According to my info, the 53A uses a 9H8489 idler wheel which does not interchange with the early 5F6608 wheel until you get to s/n 17A11981-up after which they are the same.
If you can find a 977, 20A2509-up unit it shares the same 5F6608 wheel.
There is a field changeover to upgrade to a 9H8489 idler assembly on the early 17A's so it looks like the whole idler assembly could be interchanged.
Thanks for your quick answer!
My machine is a early 17a, serial# 3945 with mecanical adjustment for track tennsion. Can you tell me the man year for my mashine?
The 977 53A has serial# 3474
Do you think I will have to move over the hydraulic track tennsioner from the 977 to make it fit, or will the 977 wheal + fork fit into the 17a adjustment screw.
// BR Rickard, from Sweden
17A3945 is a 1956 model.
53A3474 is a 1963 model.
I don't have the 53A parts manual to check.
Check the part number or casting number on the 53A arms.
If they are pt # 9F8889 and 9F8890 they are the same as used on the early 17A's and would mount to the mechanical adjusters.