Picking up 1957 John Deere 420c crawler

[@PatriciaManning-i6h]

Good luck, Best wish's.

[@kevingilbert9695]

That 3 point is worth $800 to $1000 by itself now. The pto assembly is worth a lot too. Great find.

[@johnbellwood8718]

a great find at a great price !

[@jayofalltrades4673]

the 3pt is a rare find on these and is worth as much as the rest of the machine

[@jayofalltrades4673]

also the shifter looks like its for a 40c

[@keithrivers7468]

Do you think the shifter will be a problem when I get it going

[@kennethstanton5407]

Glad to see you rescuing this thing. We owned a couple of MTs when I was a kid. They were the tricycle version of the M (standard front axle) and MC (crawler version), all of which were predecessors of the 420. One of our MTs ended up in the hands of someone who knew too little about tractors and did a lot of evil to it, including letting it freeze, which cracked the block. Once John Deere moved to the 30 series numbering, there was also a probably quite rare diesel version, numbered 435. Anyhow, all of them were really good little machines for their tiny size. As a kid, I watched as an MC was left to rot down in the front yard of one of our neighbors. I assume it went for scrap.

[@backachershomestead]

That's a great find.

[@keithrivers7468]

Thanks

[@WeeShoeyDugless]

Probably just as well the crank was shot because, had you managed to get it started with all that RTV in there, it would only have been a short while before it clogged all the oil galleries and the engine would've either siezed or threw a conrod throgh the block. Nice little machine for a 2 stroke Detroit Diesel👍👍

[@keithrivers7468]

I was think about something like that possibly. Do you know of any that would fit the transmission

[@WeeShoeyDugless]

@@keithrivers7468 Pretty sure there were a few models fitted with 2 cyl Detroits but I couldnt say which, sorry.

[@patrickworkman517]

You DID great... I just paid 2650.00 for one on auction that is in very bad shape compaired to that one....

[@keithrivers7468]

Thanks. I really hope to get it back running and pushing dirt again towards the end of the year

[@frontagulus]

Optima make an excellent 6v battery. It's half the width of a regular 12v (figures), light, and 800CCA if you can believe that. I use it on my Cat D2 electric pony starter. Very happy with it. They're not cheap but I can tell you you get quality for that money

[@keithrivers7468]

Thanks. I will keep that in mind when I go back together with it

[@timcope3115]

Don't let those pistons get gone. If they are good almost impossible to find.

[@keithrivers7468]

Thanks. Will keep that in mind. I know I had two more in the extra parts as well

[@richarddavis3007]

JB weld the out side of block

[@keithrivers7468]

I have a new, well used, block for it that looks in great shape

[@willwade1101]

That crawler is set up to pull farm equipment, not dozing.

[@keithrivers7468]

Yeah. When I get it back running I don’t know if I’m going to put the blade back on it or not

[@user-tn1hk6zm2freedom]

If the block is cracked it can be welded. I weld them and have no problems after.

[@keithrivers7468]

What would you weld it with. A cast rod or like nickel or something

[@user-tn1hk6zm2freedom]

@@keithrivers7468 I use Ni-Rod.

[@backachershomestead]

Wonder why they didn't braze the crack from the outside. We fixed many old tractors with cracked blocks from them freezing. Might get by just. replacing crank. With a little luck.

[@keithrivers7468]

I was considering that. From looking in the engine with a bore scope and the bottom from the oil pan it looks in good shape

[@patrickworkman517]

There should have been a push blade for it too...

[@keithrivers7468]

I did get the blade. It’s not in great shape but it can definitely be repaired. That’s what I was loading with the tractor

[@mikesmith-po8nd]

That hit and miss engine is worth $200 all by itself.

[@keithrivers7468]

I don’t know much about those engines but I have high hopes with a new fuel tank and rocker arm it will run

[@outdoorlifemaine6691]

The Marvel carburetor is worth $300 alone

[@SnowingNapalm]

200$ scrap? how dare they even suggest such a travesty 😠

[@keithrivers7468]

I don’t understand how people can take things like this to the scrap yard. I’m glad we were able to save it from the scrap yard. I hope to have it up and running this winter

[@SnowingNapalm]

@@keithrivers7468 can't wait to see an winter ❄️🥶 update 🥰 good luck with the restoration 👍

[@outdoorlifemaine6691]

I would not be able to sleep at night knowing I swindled an old lady out of a dozer for $200 I mean yeah I get the point she was going to send it to junk but you're looking at it as value and you know how much it's worth

[@keithrivers7468]

Sorry you feel that way. It was a win win situation. She was happy just to get it out her yard and wasn’t expecting anything, I’m happy that I got a cool old machine that I have no intention of parting out or reselling, and most people here seem to be happy that a piece of equipment is saved from being scrapped. The only people that seem to not be happy is you, and probably the junkyard guy that lost out on some money.

[@testy518]

Try a 12v battery.

[@dennislaws5187]

I will buy that from you.

[@keithrivers7468]

I appreciate it but I think I’m going to hold onto it

[@dennislaws5187]

@@keithrivers7468 I want one like that have wanted to find what you found for over 50 years.