56, 420, 5 roller 4 spd

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theshanmand1!
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56, 420, 5 roller 4 spd

Post by theshanmand1! » Thu May 22, 2025 7:39 am

Good morning all.
Well, i have been wrenching on that Crawler for a week now, was able to figure out the puzzle that is the Shawnee loader assy… first thought was to rig it & pull it off whole, nope!
Arms come off, then fender towers have to be tilted just rite so as to come out from under the tracks. At first thought i was going to have to split them, Grrrr! Gotter done. Boy has she had some hard use & not much love or grease!
Drained engine oil, (2) 1/8” pieces of non metalic, non magnetic something? & (1) sliver of metal, & about a quart of h20 & alot of sludge! Tore oil filter apart, nothing in the pleats. Engine does roll over, so thats a plus. Going to drop the pan, when it stops raining… then radiator etc to get ready for extraction! Just thought i would share, i know im weird, but man do i love this stuff!!!
Have a great day!
Any comments & or suggestions are always welcome.
Shanon.
yard dog
1958 4 Roller 4 speed Holt Blade Holt Winch
420 C
Industrial Yellow

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Lavoy
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Re: 56, 420, 5 roller 4 spd

Post by Lavoy » Thu May 22, 2025 8:14 am

The crawler disease begins! :lol:
Lavoy
Parts and restoration for antique and late model John Deere crawlers.
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dtoots1
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Re: 56, 420, 5 roller 4 spd

Post by dtoots1 » Mon May 26, 2025 8:31 pm

Always helps to put location in your profile..is in the drop down login box..someone may be nearby

theshanmand1!
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Re: 56, 420, 5 roller 4 spd

Post by theshanmand1! » Mon Jun 02, 2025 9:29 pm

Ok, will do tootsd1, thanks for the tip. Im in north Idaho by the way, i like to call it my paradise!
Udate on the 56 420 5 roller 4spd.
Pressure washed!
It is now in its own custom built Crawler shed.
Ready for more trouble shooting.
Next is pull & check, plugs, valve/rocker box,
& oil pan.
Along with a million other projects….
Go easy my friends.
yard dog
1958 4 Roller 4 speed Holt Blade Holt Winch
420 C
Industrial Yellow

theshanmand1!
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Posts: 70
Joined: Wed Sep 11, 2013 9:41 pm

Re: 56, 420, 5 roller 4 spd

Post by theshanmand1! » Thu Jun 05, 2025 3:13 pm

Hello from the great state of Idaho!
Pulled the valve cover/ rocker box, looks good, clean, oily, springs, push rods, look good, when turning fan blade they go up & down. Pulled plugs, forward jug, sooty, but all there, rear jug, wet, oily, but all there.
Next is drop pan & inspect, will have boss lady turn fan so as to be able to hopefully see or hear any issues.
Lavoy, if it did indeed spin a bearing, is there a possibility that i might be able to feel or see any play?
Or will it require a tear down to find out?
Something else i found that im not sure i mentioned is the exhaust stack was completely closed off tite with a piece of steel that i had to ram a form stake against a bunch of times to beak it free, that probly didnt help! Yikes!
More to come, have a great day!
yard dog
1958 4 Roller 4 speed Holt Blade Holt Winch
420 C
Industrial Yellow

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Lavoy
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Re: 56, 420, 5 roller 4 spd

Post by Lavoy » Thu Jun 05, 2025 7:23 pm

If you can fel play, they are really shot.
Lavoy
Parts and restoration for antique and late model John Deere crawlers.
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com

theshanmand1!
430 crawler
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Re: 56, 420, 5 roller 4 spd

Post by theshanmand1! » Sat Jun 07, 2025 12:31 pm

Ok thanks Lavoy, fingers crossed!
I did find that the exhaust/intake manifold is cracked in the back side of the Y, just like my 58 was.
So, with the exhaust pipe completely blocked, & manifold cracked, it probly sounded like it blew up!
But hope it did not. We will see…
yard dog
1958 4 Roller 4 speed Holt Blade Holt Winch
420 C
Industrial Yellow

theshanmand1!
430 crawler
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Posts: 70
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Re: 56, 420, 5 roller 4 spd

Post by theshanmand1! » Fri Jun 20, 2025 11:15 am

Good morning all.
I have a quick question to whom ever would like to reply.
Where the frame bolts to the final drives, the frame is counter sunk/concave to fit the 1” convex nut.
They have all come loose, & at first looked to be wallered out, but are not after further inspection with readers & a good light! :wink:
They are grade 5 & look to be fine thread,
Getting to the point.
Should the fix be, #1, red locktite & rattle gun?
But can the grade 5 & fine thread handle that torque?
#2, get grade 8 fine thread bolts, & locktite? Or,
#3 get grade 8 coarse thread bolts & nylock nuts & locktite?
Dont want them to ever come loose again!
Thanks in advance for your input & help, it is greatly appreciated.
yard dog
1958 4 Roller 4 speed Holt Blade Holt Winch
420 C
Industrial Yellow

theshanmand1!
430 crawler
430 crawler
Posts: 70
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Re: 56, 420, 5 roller 4 spd

