Can This Crawler Be. Modified To Accept a 3-Point Hitch

Gentlehumans:

If you look carefully at the back of this machine you can see that it has a PTO (at least that's what it looks like to me). However, it would appear that the machine is designed to accept a backhoe. Do you think the apparatus for the backhoe can be removed and a 3-point hitch installed? Thank you ALL so much ahead of time for your fabulous answers!!!

(quoted from post at 22:41:29 01/12/22) Gentlehumans:

If you look carefully at the back of this machine you can see that it has a PTO (at least that's what it looks like to me). However, it would appear that the machine is designed to accept a backhoe. Do you think the apparatus for the backhoe can be removed and a 3-point hitch installed? Thank you ALL so much ahead of time for your fabulous answers!!!

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Yes, it appears to have a backhoe mounting system on it, which should be removeable.

Yes, a 3-point hitch could be added. Just like adding a PTO to one, it will depend on your luck in finding OEM parts and/or how much design and fabrication you want to undertake to build your own.

You can access the John Deere parts catalogs at https://partscatalog.deere.com/jdrc/ so you can research what was available OEM for the different JD crawlers. Just search by model number. Note that dozer blades, loaders and backhoes will have separate catalogs from the crawler during the early years.

I am curious as to what your end goal is. Based on your posts you are looking for a crawler loader with a PTO and now have added a 3-point hitch. Do you have a specific project for one in mind? Someone may have an idea or two to help you, if they have an idea of the end goal.

Having no idea of your experience with crawlers, I will ask, have you operated or worked on them in the past? You are posting about attachments to the base machine, with no mention of things to look at on the base machine. If you don't know about this a couple things you need to evaluate any crawler are the undercarriage and steering systems, if you plan on working it. Repair of those systems can get expensive quickly.

Thank you for asking a probing question - one that goes to the root of my questions!

What I seek is really quite ordinary: a general purpose tractor which has a tracked undercarriage instead of wheels. From what I can tell, since the beginning of the history of tractors there have been wheeled tractors as well as tracked ones. It would appear that crawlers were used on farms just as wheeled ones were. In the United States, that seems to have changed. Nowadays, as far as I can tell, there is only one crawler tractor that is manufactured with an American name on it: New Holland. All the rest of the farm tractors (general purpose) are wheeled. In Europe, however, crawler tractors are very popular. They are manufactured even today by Lamborghini, Deutz and possibly other companies. I have seen two Lamborghini crawlers advertised recently. One of them looks to be in magnificent shape. However, I cannot find parts for the machine. So, if it breaks down and I cannot find parts, I now will have a useless and expensive piece of junk. That is why I have turned my attention to John Deere. From what I can tell, I have the best chance of finding parts for an old John Deere than I do with the other older manufacturers, with the possible exception of Oliver.

Now, to further answer your question: why do I want a crawler when it would be so easy to find a wheeled tractor? I want a machine that has the best traction and produces the least compaction. I certainly dont need to tell YOU about the usefulness of a PTO and 3-point hitch. Where I live now Ive used it to power a bushhog, a post-hole digger and a a backup generator. Where Im going I expect to use it for a bushhog, post-hole digger and a water pump. I might also use it for a backup generator. Furthermore, there may be other tasks that can be powered by a PTO.

The loader will be used for a variety of tasks such as moving logs and snow.

I should also mention that I have no intention of doing any of the serious mechanical work on any machine. I would leave that to experts.

I hope that answers your question.

Thanks again!

If your end goal is "only" to have great flotation, you will be better off with an mfwd tractor fitted with modern radial flotation tires. For john deere, a deere 7200 or 7400 fitted with 650mm wide tires should not compact the soil too much. 50 and 55 series are overpriced in usa. Do not forget to also update front tires. You may have enough fenders room to go as big as 710/70 r38 and reduce tire pressures. Change front tires accordingly on an mfwd.




Less expensive on the long run. Removing snow with a crawler will be very slow if you have miles to do.

This post was edited by fdt860 on 01/13/2022 at 01:02 pm.

