JD 420

[beenthere]

And we need some pics...

 

[Reverend Blair]

I need to find host for that some day. I keep meaning to, but always put it off.

 

[kjung17]

You may have already looked at this, but I always check wear points if I'm unsure of the hours on a machine. Look at the mower deck lift arms. Check for slop in the 3 pt links. Wear on the pto shaft. Front end wear etc....have fun with your new toy.

 

[Reverend Blair]

Thanks, kjung. Those are some of the things my friend showed me to look at when I was buying this one. His opinion is that it has less than 1000 hours and was used mostly as a mower.

I had it out playing in the snow. The hydrostatic thing is going to take some getting used to. I found myself digging for the clutch and brakes out of reflex. It's funny how some things get so ingrained in you. I'm amazed at the short turning radius too.

Also, the oil drain definitely needs an extension. Getting the drain plug out in that tiny little space is a little more challenging than I'd like. Oh well, that was a $3.00 fix the last time I did it.

 

[grnspot110]

Also, the oil drain definitely needs an extension. Getting the drain plug out in that tiny little space is a little more challenging than I'd like. Oh well, that was a $3.00 fix the last time I did it.

Does your oil drain have the "T" type handle? If so, make a wrench from a piece of pipe with a slot in one end to go over the "T" & a T handle on the other end. Mine is probably about 8" long. ~~ grnspot110

 

[Chuck Oppermann]

I think you will like that 420. I've had 140's, 318's, 420's 455's, 495's and now have a 740. The tractor that sticks in my mind is the 420 because it was physically large, had a heavy duty rear end that seemed really beefy. It still seems the whole tractor is more beefy than the new models. The only thing about those is the paint. It is not powder coated and you have to keep an eye on the rust and keep it painted. I had my 420 for a number of years and was trying to find somerthing newer and better, but I think the 420 had most of them beat so I just got rid of the others and kept the 420. I eventually did change and am sold on the newer diesels now, but my wife still wishes we kept the 420. It was nice to drive.
For 30 years I worked in the factory that made those things and the only one that seemed tougher was the 430. But then again, the only difference there is the motor, as far as I know. The maintenace crews would get 420's to ram around with and they didn't baby them, at least I didn't, and they really heald up well. They used them to push tow trucks around but had to put on 3 sets of wheel weights and a big blick of steel in the back for weight. But the factory got rid of them after a few hundred hours so we could get some new ones. I think you'll love it.

 

[Reverend Blair]

No T-drain, grnspot, a square plug. I have no square sockets (actually, I think I saw some at Princess Auto...I should check that) so I was kind of stuck using an open-end wrench.

I've been loving the 420, Chuck. My driveway has never been this clean. Neither has the neighbour's. Or the woman's across the road. Unfortunately it got cold here and it doesn't snow when it's cold, so I've run out of excuses to go tractoring.

Oh well, it's supposed to warm up and snow next week.:thumbsup:

 

[mfreund]

Congratulations!! I think you got a fair price....especially on the accessories. They REALLY add up to buy new. I recently repurchased a 322 I owned. I used to do the same with the snowblower because it was barely warmed up after my drive was done. Have fun and get some pics when it warms up.

 

[joes_427_vette]

When one considers the 420 series was built from 1983-1991 , we know for sure yours is 22 plus model years old. The engine is Onan which is not only hard to get parts for but very expensive parts ( because no one has them and very little reproduced ) coupled with an extremely old design hydrostatic drive, again expensive repairs / parts availability. I would not go back that far in time for equipment I wanted to use everyday. I bought a 455 with blower and mower for 4k with 1400 hours which I feel is a far superior model. A bare 420 last fall at a car swap meet was listed for $800.00 ( engine not running ). Some get carried away with the green hope in retail value of used equipment but repairs are expensive in any brand. I hope it serves you well.

 

[Reverend Blair]

It will serve me fine, joes_427_vette. It's working well and running strong. If it breaks, I'll fix it.

As I explained before, things aren't that cheap up here. A much more used 455, but with only a mower deck and snowblower, is going for $9K CDN right now. That's with no FEL, a smaller deck, no wheel weights, no tiller. No mention of a 3PTH or PTO, although I would assume it has them.

I know when I look at ads from the US things look almost free.

Also as I explained before, I know a couple of guys who can get me parts for the Onan at reasonable prices if I need them. If that doesn't work out, the same guys can get me a re-power at a discount.

Now I suppose I might have been able to find a non-running 455 with no attachments and no way to tell what else besides the engine was broken, and I might have been able to get it for $1,000 or $1500 CDN. Then I'd have to fix it, find a deck, tiller and FEL, and have it all ready to go by spring. That would put it back up out of my price range though.