My New Little Deere 420

[CRE1992 135]

Well in my search for wheel horses, I found this Deere and had to get it. It is definitely what you can say my new project. One it may not be so little as it is a 420 with power steering and plenty of hydraulic power as an onan to power this monster. It had a loader on it at one time, the frame is still there. There is evidence that a three point hitch was on this too Also has a high/low range and diff lock. I have not yet seen it in person because I am at college. My Uncle picked it up for me since it was 2 miles down the road from us. Although he says I deserve an ass kicking because it was so damn heavy they had to use a come along to get it on the trailer. These were the pics I was sent. I can't wait to tear into this one. Hopefully nothing is wrong with it as it has been sitting for about 5 years because the little old lady that had it let the battery die and left it outside until it was picked up by the previous owner who I got it from.

Thanks again T-mo for the manuals!

Enjoy,

-Charles

OH BTW I forgot to add that I only paid $375 for it

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,330]

Charles, a friend of mine has one he restored and added a quick way loader and three point on. He went all out with paint, decals etc etc. That is one very large tractor for sure. If you park a 520 next to it the 520 looks like an rj next to a 520... Good luck with it !

[VinsRJ 721]

That does look like a monster, Good Luck!

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,503]

The 420s are excellent tractors. They're in the super garden tractor range. They share the same features and some sheet metal and similar frame to the 430 diesel. Here is the info summary from WFM:

The Model 420 and 430

For eight years, the 400 ruled as monarch over the Deere Lawn and Garden line. In 1983, Deere replaced the 400 with an all-new design; the 420. It was quieter, stronger, and had a few more features than the 400 it replaced. As with the 400, it was an immediate success. Features included:

• Two-cylinder 20 horsepower Onan B48G air cooled engine with cast iron cylinder liners
  
  
• First use of annunciator lights incorporated into dash panel.
  
  
• Electromagnetic clutch for both front and rear PTO.
  
  
• Redesigned fender deck resulting in a more "squared off" appearance with greater operator protection and comfort and a rear mounted 6.5-gallon fuel tank.
  
  
• Redesigned front axle to allow more weight bearing capacity. Replaceable spindle bushings.
  
  
• Transaxle manufactured by Tecumseh, with a Hydraulic oil cooler, two speeds, and differential lock
  
  
• True hydrostatic power steering. A first on a Lawn and Garden tractor.
  
  
• A reserve fuel tank that allowed 15-30 minutes extra operating time.
  
  
• Three spools of remote hydraulics.
  

The greatest contributions that the 420 brought to the table were the hydrostatic power steering and the new Onan engine. The steering allowed a turning radius of 26 inches, the same as a 318! With the 60-inch deck, three point turns were all but eliminated. The Onan engine had a long resume of commercial and industrial applications. It was quieter, and had greater torque rise than the Kohler it replaced. By this time, more compact tractors had reached the marketplace, with Deere entering it in 1979 with the 750 and the 850. These Yanmar-sourced diesels helped to fill the gap between the garden tractor line and the farm tractor line. As such, the new 420 was slightly lighter than the 400 it replaced. Emphasis was placed on operator comfort and convenience. Deere offered the following attachments:

• 50- or 60-inch mower deck with shaft drive
  
• 50- or 60-inch rear grooming mower
  
• 48-inch rotary tiller
  
• 54-inch front blade
  
• 46-inch front snow thrower
  
• 47-inch 2 stage snow blower
  
• #20 plow
  
• #44 front loader
  

In 1984, Deere introduced the 430, Deere’s first tractor to combine a diesel engine with hydrostatic drive and power steering. The 430 utilized a Yanmar 3-cylinder water-cooled diesel, and all of the features previously found on a 420. Turning radius and attachments remained the same, but weight was up; 1170 pounds. The heaviest, strongest John Deere garden tractor ever. The 420 and the 430 stayed in the garden tractor line until 1992, with the introduction of the 425 series. Many consider these to be the best that John Deere ever built, perhaps the best in the industry. No other garden tractor combined all of the features and stamina, convenience and versatility that epitomized the 400 series.

You can get a 3 point hitch from Ruegg Manufacturing: http://rueggmfg.com/hitchkits.htm or You can find one used somewhere. One off a 318 will fit.

You can get a 54 inch 4 way snow blade, just be sure you get the right front quick attach hitch. You can also find some goodies here: http://www.alzwelding.com/

The 420 will make an excellent snow plow or snow thrower tractor and a great plowing tractor with a 10 or 12 inch moldboard plow.

