JD MC 40C 420C ?

[JDLover]

So I got burned on a 350B I bought months back. I looked over it before I bought it and there was a major poorly welded crack in the transmission that was not able to be seen until the skid plate and rear weight was removed to do some other repairs on the brakes/clutches. Because things on the machine were so heavy, it was beyond my capabilities and I couldn't afford to keep throwing money at someone else to fix it. It cost me a great deal of money and I sold the machine at a HUGE loss. Don't ask how much! Biggest lesson I learned is don't buy a machine so big I can't work on it myself. Because of this, I am slowly starting to look for an MC, 40C, or 420C to get and work on. These machines, I am confident to work on. This brings me to my questions.

I have been doing some research on the tracks and adjusters. When the adjusters are maxed out or close to maxed out on these machines, is it safe to say the tracks would at a minimum need to be repinned? In other words a big bill. Again, I would not mind paying somome to put new pins and bushings on a machine (once I take the tracks off myself). I just want to know when looking a machine over and negotiating price, I have an idea what I am getting into. I have seen some machines where they say everything is good, but I can see big belly or bellies in the track with little to no room for adjustment, which I assume will be major work.

So in looking at the 40c and the 420C I can get an idea at how much adjustment is left before an undercarriage teardown is headed my way, but how can you see on the MC how much adjustment is left? I hope this question makes sense.

In my quest for finding the machine I want, I don't want to get burned twice, but I don't mind tearing down and restoring a machine if I can get one for the right price. I ultimately would like a 420?C, but I would entertain an MC or 40C

[gus]

If the tracks are shot, scrap value less 10%. Probably a lot of other things badly worn too.
Personally, I would only look at 420 or newer.

[JDLover]

Thanks

[Lavoy]

Big difference between tracks being shot and needing pins and bushings. Pins and bushings are a wear item, and designed to be replaced. I have pins and bushings in stock, and a track press, so that is not a big deal, done 2 sets of tracks in the last month, 2 more to do.
If you want to use it at all, skip the MC and 3 roller 40, they are just not as stable as the longer undercarriages. Side by side, at the same price with the same equipment, I would pick a 420. The extra power is nice, and more likely to have a reverser.
Keep in mind, that most of the crawlers you see with "80%" undercarriage are probably closer to 40%. If you have to put pins and busings in, you are done for life, almost impossible you will ever wear them out. If you do, it is saved or made you so much money that it is irrelevant.
Lavoy

[JDLover]

Thanks for the valuable info. Just out of curiosity, what does it cost to rebuild a 420 with new pins and bushings?

[Lavoy]

Roughly $1850 installed.
Lavoy

[JDLover]

Each side? Or total?

[Lavoy]

For the pair, installed.
Lavoy