[frontiersman]

I was fortunate enough to find a JD400 with less than 500 hours on it. Now I am on the look for attachments.

I picked up a nice condition 46" snow blower 0062M from a JD 420. It needs a couple things to work on the 400.

AM39526 appears to be nothing more than a wider lower rod and a couple of support straps. That should be easy enough to make.

AM36610 (AM35459) may be more difficult. Does anyone know the difference between the drive shaft used for the 400 and the 420? Is it longer, shorter, different # of splines?

Suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[mikeoverbey]

Frontiersman,

The 420 and 400 driveshaft are the same. It will work as you've already thought out.

On an aside, I'd love to see a REAL 35-40 year old tractor with only 500 hours. I"m not saying it couldn't happen, but more than likely is a replacement hour meter. You can tell hours by the wear in the spindles, steering, and hydro shift linkage just to name a few.

Mike

 

[frontiersman]

The compatibility chart claims to need a driveshaft from a model 50 snow thrower to work. I guess I'll find out.

Of course you could be right. It was an interesting purchase. Much nicer than others I had seen at 3 times the price. Everything worked as it should. I don't know that I looked at the hour meter until I got it home.

According to the family, grandpa bought it new in 83. It has various handling marks, nothing serious, the seat is rough, it does not look like new, but is in nice shape. The deck should have been cleaned more often with the covers removed. It's rough around the pulleys, but solid. The tires, peddles , etc look the part. I can't see evidence of any attachment being used on it. I haven't done a deep clean on it yet, but the preliminary inspection shows minimal wear and tear.

He had 2 other John Deere mowers. The family said he kept it around just to mow under the bushes in the fence rows. The other tractors were for mowing the yard. I guess he liked the reach of the 60" deck, but not the turning radius.

The worst of it, is that he died several years ago and the grandson kept mowing with it without doing any maintainence.

I'm more concerned it may have sat too much. But everything seems to work as it should. The fluids look good.

The place, the people, and the story all seemed to fit. I see no reason to doubt it.

So, it's on the chart for a thorough cleaning, inspection, and fluid change. I'll probably retire the deck and keep it for snow removal.

 

[jdalchemist]

Hi,
It is so nice to know the history of a tractor, especially when you have met the owner or family of the owner. Sounds like a great find.

The snowthrower driveshaft for the JD 420 model 46 is actually about 2" longer than the one used on the JD 400 model 50. Mike was likely focused on the two-stage model 47 blower, for which both the JD 420 and JD 400 share a common, telescoping driveshaft. Several years ago I was able to do a model 46 to model 50 driveshaft trade with another WFM member to solve the issue. So, you might try posting in the wanted/classified section.

The JD 400 conversion mounting straps like those found in the nla AM39526 kit are easily fabricated from two 9" pieces of 5/16" x 2" flat stock. Use 5/8" bolts as listed in the kit rather than a long rod, as the middle of the rod will hit the JD 400 frame or PTO belt guard. Note that in marking and drilling the three holes in the flat stock, the holes will not be in a straight line (as might seem logical).
Regards,
Harold

 

[mikeoverbey]

Oops, my bad. I didn't catch that it was a model 46, just thought he was measuring the width. I was assuming it was the model 50 which would fit both. Thanks Harold for clarifiying that and giving him a correct answer.

Most of my things are in storage right now, but my driveshaft is off as I have my 430 mounted to the 50 blower right now. Let me know if you need dimensions and I may be able to dig it up.

Mike

 

[frontiersman]

I'm distracted by the potential purchase of a 47" 2-stage blower set up for a 430. I see not all the modlels claim compatibility with the 400, but I expect they can be. From the pics it looks minimaly used.

Any thoughts on which one would be easier to adapt to the 400? If the shaft will work for either tractor, it seems to me any mounting bracework would be comparitively easy.

Is the 47" two stage that much better than the 46" single stage?

 

[KB]

There is nothing like a 47, if you have enough counterweight. I could take on 10-12" of snow at full speed on my 420. I would the the conversion will be exactly the same, except as Herald stated,the drive shafts for the 47 are the same.

 

[frontiersman]

It turns out the 47 is missing the hydro assembly for the chute. I'm guessing that would be hard to find.

 

[randy]

I have a 46 thrower mounted on my 400. Just moved the gearbox forward 2 inches to accommodate the extra length of the drive shaft.
Took out the lower mounting bar and added (2) 5/8" bolts with a 1 inch piece of keystock welded to the head of the bolt for support against the thrower mount.
Works perfect and would take 5 minutes to convert back for a 430 or 420.
Also replaced the auger drive gear with a gear with lower number of teeth. It'll almost blow water now. I've done this speed conversion with all 3 of my throwers.

 

[captaindan]

Frontiersman,
Not sure what you decided but I have both a 400 and a 420 and would like to use my model 50 snowthrower on the 420. We only use the 400 for plowing and pulling trailers. I would be glad to swap drive shafts with you if you decide on the 46.
Dan

 

[frontiersman]

The 47 turned out to be a mediocre restore with missing chute hydraulics.

I took some measurements and I'm going to try and move the gear box forward. I'd like to pick up a 420. This will give me the option to go back.

Randy, how did you support the box? That leaves half the box hanging over the edge. I'm thinking of adding a mounting plate to extend the surface forward ...

Dan, I really appreciate that offer. I'll get back with you if the conversion looks like a no go.

 

[captaindan]

OK good luck, keep us informed on your progress.

 

[frontiersman]

As it turned out, there is 2" of clearance when the thrower is in the lowered position. There is only about 1 1/2 " when in the raised position.

I fabricated a mounting plate out of 1/4" steel to move the gear box forward to the point where the it just kisses the back of the thrower when in the fully raised position.

The new location actually positions the output shaft so that it is in almost perfect alignment with the chain drive gear.. The input shaft takes up the full length of the PTO output in the front of the tractor. Another 1/8" and it wouldn't have worked.

Snow will tell, but all my function tests indicate it is in perfect working order.

You could reverse the conversion in less than an hour.

 

[flintmich]

Congrats on the fab job. I'm looking forward to hearing how it does this winter. I'm so frustrated by trying to find the right 47 blower for my 420 that I'm seriously considering just buying something close and fabricating it to the tractor. Everything I have found is either on the other side of the country (requiring an expensive road trip or even more expensive freight costs), just slightly the wrong model number (my limited research tells me that my choices are an M02753x that will bolt right on, or either an M01470x, M01471x or an M047SBX, each of those with a Quick-Tach) or it's just priced so high that I'd need to take out a second mortgage. lol
So maybe I should try what you've done and just MAKE something fit. I'm just afraid of ending up with a boat anchor. Plus I REALLY want it to be factory correct when I'm done. Auugghh!
So yes, please keep us posted as to how your fab job works out for you this winter. Oh and I wouldn't complain at all if some detailed photos of your fab job were to somehow show up here either *wink wink*
Best of luck this winter.
TJ

 

[clintonmotor]

Mike Overbey, I just bought a 1981 JD400 with 491hrs on it at an estate sale this summer. It has sat outside awhile. I am restoring it as we speak. I was commenting based on your comment on this post.

 

[randy]

Frontiersman
I forgot about the over-hang. I did make an extension bracket to support the gearbox.

 

[frontiersman]

I have tried posting pics several times. They are the correct size, but show as a file, not a pic.

 

[sreynolds]

The PTO drive sheave aka double pulley will wear out at the hub splines. If the machine has a tight hub to drive shaft then there are few hours on machine. If the splines are whipped, then it has a ton of hours.