JD40 Crawler tractor

[Bob_Skurka]

I'm looking at buying an antique JD40 Crawler Tractor to restore. I found a couple for sale. The one I am most interested in is in fairly good shape, actually runs well. The restoration will actually be very easy. The problem is the asking price.

My question to all you JD folks, what is a fair price for a pretty good JD40 Crawler that has most of its tin, is rusty, but runs? Not sure the year.

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

Is it a 3 or 4 roller? I can't remember if 4 roller was an option. I have seen them go for upwards of $3000+ around here. Probably cheaper in the Midwest; everythting else is...

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I'm not familiar with the JD units, and I've not seen this one other than the photos which the seller supplied. It has 2 large "wheels" and what appears to be 3 small ones between the two large ones. The asking price is $5K and he seems pretty firm on it. I've also found a Cletrac and a Farmall. The Farmall is also running but a mismatch of parts but would make a fun project. I'm a member of the Oliver's collectors association and Oliver owned Cletrac so I'm far more familiar with those. And the saying over at the Oliver meetings is we are the "correct color green," so I really hope you JD guys don't hold that against me!

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

I dunno Bob, that seems REALLY high. In northern New England we have a magazine called "Uncle Henry's that usually has quite a few pages of tractors for sale. I have read it religiously over the years and I have NEVER seen one over $4500, and that is in REALLY good shape. I guess if it's something you REALLY want then go for it, but I think I would pass that one by... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I seem to recall that John Deere used to send their machines off to Lindeman for crawler adaptation. For some reason, Oregon comes to mind, but I may be mistaken. I don't know off hand what year it was that JD bought out Lindeman and began outfitting their own crawlers. It was definitely after the "B".

My brother always said the John Deere's with three rollers had trouble with the tracks staying on, but I don't know for sure since nobody I know had one.

The FARMALL isn't a crawler though, right? I believe all of IH's crawlers were branded "INTERNATIONAL".

Given that you are familiar with OLIVER, I would stick with them. OLIVER made allot of nice stuff... until WHITE got hold of them. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif Those idiots at WHITE ruined a three good brands, OLIVER and Minneapolis Moline and Cockshut.

Here in Maine (perhaps elsewhere too), there are still a bunch of dealerships called "The Oliver Store". I was told that way back when, they sold OLIVER tractors. Now, they sell forestry equipment.

Let us know what you get! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[beenthere]

The Deere 2-cyl crawlers are a blast. Had one.
About $5k would be in the ball park for a Deere crawler in pretty good shape. Look at the adjustment left in the track adjusters, and look for wear in the links of the crawler tracks. Also, the important area in the Deere crawlers (probably all crawlers) is the clutch/brake mechanism. I had a Deere 420 crawler and it ran good, but needed some work on the brake/clutchs for the individual tracks on each side. When getting in there, I found some pretty shoddy work had been done before. Instead of snap rings replaced to hold on the gears, they were just tack welded to the shaft. To work on them, had to replace some gears and shafts which ran the cost up.
Your crawler is a '3 roller' and mine was a 5 roller I believe. They are great machines when working right, and are collectors in the 2-cyl Deere line, with a lot of avid fans. If you don't run into a big restore cost, you will very likely recover your investment. Look for problems, that might be costly. Things like cracked block, broken castings, rusted adjustment bolts on tracks, and worn 'bogey' wheels (3 on each side of yours) will add up the cost of restoring a collector like this.
I won't comment on the Oliver line.

 

[BarryinMN]

Lavoy @ jdcrawlers is an excellent source for info & parts.

If you look up thru early industrials (yellow deeres) parts are available at the local ag dealer.

My 350 has sealed rollers & quik tach BH, the ultimate wrecking machine!

The market on cletracs is a little less competitive than Deere, take a look at Cats as well.

In any case throw some wood down if you anticipate putting tracks on concrete. The 'crete edges will break off & surfaces will scuff or worse.

http://jdcrawlers.com/
http://acmoc.phpwebhosting.com/

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

Nice looking machine. My brother has a JD 350. He has the rollover cage and winch on it.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Hey guys, thanks for the replies. I've never seen a JD crawler tractor up close, although I've seen lots of pictures so the information you all provided gives me some things to look for and look out for.

I'm still uncertain what I want to buy. I know it will be a tracked vehicle. But I'm not sure which one. Of course if I buy a Deere, the folks at the Oliver's collectors club (HPOCA) will probably tar and feather me. But in addition to tractors, I'm also looking at a Snow Trac (Swedish made, VW engine, military & civilian use). I've attached a Snow Trac picture showing what it looks like.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Oh, and here is what it should look like after it is restored!

