Newbie with 420C

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PHPaul
420 crawler
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Newbie with 420C

Post by PHPaul » Tue Oct 15, 2019 2:44 pm

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Hi, I'm Paul from Downeast Maine. Just picked up this '56 420C (wrong nose cone, I know) from an Internet buddy of mine in Orange, Mass.

Known problems are 1) bad bearing in transmission and 2) floppy front idler on left side, hoping that's also a bearing.

He loaned me his JD Service Manual until I can get my own so I do have some reference material.

I'll be 69 years old next week and have been retired since 2012 so lots of time. I've been turning wrenches on an amateur basis for most of my life. Last project was a 1938 Farmall F-14. Complete (expensive...) engine overhaul, added F12 input shaft and road gear box to the trans, converted to electric start.

So working on old tractors and smelling of varnished gas and 90wt is not a new experience for me.. :D

As I drop the tracks and pull the final drives, clutch packs and trans, I'm sure I'll be back with questions. In fact, here's a couple:

Is the Jensales reprint of the service manual worth a hoot? I wasn't too impressed with the one I bought from them for the Farmall. If not, what's the best source for a genuine JD manual?

PS: I do have the rest of the tin and it's remarkably straight for an old dozer, considering the abuse they take.
Beautiful Downeast Maine, not fah from Bah Hahbah

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Lavoy
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Re: Newbie with 420C

Post by Lavoy » Tue Oct 15, 2019 3:46 pm

Jensales sells the I & T which is only good for starting fires and bird cage liner. I think I have a manuals on hand if you are looking.
Congrats on the purchase, let me know if you need any parts.
Lavoy
701-361-1006
postmaster@jdcrawlers.com
Parts and restoration for antique and late model John Deere crawlers.
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com

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PHPaul
420 crawler
420 crawler
Posts: 35
Joined: Mon Oct 14, 2019 9:16 am
Location: Downeast Maine
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Re: Newbie with 420C

Post by PHPaul » Tue Oct 15, 2019 4:03 pm

Lavoy wrote:
Tue Oct 15, 2019 3:46 pm
Jensales sells the I & T which is only good for starting fires and bird cage liner. I think I have a manuals on hand if you are looking.
Congrats on the purchase, let me know if you need any parts.
Lavoy
701-361-1006
postmaster@jdcrawlers.com
That pretty much reflect my experience with Jensales.

I'd like to grab a service manual, do you have a storefront or do we do it via email?

I don't doubt that I'll be in the market for parts down the road as well.
Beautiful Downeast Maine, not fah from Bah Hahbah

Jim B
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Re: Newbie with 420C

Post by Jim B » Tue Oct 15, 2019 4:54 pm

Hi Paul,

Welcome to the Board. I expect you will enjoy the crawler; they are not bad to work on, actually fun compared to some machines. Lavoy knows these machines so you can depend on what he says and the parts he sells. He works on them; he doesn’t just peddle parts.

I'm more or less on the opposite side of the state from you, a couple years behind (age and retirement), and pulled wrenches for many years. I had a 430 with the same dozer (#62) that is on yours. The 430 was handy and we did a lot of work with it for years. I would have like to have kept it but decided it was best to sell it after getting a 450E. Word of caution: if you tilt the blade, don't get carried away driving the wedges into the Lock Clamp. They can break the Lock Clamp. I didn't break mine but have seen it done. You likely know it is fairly common to see these machines and some used parts in Uncle Henry’s and on craigslist in Maine, for things not available new. It might not hurt to add Downeast Maine, or something, to your profile for a location. There are a few others from Maine that are members here and post at times, there might be someone close to you if you need a hand.

Do you know about accessing the JD on line parts catalogs?

Jim

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Lavoy
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Re: Newbie with 420C

Post by Lavoy » Tue Oct 15, 2019 5:23 pm

No storefront, not that fancy around here. :lol: You can e-mail me with what you need, and I can check on prices.
Lavoy
Parts and restoration for antique and late model John Deere crawlers.
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com

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PHPaul
420 crawler
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Posts: 35
Joined: Mon Oct 14, 2019 9:16 am
Location: Downeast Maine
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Re: Newbie with 420C

Post by PHPaul » Tue Oct 15, 2019 5:35 pm

Lavoy wrote:
Tue Oct 15, 2019 5:23 pm
No storefront, not that fancy around here. :lol: You can e-mail me with what you need, and I can check on prices.
Lavoy
Cool, email will be inbound directly.
Beautiful Downeast Maine, not fah from Bah Hahbah

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PHPaul
420 crawler
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Posts: 35
Joined: Mon Oct 14, 2019 9:16 am
Location: Downeast Maine
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Re: Newbie with 420C

Post by PHPaul » Tue Oct 15, 2019 5:40 pm

Jim B wrote:
Tue Oct 15, 2019 4:54 pm
Hi Paul,

It might not hurt to add Downeast Maine, or something, to your profile for a location. There are a few others from Maine that are members here and post at times, there might be someone close to you if you need a hand.

Do you know about accessing the JD on line parts catalogs?

Jim
Hi Jim, thanks for the welcome.

Yup on the JD parts online, I had a 1988 JD750 compact for nearly 30 years before moving up to a Kubota B2650 with a cab. Heat, A/C, power steering and live PTO...Who Knew? :D :D

I'll update my profile, I just got "approved" this evening.
Beautiful Downeast Maine, not fah from Bah Hahbah

Claus
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Re: Newbie with 420C

Post by Claus » Tue Oct 22, 2019 5:56 pm

PH Paul, I remember you from Pirate Farm Toys. Nice to see you here.

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PHPaul
420 crawler
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Posts: 35
Joined: Mon Oct 14, 2019 9:16 am
Location: Downeast Maine
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Re: Newbie with 420C

Post by PHPaul » Wed Oct 23, 2019 3:00 pm

Claus wrote:
Tue Oct 22, 2019 5:56 pm
PH Paul, I remember you from Pirate Farm Toys. Nice to see you here.
Yeah, they went Facebook only or something, didn't they? I still dub around with brass toys in the Winter.
Beautiful Downeast Maine, not fah from Bah Hahbah

Claus
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Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2017 4:42 pm

Re: Newbie with 420C

Post by Claus » Wed Oct 23, 2019 3:32 pm

Yeah, I'm not a Facebook guy in anyway then photobucket threw a hand grenade in the whole thing. I remember you doing something with some Tonka toys. Good luck with the new dozer.

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PHPaul
420 crawler
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Posts: 35
Joined: Mon Oct 14, 2019 9:16 am
Location: Downeast Maine
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Re: Newbie with 420C

Post by PHPaul » Thu Oct 24, 2019 3:33 am

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Long Winter last year... :lol:
Beautiful Downeast Maine, not fah from Bah Hahbah

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