420 frame rails?

[Michael]

Hello all. Just acquired a 420 with a Henry loader and had a few questions. Got it home and was driving it when it threw a track. Unpinned the track to take a look and noticed the front idler was sitting at an angle. Upon further inspection noticed that the brackets that hold the idler to the frame rails had slipped up over the rails due to wear. I have machined new parts...Deere # M3304T and part # M3307T but have another question. The frame rails are also quite worn and tapered and I am considering either cutting the frame rail off completely, bending up a new channel and welding it or just cutting the top lip off and just replacing just that piece. Anyone been down that road? Thx in advance

[jtrichard]

did the same thing on a 2010 ... took some truck frame with the right thickness and use that... I cut the rail just below the top curve in the vertical as the frame steel had the perfect curve/bend in it to match.. worked great

[Lavoy]

I cut out just the top piece and weld in new steel, I am using grade 80 just to get a some more strength.
Lavoy

[Michael]

Thank you both for the replies. Looks like I will just bend up a piece and cut out the top lip and weld in a new piece.

[Dave T]

I rebuilt the frame rails on my 420, cut out the flat metal and welded in 4140. Also I had to rebuild the sliders as they were worn badly. When I welded them they got very hard. Carbide wouldn't cut it so I burnt a big brush pile that I had and threw the pieces in the fire. Dug them out when everything had cooled down and they machined like mild steel.