Post by theshanmand1! » Tue Jun 24, 2025 7:28 pm

Well, according to my cheat sheet.
Grade 5 @ 7/16” bolt can take 54 ft lbs.
So, they are going to get a thorough cleaning, a good dose of red locktite & 60 ft lbs.
If that doesnt feel like enuff, i will go to the next level that is 78 ft lbs.
Ok then.
yard dog
1958 4 Roller 4 speed Holt Blade Holt Winch
420 C
Industrial Yellow

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Lavoy
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Re: 56, 420, 5 roller 4 spd

Post by Lavoy » Thu Jun 26, 2025 9:02 am

Do NOT replace the acorn style nut with standard nut, it will not work, stuff will start moving around. If the original studs are intact, replace the nuts, torque to factory spec, and just check the periodically.
Lavoy
Parts and restoration for antique and late model John Deere crawlers.
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com

theshanmand1!
430 crawler
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Re: 56, 420, 5 roller 4 spd

Post by theshanmand1! » Sat Jun 28, 2025 9:32 am

Thanks Lavoy, will do.
yard dog
1958 4 Roller 4 speed Holt Blade Holt Winch
420 C
Industrial Yellow

theshanmand1!
430 crawler
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Posts: 70
Joined: Wed Sep 11, 2013 9:41 pm

Re: 56, 420, 5 roller 4 spd

Post by theshanmand1! » Tue Feb 10, 2026 10:00 am

Good morning to you all.
And happy 2026!
I am hoping someone can give me some input/ideas.
on the left side frame panel, the 3/4x2” bolt with bushing that holds the frame to the trans bell housing. The hole is wallered out. I have a new bolt, what would be best?
Epoxy, heli coil, re tap to next size up? Not sure if thats even possible. Your input is always welcome. & appreciated.
Lavoy, i did find some new frame to final drive bolts & acorn nuts, so thats complete. Getting closer to dropping the oil pan for inspection. If its clean of metal, its new intake time, reassemble just enough to see if she will fire! & then tear down to see what is in need of love next, im sure alot.
Have a great day!
Just dropped the pan, not pretty, moon shaped bearing like metallic piece. Front rod goes clink clink!!!
Good news, father in law donated a fresh rebuilt 40C engine.
Lets go to work :D
yard dog
1958 4 Roller 4 speed Holt Blade Holt Winch
420 C
Industrial Yellow

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Lavoy
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Re: 56, 420, 5 roller 4 spd

Post by Lavoy » Sat Feb 14, 2026 9:46 am

I have little to no faith in Helicoil. Just pulled apart a 440 that had a Helicoil in the trans, and the Helicoil just pulled out and did nothing. I prefer the full threaded inserts like Keensert, Timesert, and plenty of other brands. I have done several with exactly what you have on yours. They are a threaded insert that essentially reduces the next size up thread back down to the size you want. There is a little more to it than that, but you get the idea.
I have probably 20-30 of them on hand in various sizes for stripped thread repairs. You can get them from McMasterCarr supply in a few days.
Lavoy
Parts and restoration for antique and late model John Deere crawlers.
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com

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Stan Disbrow
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Re: 56, 420, 5 roller 4 spd

Post by Stan Disbrow » Sun Feb 15, 2026 8:46 am

Hi,

I agree. Skip the Helicoil and go for the insert. I have never had good luck with a Helicoil and never had an issue with an insert.

Stan
There's No Such Thing As A Cheap Crawler!

Useta Have: '58 JD 420c 5-roller w/62 inside blade
Useta Have: '78 JD350C w/6310 outside blade
Useta Have: '68 JD350, '51 Terratrac GT-25
Have: 1950 M, 2005 x495, 2008 5103 (5045D), 2025 3025E

theshanmand1!
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Posts: 70
Joined: Wed Sep 11, 2013 9:41 pm

Re: 56, 420, 5 roller 4 spd

Post by theshanmand1! » Sun Feb 15, 2026 10:06 am

Good morning all!
Thank you Lavoy & Stan for the Reply info.
Come to find out, i picked up a new bolt from fleet, brake kleened the threads, new lock washer on the bushing & it ran up tight, have not put the torque wrench on it yet, but hoping we are good there. Just a short story for you Lavoy, was having a bit of a flash back to 2013 when i was resto-ing my 58 roller frame crossmember cap bolts. You told me, those boss’s are cast steel, hit them hard with the hot wrench & panther piss, they will come… & they all did!
Fast forward, the other day i was working to get out those foot board shorty bolts in the trans side without snapping them, hot wrench, kroil repeat… done! Lavoy, you are the man! Oh boy do i enjoy this stuff! Told my very understanding wife, if i was a millionaire i would have a whole fleet of these & a Bo Lindeman! She just rolled her eyes & walked away :D
Back to the 56, the engine that i was gifted for it is off of a 40c a Thermo Siphon engine. Measured center frame bolt holes, look to be same. Hope it bolts up & is interchangeable
With the 56, 420.
Any info, suggestions or advice is very much appreciated!
Have a great day! & thanks again.
yard dog
1958 4 Roller 4 speed Holt Blade Holt Winch
420 C
Industrial Yellow

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