crawler idenity

General help and support for your Lindeman through 2010 John Deere crawler
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andrew 13
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crawler idenity

Post by andrew 13 » Sat Aug 11, 2007 9:20 am

I just purchased a 420c i think? the i.d plate is missing but the engine casting number is m803tt and the tranny number is m3349t, can anyone help? I'm very excited about ordering parts for her but I dont know what model she is. I will add a picture as soon as I get a digital camera. thank you.

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Lavoy
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Post by Lavoy » Sun Aug 12, 2007 6:11 am

Does it have a water pump? A 40 would have no water pump, 420 does.
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andrew 13
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Post by andrew 13 » Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:39 am

yes it does. is ther anyway to pinpoint what year it is? and what would be a good book or books to help start the restoration process?

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sbarr
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Post by sbarr » Sun Aug 12, 2007 7:55 pm

Hey is it a 4 spd or 5 spd does it have 2 bolt or 4 bolt final drives,(where the side frames attach to the final drive housing the 4 bolt ones are the later version of 420's) not positive but I think the 5 spd's are the later versions too or at least an option later in the 420 series
58 420c w 61 blade and 3pth and pto,57 420c w loader,48 D,48 M,Allis D-15 and a Super Duty to haul these!!!!

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Post by chickenman » Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:20 am

You can also look for where the serial tag was located. If it was on the left side of the center tube about a foot behind the bell housing it is early '56. If it was in the bell housing left side it probably was a '57 or at least above serial # 100000.

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andrew 13
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Post by andrew 13 » Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:53 pm

it looks like it was located on the tranny left side just below the starter. it is a 4spd and has a winch. if i knew how to put a picture on here i would i 'm just not computer literate

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Post by chickenman » Mon Aug 13, 2007 6:47 pm

Pretty sure that will make it a '56 serial # under 100000. Also forgot to mention that on these the starter is mounted with a cone pointed Allen screw with a lock nut on it. My 420 is old Miss. Forestery Comm. dozer and serial tag missing. I determined it is '56 by locating the location the serial plate was located. That was shown in 420 service manual I bought from JD. Rather expensive, but parts manual and service manual was quite helpful in fixing it. Like you, I'm computer challenged so I haven't posted any pictures of it here. Maybe when one of my sons come home they will do it for me.

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DiggerLarry
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Post by DiggerLarry » Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:09 pm

Andrew,

Here's some spotting features:

The first year, or phase I, 420s used a modified 40 engine. The bore was increased from 4 to 4 1/4 inches but otherwise, it was a 40 block. The increase in compression and the resulting heat was too much for the thermo-siphon cooling system. A water pump was added to help circulation. It was mounted to a spot milled into the front of the block.

The Phase II 420's were made in 1957. A new block was used but it was not much different that the 40. It was cast with the mounting for the water pump so that machining step could be eliminated in production. An optional five speed transmission became available.

The 1958 Phase III 420s had a revised block with oil dipstick moved to the right side with a combination dipstick and oil fill just below and to the front of the distributor. This same engine was used in the 430 and 440 gas units.

Larry
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Stan Disbrow
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Post by Stan Disbrow » Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:55 am

Hi,

BTW, the main reason for the oil dipstick change on the P3 420's was that they knew they were changing the hood design for the 430 and 440 series, and that one was no longer going to be able to access the oil fill cap on top of the valve cover without removing the hood.....

Stan
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Useta Have: '58 JD 420c 5-roller w/62 inside blade
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Post by Lavoy » Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:01 am

The "dipstick" block appears to be a running change on the Phase 3 420's. The only Phase 3's I have ever seen with this block have been very high serial numbers aropund the change to the clutch type reverser. At this point, the crawler is essentially a 430 wearing 420 sheetmetal. Additionallly, the ones I have had, and the ones I have seen had the boss for the RH dipstick, but it was not bored, and the dipstick is still on the LH side. Also keep in mind that the "dipstick" block was the replacement block in later years for all the 420's, so you will see them in earlier tractors as well, but those will be bored for the RH dipstick.
Lavoy

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