Appears to be a 440C with factory equipped loader. John Deere
had an optional 3 pt hitch for the 420, 430 and 440 crawler
tractors but I am not sure the mounting of the factory designed
rear rock shaft lift cylinder will fit given the location of the left
side loader mounting mast.

(quoted from post at 11:20:38 01/13/22) Thank you for asking a probing question - one that goes to the root of my questions!

What I seek is really quite ordinary: a general purpose tractor which has a tracked undercarriage instead of wheels. From what I can tell, since the beginning of the history of tractors there have been wheeled tractors as well as tracked ones. It would appear that crawlers were used on farms just as wheeled ones were. In the United States, that seems to have changed. Nowadays, as far as I can tell, there is only one crawler tractor that is manufactured with an American name on it: New Holland. All the rest of the farm tractors (general purpose) are wheeled. In Europe, however, crawler tractors are very popular. They are manufactured even today by Lamborghini, Deutz and possibly other companies. I have seen two Lamborghini crawlers advertised recently. One of them looks to be in magnificent shape. However, I cannot find parts for the machine. So, if it breaks down and I cannot find parts, I now will have a useless and expensive piece of junk. That is why I have turned my attention to John Deere. From what I can tell, I have the best chance of finding parts for an old John Deere than I do with the other older manufacturers, with the possible exception of Oliver.

Now, to further answer your question: why do I want a crawler when it would be so easy to find a wheeled tractor? I want a machine that has the best traction and produces the least compaction. I certainly dont need to tell YOU about the usefulness of a PTO and 3-point hitch. Where I live now Ive used it to power a bushhog, a post-hole digger and a a backup generator. Where Im going I expect to use it for a bushhog, post-hole digger and a water pump. I might also use it for a backup generator. Furthermore, there may be other tasks that can be powered by a PTO.

The loader will be used for a variety of tasks such as moving logs and snow.

I should also mention that I have no intention of doing any of the serious mechanical work on any machine. I would leave that to experts.

I hope that answers your question.

Thanks again!

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Thanks for the explanation of your needs and wants. I understand your thoughts.

I would say the 40, 420 and 430 series John Deeres would be the most likely ones, with the 3 point and PTO options, you will find. With the 440 series the crawlers with those attachments became fewer. Also be aware that you may find some with a shaft out the rear for a winch. Not all of those were standard PTO shafts, they were intended just for winch drive. If I remember right, at least some JD crawlers were not a standard 540 PTO speed at engine rated speed. Some fellows have made their own three-point hitch assemblies for the 350s up through the 350D. They used the winch power shaft as a PTO. Again, those shaft dimensions and speeds do not match standard PTO specifications. Not all had provisions to shut the winch shaft off, many run all the time if the machine was setup for a winch.

The thing is most of those will have worn out undercarriages. If you are going to use it on a brush hog, etc. you will want a good undercarriage or you will soon be putting tracks back on, and they generally come off in the worst spot on your site. As I posted before replacement and component rebuild to repair the under carriage will be very expensive, even more so if you have a shop do it. If you want floatation you want to get a 5-roller track frame machine, with the widest pads that fit. A front loader isn't going to be great on floatation, with all that weight on front (and they often had narrow track pads), just my opinion.

A dozer is bad and will slide sideways easily, but a track loader moving snow can be an accident looking for a place to happen as they slide easily as well and if they slide with the bucket in the air the risk of tip over is greater. The track pads on a crawler loader should be the triple grouser (aka "street pad") to allow easier turning. Some do run regular dozer pads on loaders, but they can lead to steering and drive line issues as the tall grouser on the pad bites in and increases the force needed to turn the machine.

Just trying to point some things out you can look out for. Buying a New Holland, new, may be the best thing to do if you don't want a machine to work on much. Good luck in your search.

I truly appreciate your having taken your time and expertise to point out the potential pitfalls of my purchasing an
old crawler. I will take all of your thoughts into consideration. Thank you again!!

Still lots of track machines in use . When my 420c was
running it would go through snow 5 feet deep it would sink
down a few inches and just go anywhere you pointed it . Had
the 4 roller undercarriage

What do you prefer on the front of your crawler for snow removal: Blade or loader?