Alive after 25+ Years

[whiteclipse16]

Well last night it finally happened. The old 440 fired up after sitting for 25 or so years.
I'll link the video, hopefully it'll work. It's kind of noisy because the fan was touching the shroud slightly at the bottom.
Everything works except for the water temp gauge.
Carries good oil pressure, kind of high actually, about 45-50 psi at full throttle or so.
I jacked it up and tried it thru all the gears and the steering clutches and that all seems to work good.
Now my questions.
1. How much oil does the tranny take. I put the 8 quarts in that the manual says and it's not even on the stick. (It's the large 5 speed tranny, no reverser)
2. How much oil should come out of the air box drain/breather tube.

I have to get a new spring for the governor buffer screw and readjust the low idle.
Here's the video.

[Howard Yoder]

Ben that is awsume. Which I had the time I would run over and check it out. I have a couple of water gauges I will send you if you want to try to make a good one out of them. I think the one has a nice face on it. You can have them if you want them. I know you have put a lot of blood sweat and tears into that thing and it has to feel good to hear it run. I have a friend locally that just got a 420 runnning that has been sitting just as long the guy he got it off of bought it brand new when he was 21 for $2200. He was tickled to death to see it running again. He didnt paint it up but he got it mechanically in top shape. He has been having a blast pushing dirt around.

[JD440ICD2006]

WOW, did the hair on your head stand up when she fired up? That is awesome. The rest of it is just little details.

1. The tranny in the ICD is the later one, the one in the book holds only 8 quarts. I do not recall the quantity but keep filling your tranny until it is on the mark on the stick.

2. A fresh engine with good rings will have just a small amount of oil out of the breather box vent. It should not be pumping oil or more than enough to put a spot on a rag after running a little while.

Keep the pics and videos coming!!

[johnHD]

i like the grin on your helpers face!

john

[whiteclipse16]

There were grins on everyone's face. It was a great moment and a great sigh of relief. I didn't even have to hit it with starting fluid, so I'mhoping it had the new pistons.
Howard that is so cool your friend bought that brand new at 21 and it's still around today. If you went to send the temp gauges I'll try them out and send you some money.
My grandpa has no idea it's this far along. I plan to get it to the county fair and surprise him.
Painting the hood and grille today. More pics to come.

[whiteclipse16]

Got the hood and grille painted yesterday before the rains came.
Got the grille on and set the hood on but the hood hits the generator terminals.
I'm going to have to take both belts off and find a longer belt for the generator to kick it up higher. I'm almost positive this isn't the original genny and man it's giving me a heck of a time.
I'm just hoping I can get the belts off, everything on this machine is packed so tight, it's not a very easy machine to work on.

There is a hole at the top of the grille on each side, prob. 5/8" at least in diameter. The hood does not cover this hole.
Anybody know what the holes are for?

Also I started it 3 times yesterday after it had set for a few days. It cranked maybe 5 times and fired right up. I'm so impressed with how easy it starts. I hope it stays that way.

[JD440ICD2006]

They are pretty easy to work on as long as the hood is off. With the hood on, it is difficult to do much more than change the oil in the breather cup, fuel filter, oil filter, and adjust the low and high speed.
Those holes may be for a limb riser/ROPS cage. I will have to take a close look at mine when I get back to the farm.
Send me some pics of your genny so I can see what is going on with why it is not fitting.

You will know if you have the "N" kit during cold weather. The "S" kit has trouble starting below around 40 F or so.
Be very cautious with ether. It will start them but the damage it can do cost a lot of money. If it gets too much either (no one knows how much is too much), it can break the oil rings on the bottom of the piston. It will still start, run, and make power, but it will smoke and use oil. The only real fix is a rebuild at that point.
Many of them smoke a blueish tint and that is what the problem is.
The only smoke you should see is a little white at start (cold, unburnt fuel and moisture) and black when the governor calls for more fuel.

[whiteclipse16]

Don't worry 2006 I don't intend to use ether at all but I'm sure if it's 0° out it may be needed.
The issue with the genny is that with the belt I had it didn't roll the genny up enough so the terminals were hitting the side of the hood. I just need to get a slightly longer belt.
What I do know is that it's nearly impossible to get to the bolts to loosen the fan belt (which must come off to get the genny belt off).
Then there isn't enough clearance between water pump pulley and hydro tank to slip the genny belt off.
It's frustrating but fun lol.

Is there a certain orientation the battery box hows on the fender?

[JD440ICD2006]

Sounds like you have it all under control!
There were three different style battery boxes that I am aware of and that depends on which way it mounts.
Do you have a part number for the one that you have?

[whiteclipse16]

Well Gents, the old 440 is complete for this stage. I still have to dig the blade out. But I met my goal. I'm taking her to the county fair tonight to be displayed all week. I was able to get the tracks on Friday and drove her around some. Put the fenders and battery on Saturday and put the decals on Sunday.
The thing starts right up as long as you have the throttle just under half throttle or so. It's running great. A little oil blowby it looks like but hopefully that's just the rings seating in.
I saved the first few pics until the end because they were taken on day one of the rebuild process. I'll get some pics tonight with the decals on. There's also a video of the first move pulling it out of the garage.

[JD440ICD2006]

Really enjoy the before and after shots. You literally had to rebuild that one from parts!
Nice video, love to see some with the decals.

[Willyr]

Wow what a great job you did on that basket case. Well done, look forward to future posts.

[whiteclipse16]

Thanks guys, and basketcase it was.
This was all courtesy of a post driver mounted on the back. The poor old transmission case couldn't hold up to that beating.

[Howard Yoder]

I have some before and after pictures of a tractor that I did for my friend it is a lot of fun to share with others and watch there mouth drop but it don't compare with a dozer let alone the fact that it was in pieces when you started. You had a lot of patience and a lot of drive. You can be proud of it and I'm sure your dad and grandpa are really proud.

[whiteclipse16]

Thanks Howard, yes everyone is very impressed with how well it turned out.
Now that mine's pretty much complete you need to start on yours so that we have a new picture thread to follow.
2006 has completed his, now mine, yours is next




I'm somewhat ashamed that I haven't done this yet but THANKS to everyone on this board and esp. Lavoy for technical assistance and help tracking down parts. The project would not have been possible without this site.