 

[JayC]

That Snow Trac is pretty mean looking! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif I wonder if it could take a MMM? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

NO, but is could pull a sleigh in the winter or a wagon in the summer. They are pretty much go-anywhere vehicles, designed for snow, but able to handle mud too. Not good in water, but most other terrain is no problem, even climbing up the side of a mountain.

Like I said, not sure what I want to do. The JD 40 crawler is in southern Illinois. The Farmall(?) is in so-central Indiana. There is a Oliver Cletrac OC3 with loader in Indiana also. I'm in converstations with a couple Snow Trac owners, both are in Europe. I've found owners here in the US and Canada, but nobody wants to part with them!

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

I never saw a real one before. Lesney used to make a Matchbox version . I think I may still have it... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

You have one of these too? The one thing I can say about the lovely Mrs_Bob is that she doesn't understand why I like screwball toys and things that make no sense at all.

 

[BarryinMN]

Thats my brother operating, he has the knack to cut forward smooth, flat & landscape. I use it to push rock & break trails thru woods. I am looking for a ROPS but need one with a hatch on top to fit the bh seat.

Bob crawlers have several style tracks. Dozers have the most aggressive & do the most damage. I can kick up a knee high berm turning. In ice there can be virtually no sideslope traction causing a sideways downhill slide.

A crawler loader has a rounded profile track designed to spin easily. Urban landscapers use rubber tracks to cross concrete, curbs etc. I've seen rubber blocks bolted to the cleats on parade crawlers to reduce damage. These old machines detach power or brake one track & depend on the other side to drag it around. Newer machines like a tracked skid steer will reverse one side to turn.

I bought a vibratory roller from a Cletrac trader & he was adamant about Cletracs costing less. The antique cat club seems to be pretty mellow & had good tips on moving a boulder since my first option (dynamite) is nla.

Don't know much about the snow machines other than the tracks are likely studded & looks like more sheet metal to pull before working on it. Without a blade you won't get friends & relatives requests for building trails, grubing ponds, clear a pad for motorhome parking, etc.

Might be a good thing!

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

Sure do. It is in a little worse shape than that though. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
I have a pile of farm toys, Gi Joes and Johnny Wests that I held onto. My wife thinks I am a nut to keep them. I think they are worth more than she thinks.
They bring back allot of memories...

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

By the way, Bob; what did you get? The Oliver or the JD or the IHC? Inquiring minds want to know! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( By the way, Bob; what did you get? The Oliver or the JD or the IHC? Inquiring minds want to know! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )</font>


NOTHING YET. Still talking to folks. I'm actively negotiating on a Snow Trac that is located in east central France. It is the most expensive of the things I am considering but obviously the most unique.

In addition to the Snow Trac, I'm waiting for detailed pictures of the JD40 Crawler to arrive via snail mail as the owner doesn't have a digital camera. And every day I search for various other crawlers. There are a couple Oliver HGs out on the market currently that look very interesting. And I know of a TBN member who has a Cletrac that would make a very nice project. I'd prefer an Oliver over a Cletrac or a Deere. I'd prefer a newer mini Farmall crawler over an Oliver (just because they had some nifty style to them).

And I think I'd prefer the Snow Trac to any of them. It would make a fun all season machine, would be great in the sand dunes and fun in the snow too. I was also thinking if I got a Snow Trac it would be fun to build a matching wagon/sleigh combo. Something that would have wheels for summer and skis for winter use.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="green"> By the way, Bob; what did you get? The Oliver or the JD or the IHC? Inquiring minds want to know! </font>


OK, I made up my mind, now I have to get it home! Photo of what I'm getting! I figure this should keep me out of trouble for at least a few evenings while I get her fixed up and restored. As of now she qualifies as a "trailer queen" because the only way she is going to be moved is on the back of something that can haul her around. But the engine actually runs, so at least I don't have to get a block unstuck!

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

That should keep you busy... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Reminds me of a '65 Mustang Fastback I had. I basically jacked up the gas cap and replaced everything it was attached to... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Will Mrs. Bob let you keep it in the garage? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="red">
Will Mrs. Bob let you keep it in the garage? </font>


Over in another tread here on TBN you will find that I am building a small barn on the property so I can move some of my stuff out of the current garage!

As for your story about your Mustang, I think I may be calling you to find out where you got some parts for that GAS CAP.