What is the difference between a 1958 320 to a 420

I knew as sure as it snows in Alaska, somebody would rebuff what I said the minute a drop of green blood flowed.

I sold that 430 many years ago and I cannot honestly recall what it took to get into the brakes. I do remember there was an adjuster nut on the backside of the axle somewhere.

As for Allis CA brakes..absolutely dirt simple. They are just a band that can be inserted through the inspection hole as I remember.

The secret to the CA's pulling ability was the fact that the pulling point was located in front of the rear axle (snap coupler). This caused the draft forces to pull down on the tractor....just simple leverage....the fulcrum point was different. The power from the 4 cylinder engine was smoother as well. Even with a 6 volt system, that old AC would always start....regardless of the temperature. Several times the 430 made me utter hard words..until I converted it to 12 volt. That CA was the only Allis I ever owned and there have been 3 JD's and 3 Farmalls. IMHO, Allis had them all by nuts during the 1950's. I cut my teeth on a 1946 Oliver RC 60 and for it's day, that was a fine tractor as well.

I have owned more green tractors than any other color, even have a new JD....so hold the flames. But of all the older tractors I have owned and operated, that 430 was the most uncomfortable and poorly geared tractor I ever had. I had a '56 Allis CA that was twice the machine in every way. Sorry to ramble, but every time I think of that slug, it makes me cringe.

It doesn't do very well at anything else, but that plow was made for it.
I hated it when i bought it, because it was so goofily built like you say, but by golly, it does awesome!

LOL! Well said! ANY tractor beats a mule and for many folks nearly 50 years ago....those small tractors replaced the family horse or mule and I am sure they felt they had really stepped up in the world. JD has for the most part, built tough machines, but the ergonomics sucked on a lot of them. The 430 was hard to get on and off of, mine had no power steering and it was a brute to steer. I managed to adjust the brakes to where they just worked, but getting to the brakes themselves to replace was a pain. The center hump sat way high between your legs....climbing over all that was a nuisance. Mine came along after my uncle croaked and he left it to me. The rear rims had rusted through and the inner tubes stuck through like giant hernias.....so I had to buy new rims. The tires were shot, so I replaced them too. The manifold had a hole burned through it...back when I replaced it the Internet didn't exist as we know it now.....I managed to find a used one at a salvage yard in Iowa (long way from KY). I changed it to 12 volt so it would start in the winter. The gear shift lever had been broke off...had it welded back on. It sat one winter and the engine stuck. That was a bear to unstick. When working it, the 3 point had no satisfactory sway control. As I recall, it had no locking differential either. I hated the damned thing! So far as power...the Allis CA of about the same HP, would outpull the 430 hands down. Oh well....just one of those machines that passed through my hands over the last 30 years that I have no regrets of seeing leave.