that allows one to side slide the boom to the edge of the machine for close-in digging.

Stan

Lavoy,

What did the mice use them for??


Sorry, couldn't resist! I know you mean 'nice used ones' and that pesky 'm' is right next to the 'n', but the mental image of 'mice' using thrust washers out of a direction reverser was too good not to bring it up!!



Stan

Hi, Hey! I get my carb cleaner in 55 gal drums. :) It's also known as 100 octane unleaded racing gasolene. The current supplier of choice is Sunoco, as they're the ones with the NASCAR contract these days, so it's available all over. Used to be Unocal, and they still have it, too. There are some gas...

Hi, There's a fitting for the end of the hose on a grease gun that fits those button heads. I think one can get them at a NAPA store. You use a fairly runny lube in the rollers, too, not chassis grease. Most folks use JD Corn Head grease these days, although SAE 140 gear lube works as well. You also...

Hi, As I recall, Type A was what Chryslers used way back when, and Type F I know was Ford. You can still get both along with the newer typs in most auto parts stores. I use Hy Gard in the reverser, too. Used to use JD 303, but that's long gone and Hy Gard is their replacement. You don't have to use ...

Hi, I wouldn't worry too much about the oddball nature of the cute little crawler. Yes, the site says it's all about Deeres, and we do chat about those 99% of the time, but then we do have this tendency around here to go crazy over just about anything with tracks on it. Like this one. ;) As far as s...

Hi,

I'd think a 62 would be too heavy for a 3-roller track. The machine would ride on the front idlers more than the bottom rollers even if you managed to get one mounted. The 62 was meant for the 5-roller 420. The blade for the MC was a lot lighter.

Stan

Hi, Yes, I think you're right. This is pretty small. I didn't have a good reference for size at first, as it's yet another poor old thing in the weeds missing half it's bits. But, then when I just looked at it again a little harder, I see the electric starter and that gives me a pretty good size ref...

Hi,

Is this the power unit for a pneumatic drill? The one that used the same rails as the old Terratrac I used to have? I can't tell exactly from the photo, but it sure looks familiar.....

Stan

Hi, I wonder if they can get the blade unit as well? That's from another company (also in Italy), but maybe it's not a problem to get one since it appears that happens over there much like there were several attachment companies for the old JD iron..... I'd love to have the C55 with the largest trac...