John Deere Model 420 Crawler Tractor

Deere & Company was a Johnny come lately to the track layer market. It was the early 1940’s when they sent some GP model tractor frames to the Lindeman Brothers in Yakima, Washington for developmental work on a Deere crawler. The experiments that followed resulted in the Model B Orchard version Crawler; so loved by collectors today. Deere bought out Lindeman in 1947 and in 1949 introduced a crawler version of the Model M that was built at factories in Dubuque, Iowa as well as the Yakima location. More than 10,500 copies of this crawler rolled off the assembly lines.

The 40 C models were next with production beginning in 1953 and continuing until 1955. A total of 11,689 examples of this version were sold. In 1956 the 420 crawler superseded the 40 model which brings us up to the tractor featured in this post.  

Production of the 420 crawler spanned the the years from 1956 to 1958 during which time a total of 17,882 were produced, all but 92 of which were gasoline engine powered. For some reason Deere referred to them as belonging to phase 1, 2 or 3; the phase corresponding to the year built. The 1956 phase used a 40 model engine block that had been bored out by ¼” to 4 ¼” X 4” for a boost in horsepower that also boosted temperature. The 40 had a thermosyphon cooling system which proved inadequate so a water pump was required to deal with the extra heat. The engine block casting was modified to accommodate the added water pump for the 57 model production phase and a five speed transmission was offered as an option. Phase three units had more minor engine modifications and cosmetic alterations that involved changes to the dash and the steering mechanism. 

The 420 series was produced in a variety of configurations that included: S - standard model, T - tricycle, U - utility, W - row crop utility, H - hi-crop, I - industrial and C - crawler version. All together a total of 46,450 units were sold. The crawler version was advertised as a 3 or 4 plow tractor with speeds listed as: first, ⅞ mph. Second, 2 ¼ mph. Third, 3 mph. fourth , 5 ¼ mph. Reverse, 1 ¾ mph. It was available as a 4 roller model weighing 4150 pounds or as a 5 roller weighing 4700 pounds. 

The 1958 price quoted varies according to the source you consult  ranging from $2316 to $3267. This example offered for sale at the 2017 WNC Fall Harvest Days Show had a sticker price of $4000. After fifty nine years of hard work, I’d say it has held its value pretty well. 

The 420 C was evaluated at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln in Test Number 601 from October 15, to Oct. 25, 1956 with the following specifications noted. Engine: John Deere vertical 2 cylinder with 4.25” bore x 4” stroke displacining 113 cubic inches. RPM 1850. Maximum observed horsepower 23.53 drawbar, 28.76 on the belt. Total weight, 5079 pounds. 

Sources:

www.keepemcrawling.com

www.johnnypopper.com 

www.johndeere40.com 

www.lindemanarchives.com 

University of Nebraska - Lincoln Tractor Test 601