JD 440

Found a JD 440 crawler with 7 foot outside mounted blade - just up and down. Late 50"s early 60"s model with 2 cyl. gas engine. What critical things should I look for on a 50 year old machine .......... thanks.

I think the last year for the 440 was 1958, not 100% sure about that. I would check for wear on the track pins, lower roller wear and loose axles. Steering clutches, both sides should work the same,about half way back the clutch should disengage, all the way back the brakes should hold. Old John Deere 440's can be good little machines, but if it needs repairs you better have deep pockets.

58, 59, or 60 are the three years of production. As with all crawlers, make sure to buy an undercarriage, that will bury you in a hurry if you don't. Beyond that, look for broken final drive cases, clutch housings, and loose bolts where the center section bolts to the bell housing.
Parts supply for the 440 is still quite good.
Lavoy
JDCRAWLERS.COM

The biggest thing is undercarriage. The engines are simple, the driveline pretty rugged and adjustable, but the tracks...oh brother the tracks! Either learn how to judge them or find someone who knows already. Everyone will tell you their tracks are at least 50% even if they are totally shot. If you can push on a track plate sideways with your hip and it moves at all it's worn right out. If there are holes in the bushings they are shot. Replacement tracks, if you can find any, are gonna set you back close to or over $2K. Rollers are going to go from maybe $75.00 each used on up.

As was said, they're great little woods tractors, but you can sink a pile of money in one and still have a money pit when you're done.

ETA- I shouldn't say "shot", what I mean is the the pins and bushings are shot, the rails (track chain links) may be okay. The track shoes/pads/plates can be in great shape and the tracks themselves can be toast or vice versa. It's the "chain" that matters most.

Here is a pic ......

For what it"s worth, the right track is on backwards or the shoes are bolted on incorrectly. The front of the grouser shoe and the track pin portion of the link go over the idler first when going forward. If track chains are on backwards, pin and bushing wear is accelerated.

Chucks right. And what you need a pic of is the bull wheel, chain and the inner portion of the chains so you can see the wear. Even then the bushings can be worn to the point of needing replacement and you can't tell just from a picture.

I tried to post a couple mins ago, but the comp froze. Trying again, sorry if it duplicates.

Hi Cletrac, I sold the dozer last week. It ran good, had the head rebuilt, and reverser worked great. Also steered great.

Track is on backwards, not sure how that happened, but seemed right after beer number 4. My wife says I sleepwalk now, and maybe that's when it happened .

What everyone is saying is 100 percent true. Chain is most important, and this one was pretty worn. Still had some life, but new pins and bushings are needed in a couple hundred hours of heavy use.
I think the rollers, idlers, and frames are just as important as the chain. Proper alignment, tension, and sprockets are also important. If you look at another one, let us know so we can comment. I've gotten way too much in crawlers before, and it still required a couple thousand to make nice.

I try to tell anyone who calls what is wrong with it so no one is disappointed when they arrive.

I'm working on a 420 4 roller inside aftermarket blade, and it should be done in 2 weeks or so. I have 2 440 loaders to get ride of as well. Too many toys to restore to keep them all.

Besides nothing like taking something that has been dead for 30 years in a fence row and getting it to fire and run.

Any questions, please let me know
Andrew - crazy guy with all the crawlers

on my 440, the pressure plate finger springs got chewed off by the throwout bearing. How does the throw out bearing get grease? Does grease get into the throwout bearing when you grease the bearing slider/holder?