'53 40c restoration

[Bigtusky]

Hello,
I thought I'd post some pics of the crawler project my father and I have started this fall. This is our first crawler and I've already used the forum for a lot of great tips and information. hopefully with the continued advice from Lavoy and fellow users, and some hand me down parts, we will have this old timer grading woods roads this summer!

http://imgur.com/a/lILRC

[mapaduke@yahoo.com]

Looks like you have a pretty decent crawler there, that blade looks new.
The transmission must be out of a 420.

[Bigtusky]

Why do you think the transmission is from a 420? We had assumed it was the original tranny.

[mapaduke@yahoo.com]

The shift leaver quadrant is from a 420 or 430. The 40 doesn't have one.

[mapaduke@yahoo.com]

Ok, looked at your pictures more closely and it appears that someone added the shift quadrant?
So very well could be the 40 transmission.

[mapaduke@yahoo.com]

http://rs877.pbsrc.com/albums/ab331/MAP ... 0&fit=clip

This is a 40 shift leaver.

[Bigtusky]

It's possible it may have been done during some previous overhaul, the end of the shifter and knob has been welded on so maybe the original got buggered. Ours definitely doesn't have a shift boot like that though either. The gentleman we bought it from didn't know anything about it other than it was his brothers and last ran about 20 years ago. We got it running well before committing to buy it but discovered the clutches are frozen. The pics of the crawler torn down are as it currently sits at our mechanics shop. The tracks are headed to a local Amish track shop next week to replace the missing bushing and get an opinion on turning the bushings/pins. Lavoy helped diagnose the broken idler bushing (we had thought the idler had a conventional "hub" that was broken) in addition to the broken bracket. Lavoy is helping me hunt down the bracket and likely some rollers. The rollers on it have a lot of play, I'm not entirely sure how much play we should live with but the front roller shucks about a full inch to inch and a half vertically. The rear roller moves about half that much and the middle has the least amount of play. We're thinking of letting a local machine shop take a crack at bushings but Lavoy cautioned against it as the rollers are so hardened. Figure we will replace the foreword and rearmost rollers if the machining doesn't work out. Meanwhile our mechanic is going to tear down the clutches and media blast the steel disks if needed and get everything cleaned up and put back together. We don't have much into it at this point so we're not opposed to spending a reasonable amount to get it serviceably. We're extremely fortunate because we have a great mechanic that works cheap so he can do the undercarriage work that we aren't as familiar with while we can do engine and standard " farmer" wrenching.

[mapaduke@yahoo.com]

Sounds like you have a handle on things. Lavoy with take care of you, He's helped me a few times in the past.
Keep the pictures coming.

[original possum]

The transmission cover of a four speed 420 will bolt right on a 40. Did that to mine to stop getting into two gears. I still have the old cover if you need one, but don't recommend it if you are going to work the crawler. If you can find the rubber bushings for the front crossbar let me know.

[Bigtusky]

Where are the rubber bushings located on the crossbar? In the brackets for the manual angle adjust? I have to admit we haven't looked that closely at the tool bar or the blade yet. I read a post that mentioned a link to a number 61 blade owners manual. I will have to look that up prior to using it. I appreciate the comments and information. We had been looking at more modern dozers with 6 way blades but this one kinda fell in our lap and ought to do most of what we are looking to do, just a little slower.

[Lavoy]

You have a #1000 tool carrier, a 61 dozer blade book won't do you any good.
The rubber cushions are in the main large crossbars that the trackframes bolt to. I have new reproductions available if need be.
Lavoy

[Bigtusky]

Ok, I had found a photo using google images that had referred to the setup as a 1000 tool carrier and 61 blade, thus my confusion. I was looking for pics showing the angle adjustments. Thanks again for the clarification.

[Bigtusky]

Is it appropriate to use the front blade in an angled position for earth moving applications or is that intended more for snow removal, etc?

[Lavoy]

That blade will not angle, only push straight. What you have has quite a bit of modification to it as well, so will look different than in pics.
Lavoy

[Bigtusky]

I just found the pic again and this time tracked down the link. Guess I'm not surprised it was from the Forum haha. Anyhow I read the associated post and saw the crawler pictured (link below) has a custom angle set up. I thought the linkage that is behind our blade was for adjusting the blade angle. The learning process continues. I had envisioned using the blade in an angled position to help make a side hill cut on mildly sloped portion of our woods road (the angle allowing the cuttings to accumulate nearer the downhill track, thus tilting the blade into the uphill side slightly). I realize I'm putting the cart in front of the horse, gotta get it put back together first!

http://www.jdcrawlers.com/messageboard/ ... d087bfae3f