L555 drive chain repair

[gregb]

Hello - Sure am happy I just found this forum. I've got a early 1980's (Sperry) New Holland L555, s/n 572005. Use it around our little farm pushing snow, landscaping, moving manure. Last weekend I was piling up some of that stuff and I'm pretty sure I broke the right hand drive chain. I've pulled the inspection plate and the chain is off the rear drive sprocket, front wheel free wheels as well. As far as I can see by peering forward the tension adjuster and other guts are still there but until I pump out the oil, pull the wheels off and remove the side access plate on the frame I can't be 100% sure. At any rate, I'm not a professional mechanic but I'm pretty handy, with experience with logging and farming equipment. How hard a job is it to replace that chain and what else do I need to check on as far as critical wear if I go in there myself. Also, that front right axle seeps a lot of oil just sitting, so how wise is it to mess with replacing oil seals on that axle or does that require special tools or something? I have the operators manual, and parts diagrams, but no service manual if one exists. It's in my shop under cover so I have a decent place to work. I just don't want to get in over my head but I know thats hard to gauge because you guys can't tell how tall I am. One last thing. I've read some posts here concerning towing one of these buggers when they break down. I ended up towing this thing into the shop about 150 feet behind my Ford 8n tractor. Can you hurt those drive motors or the hydraulic pumps doing that? I hope not - put a ton of money into those pumps several years ago and I sure would hate to mess 'em up now. thanks in advance for any input. Greg.

 

[Tazza]

The motors are in a sealed circuit, you won't hurt them towing. They will resist moving and you will spend most of the time dragging the wheels through the dirt, i wouldn't worry.
Now the chain and seal, i have never worked on a NH machine sorry, depending if its a 2 piece axle hub seal replacement will be easy, remove the hub and then seal replace and you are sweet. The chain would be a good idea to remove it to look at why it broke. If its just stress you can install a joining link and you are away.
Sorry i can't be of more help, i have only worked on bobcat 743s and now a 751 machine. They will be basically the same setup for axle seals and drive chains

 

[92LX555]

The motors are in a sealed circuit, you won't hurt them towing. They will resist moving and you will spend most of the time dragging the wheels through the dirt, i wouldn't worry.
Now the chain and seal, i have never worked on a NH machine sorry, depending if its a 2 piece axle hub seal replacement will be easy, remove the hub and then seal replace and you are sweet. The chain would be a good idea to remove it to look at why it broke. If its just stress you can install a joining link and you are away.
Sorry i can't be of more help, i have only worked on bobcat 743s and now a 751 machine. They will be basically the same setup for axle seals and drive chains

There are no special tools required to replace the axle seals....just patience! I have the service manaul.....I can scan email you the pages that illistrate how to change them. Email [email protected] My unit is a 1992 so I am assuming that they would be very similiar to work on.

 

[gregb]

There are no special tools required to replace the axle seals....just patience! I have the service manaul.....I can scan email you the pages that illistrate how to change them. Email [email protected] My unit is a 1992 so I am assuming that they would be very similiar to work on.

Thanks for the feedback and information! And thanks for the offer of the service manual pages, 92LX555. Doing some web surfing Saturday night I found an L555 service manual at SSB Tractor for $32.95 so I ordered it. Hopefully it addresses my old geezer. Should be here in a couple of days and then I'll get greasy. BTW, besides my local New Holland/John Deere/Kubota dealer any suggestions for on-line parts places? I haven't stumbled across any yet.

 

[92LX555]

Thanks for the feedback and information! And thanks for the offer of the service manual pages, 92LX555. Doing some web surfing Saturday night I found an L555 service manual at SSB Tractor for $32.95 so I ordered it. Hopefully it addresses my old geezer. Should be here in a couple of days and then I'll get greasy. BTW, besides my local New Holland/John Deere/Kubota dealer any suggestions for on-line parts places? I haven't stumbled across any yet.

I have found that it really depends on the parts. I don't know if this is common or not but take the hydraulic pumps for example. I had to replace one of mine a few years ago and knew that it was Eaton Pump. Rather than through the dealer, from Eaton I found a rebuild shop in my area that they recommened. Turns out, all of the dealers in then state send their pumps their for repair so I was able to cut out the middle man. If you know the OEM, you can usually find cheaper alternatives than the dealer by contacting them. Others may disagree but that is what I have found.