My 420C. Kind of an interesting story.

[Top Gun]

I'm building a new wiring harness. All new gauges except for tach. All new switch, light, voltage regulator, etc.

[Top Gun]

Left footwell.



New head, valves, springs, locks, seals and manifold. I had to reuse the retainers.



Right footwell and hydraulic tank.



Hydraulic tank before.

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Various parts cluttering up the yard.



Left front wheel needs new bushings.





Starting to take shape.

[Top Gun]

The original fuel tank sat for 25 years with 1/2 tank of regular gas. There was no saving it. I found a used one. After I bead blasted it I found some rust that was a few years away from ruining my work so I put an epoxy patch on the bottom for good measure. Suprisingly the inside of the tank was clean.

[Top Gun]

I was able to free up this one upper idler. It isn't original but it will work for me. The other one is smoked. Shaft is trashed, bushings non-existent, etc.

I'm looking for a complete upper idler if anyone has one please pm me with a price.

Also 9 of the 10 lower rollers are perfect but one is shot. About an inch of play vertical. I "assume" the shaft and bushing are shot and wound bet the roller itself is damaged. Also looking for one of those.

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi,

Now, that's a project and a half, for sure!

I know that kind. I have a 1950 standard 'M' that was in worse shape. It had been busted in half before being left to sit out behind the barn for years.

My dad and I fixed it in 1987. I say fixed, not restored, as we made all the original parts work again, including the snapped front-end support and both pistons with the tops caved in.

Yes, dad the machinist actually repaired the broken pistons. At the time, we figured that to be a temporary measure - get the thing running enough to find all the other problems and fix them, then go back to put in new pistons.

He did too good a job fixing the pistons, though. They're still in there, and I use that machine on a weekly basis still. The only issue is that the plugs he fashioned for the piston tops increased the compression to the point where I need to run premium fuel in it - regular will knock. No problem, though, as I use 100LL av gas or 100NL racing gas in most of my gas powered stuff as it stores a lot better than pump gas (no varnishing or stale issues).

Anyway, really enjoy this time working with your dad on such a project. After he's gone and you still have the machine, the fact you both worked on it will become very important. Especially every time you pull on that starter rod and it kicks off.

I have my dad's 420c alongside the M in the shed, but I get a much larger grin every time I start the M than I do when I start the 420. We spent much more time using the 420 than we did the M (he bought the 420 home in 1966), but it's the fact that we put that wreck of an M back together that makes the difference.

Looking good there. You having a start-up party when the time comes to pull on that starter rod for the first time?

later!

Stan

[Paul Buhler]

Thanks for sharing. It's fun to see how another person goes about bringing a machine back to life. I'm sure that your wife is happy that you're getting the parts cleaned up and off the lawn. Good luck as you finish up, and enjoy your accomplishment. Paul

[Lavoy]

I have upper idlers and shafts on hand.
Lavoy

[Top Gun]

Thanks to everyone who commented.


Lavoy, I will be talking to you later this week or the beginning of next. I also need a lower roller. Anything you may have?

[Lavoy]

I might have one left, getting real low on rollers.
Lavoy

[JD440ICD2006]

It is hard to describe the sense of satisfaction in rebuilding a crawler. You are doing an magnificent job!
In my opinion, you cannot post too many pictures of your project. Thanks for sharing.

[Top Gun]

Radiator is boiled clean. I had to replace the 4 mounting rubbers.



New left side battery door.



Hydraulic pump was disassembled, cleaned & reassembled.



The only reason I'm posting a pic of the rebuilt carb is I have 7 hours of scrubbing and chiseling varnish out of it to get it back in shape. So far it was the toughest task of the whole project patience wise.

[Top Gun]

My original cylinder was in terrible shape. Shaft was rusted to the point where there was no saving it. I cheated and bought a new cylinder at Tractor Supply for $119.

[Top Gun]

I bead blasted the lower blade frame tonight after work and got it primed.




New water pump and Fel-Pro gasket set. (Wishing the block was done )

[zippy1wood]

great job! and storey. Im glad you got it back from uncle.did he ever
use it or just let it rot? . I went through similar situation with a john deer
350 that was my dads but my uncle took and then they scraped, but gald to see you and your dad doing something youll never forget