New members first posting of 420C

[Reg Taylor]

Hi everyone. This is my first post of my 420C after many years of work. I first would like to thank Lavoy and all the members who have shared their knowledge on this site, they have been a big help to me on my rebuild. I purchased this nonrunning, used and abused iron in 2004 and over the next 12 years of spare time I tore it down to the last nut and bolt and brought all parts back to factory specs. Back in 2004 I purchased a JD420C factory shop manual from the local John Deere dealer and developed a first name relationship with same as I shoveled cash across the parts counter and received many much needed parts. I have never added up the total cost on this rebuild as that way I am able to look the dear wife in the eye and honestly say I have no idea what I have spent on the 420C.

I still have a few things to work on, the rock guards, Battery box right & left sides and I'm sure I'll find some others.

Now, I am working on the Gearmatic 8A winch and would like to get in touch with Lavoy regarding Parts (clutch and Brake bands being the main ones).

Now I'm sure everyone will be checking these pictures (if I manage to upload them). The tracks are off a JD440IC loader and someone has welded angle iron grousers on the trailing edge of the pads. The Chains and pads are installed on the 420 in the proper direction.

Sorry these aren't in order, I'm barely functional on computer.

Once again a GREAT site.

[Howard Yoder]

very nice you do great work love the before and after picture

[Reg Taylor]

I've been working on it for the past 9 years not 12, just seems that long.

[notmeu]

Very nice looking 420! I love the before and after photos! Keep up the good work!

[NNAATZ]

very nice!!.....ps. i want the blade! lol

[notmeu]

very nice!!.....ps. i want the blade! lol

That blade does have a interesting long arch on the bottom of it! I'm sure there is no problem cutting into the dirt with that blade!

[Lavoy]

Looks great, I like the detail on the lettering on the blade.
Winch brake bands are no problem, clutch bands are a reline only proposition, but no problem there either.
I normally stock the battery sheetmetal, but easy to get if I am out.
I might have a set of rockguards shortly, will know more in a week or so.
Lavoy

[Paul Koski]

Nice dozer, I am jealous!

Paavo

[Reg Taylor]

Hi everyone, I finally finished rebuilding the Gearmatic 8A winch this summer and wanted to share my pics. All new bearings, new brake band, relined clutch, control & slave cyl. kits. etc. I now have 54.5 hrs. on the 420 since the rebuild, mostly pushing snow and removing beetle kill pine ( about 275 trees so far) and it's running great the way JD should.

[Reg Taylor]

Don't know what went wrong on my upload of pics, hope you can make sense of them, Reg

[Ray III]

Very nice attention to detail. Was it originally green and painted yellow like mine? There must have been a real aversion to non-yellow dozers in those days.

I like the ammo case lunchbox on the fender! I might have to steal that idea.

[Ray]

You did a really fine restoration on that crawler.

[Reg Taylor]

Thanks Ray & Ray III. Under the yellow it was green so some time in its life it must have been repainted yellow. Here in the interior of B.C. there were a lot of these 2 cyl. JD crawlers in the 50s & 60s. A guy with a small acreage, a crawler and small flatbed truck and a homebuilt sawmill could almost make a living cutting railway ties. Not many left now as they were worked hard on these mountains and repaired by any and all means possible. I think a lot ended up being sold for scrap.

[GWilson]

I hope no one minds if I bump an old thread. This 420 is spectacular! I am looking for a 420 or 430 to rebuild and would love to make it look like this one, winch and all. In doing research I've yet to see that blade on any other machine. It's almost like a one-off. Did Gearmatic really make blades?

[Lavoy]

Yes, they made this model at least for the Deere's, think I have seen another variation as well.
Lavoy