[CRE1992 135]

Thanks guys I would like to add a snow plow too it. It will definitely be a good project. Looking forward to getting this one going.

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,503]

If you want more info, check out www.weekendfreedommachines.com

[CasualObserver 3,408]

That's a pretty nice looking 420 for that price. And to think.... the other guy must have picked it up from the old lady for even cheaper!

[Darr01 1]

Great tractor for a great price! Will make a nice workhorse.

[Jake Kuhn 1,555]

That sure is a nice tractor charles! I love those deere 420's such a heavy duty tractor! ~Jake

[AMC RULES 37,130]

Nice Deere Charles.

[KC9KAS 4,741]

Looks like a decent tractor....even if it is a Joo, Joooohn...Deeeeee....John Deere! There, I said it!

[CRE1992 135]

Well thanks guys. I got home a little while ago from school and with a flashlight I looked her over for the first time. Shes going to need some tlc. From sitting for couple years, the hydraulic valves are kind of frozen. However I plan on taking it apart and power washing it before do anything to it. There is a wasp nest as well as a mouse nest under the air cleaner. It also needs a battery. So I am planning on selling a couple things to fund this project. There is some really old gas in the tank and boy can you smell it! Gonna remove that and clean it before I even try to start the engine.

[AMC RULES 37,130]

:ROTF:

Looks like a decent tractor....even if it is a Joo, Joooohn...Deeeeee....John Deere! There, I said it!

[Ken B 3,164]

Nice score Charles. Think you can handle it?

[CRE1992 135]

Nice score Charles. Think you can handle it?

Ken the question is, can it handle me? lol

[rexman72 210]

that tractor will move lots of snow

[Ken B 3,164]

Nice score Charles. Think you can handle it?

Ken the question is, can it handle me? lol

Probably not! Have fun with that Jolly green giant!

[CRE1992 135]

Well she currently looks like this, however I took off the loader frame and mower deck. The onan has a cracked oil pan but nothing else is wrong with the engine. So I am going to freshen up the engine. It is going to get new rings, the heads decarboned, and the valves adjusted. Plus whatever else it needs while we are in there. I plan onchanging the hydro oil which is actually ATF type F and the Filter, and hope that there is no leaks in the hydro system. I replaced the fuel lines today and need to clean the gas tank but I will be away at school for 2 weeks before I can work on it any further. I just have one fuel line left to replace, apparently this uses almost 15ft of fuel line as it also has a reserve tank.

So expect and update in about 2 weeks.

[CRE1992 135]

Well the reason it had a cracked oil pan was because there was water in the engine, we pulled the heads and a quart of water came out of each cylinder. So we stripped down the entire engine to the block, and it turns out that the block is cracked in 3 spots. However the crankshaft is beautiful as is the camshaft and the connecting rods. If the block was not cracked I would have it bored, but the cylinders are pitted very badly.

So I am in need of a engine, preferably a running one. I will post pictures later tonight.

[AMC RULES 37,130]

Sorry to hear about your engine woes Charles, but if you can't find a replacement mill...nooobody can.

I'm sure you'll have that Deere back on it's feet in no time.

[Terry M-(Moderator) 2,175]

Mowed and blew snow at a school years ago with a JD 420. It did an awesome job at both and I actually liked the hydrostatic hand control best when I did the mowing. :handgestures-thumbupright:

[Shuboxlover 478]

Judging from the looks of it (and I am by NO means a JD expert) I would guess that at one point your 420 had an MCS (Material Collection System) on it. My 430 has the same rear PTO set up, and the lower mounts (which are also the same as if it had a 3pt) My MCS is the NON hydraulic dump system, and if works VERY well!!!! If I had one suggestion, it would be to put a suspension base on your seat. That is the one upgrade I purchased for my 430 that I would NEVER give up. The difference is ASTOUNDING!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck with your 420.

[CRE1992 135]

Yeah that was for a PTO system, I removed the pto, but not the brackets on the bottom as they are also for a three point. I am keeping the pto. I have a mower with a bagger so I have no reason to keep it on there. More room for the hydro to stay cool!

I am still in the process of locating an engine. Even if I got a 20hp onan from a wheel horse I would have to tear it down anyways, as the wheel horse uses a 1 1/8th crank and the john deere uses a 1 5/16 crank for the pto. However the crank shaft I have is great. So I really just need a donor engine.

A certain moderator has one that I sold him but he wont give it up =P

-Charles

[CRE1992 135]

Here is what a cracked onan block looks like:

[AMC RULES 37,130]

Definitely one ridden hard and put away wet.