L555 project

[gmwest80]

Like one of the other current post on this site I am also looking to try a restore on an L555, although I'm still trying to determine if the engine is any good and also still trying to identify the different parts. This machine was in a fire so all the electrical is gone, and I can't be for sure but all the hydaulic motors seem to be there. I am going to try to start pulling the engine and taking more inventory in the coming day's. I have created a website and posted some pictures and any help or guidance is appreciated. https://sites.google.com/site/newhollandl555/

 

[Tazza]

It doesn't look bad at all. Hopefully there won't be too much work in it for you to get it up and running again.

 

[jerrymack553]

for a unit on fire it dosent look to bad cosmetically.i would try to get the engine to turn over with a rachet or bar. get it apart and have an engine machinist look at the parts they usually can tell if its worth rebuilding it looks like a ford diesel i could be wrong though. I rebuilt a cat 3406b that was all burned up like yours it was intresting how many gremlins i found but its running now, anyway. i would be looking for a hydraulic shop that could test the pumps they probably will all need seals. wiring harness start calling equipment salvage yards to see if they have any of the 550's series and strip the harness and all of the electrical compents off of it including up in the dash area some of used electrical suff may not be any good either but its easier to track electrical problems with a complete electrical system. hoses do the same find them on a salvaged machine and have the missing ones made. i wouldn't recommend reusing the hose from the fire small pieces of hose debri could come loose and get inyo the pumps once it's up and running agin. if the fuel cell is melted replace it with a good used one or buy a new on same on all the fuel lines replace with new i seen your hyd filter bases are rusted up pretti good you could glass bead them and may be able to reuse them. pull the plates plugs on the chain cases and clean them out try to get all of the old hydro fluid out it'll help elimnate hydro issues. hope something here helped i been down this road.

 

[gmwest80]

for a unit on fire it dosent look to bad cosmetically.i would try to get the engine to turn over with a rachet or bar. get it apart and have an engine machinist look at the parts they usually can tell if its worth rebuilding it looks like a ford diesel i could be wrong though. I rebuilt a cat 3406b that was all burned up like yours it was intresting how many gremlins i found but its running now, anyway. i would be looking for a hydraulic shop that could test the pumps they probably will all need seals. wiring harness start calling equipment salvage yards to see if they have any of the 550's series and strip the harness and all of the electrical compents off of it including up in the dash area some of used electrical suff may not be any good either but its easier to track electrical problems with a complete electrical system. hoses do the same find them on a salvaged machine and have the missing ones made. i wouldn't recommend reusing the hose from the fire small pieces of hose debri could come loose and get inyo the pumps once it's up and running agin. if the fuel cell is melted replace it with a good used one or buy a new on same on all the fuel lines replace with new i seen your hyd filter bases are rusted up pretti good you could glass bead them and may be able to reuse them. pull the plates plugs on the chain cases and clean them out try to get all of the old hydro fluid out it'll help elimnate hydro issues. hope something here helped i been down this road.

Thanks for you suggestion's, I haven't seen to many equipment salvage places down here in Texas, but I do plan to check to see if the engine does turn over once I get it out of the machine. The guy I bought it off of said that a mechanic had filled the cylinder's full of oil for long term storage. And you are right about using new hoses, most of the old one's are blistered from the fire. I will be posting more pictures so I might appreciate if you looked in from time to time. Thanks so much

 

[Tazza]

Thanks for you suggestion's, I haven't seen to many equipment salvage places down here in Texas, but I do plan to check to see if the engine does turn over once I get it out of the machine. The guy I bought it off of said that a mechanic had filled the cylinder's full of oil for long term storage. And you are right about using new hoses, most of the old one's are blistered from the fire. I will be posting more pictures so I might appreciate if you looked in from time to time. Thanks so much

I have done up two fire damaged machines, aother is inline to get done as well.
One was far worse than yours, the entire engine bay was a write off. My old man and i believe it was an insurance job, the engine was worn out and cracked in multiple places and had been run for a while like that too. I think in total it owed me 10-12K, but i re-did everything. Yours won't need that kind of work though.
One thing i'd do with the engine is to remove the injectors, spin the engine to get the oil out. Spray in WD 40 and spin it over again. The injectors when sitting tend to stick. I like to pull them apart and make sure the nozzle is free to move. Keep each injector together, don't mix parts! Clean and assemble with WD40.

 

[Mike10]

There are two things that I have run into over the years pertaining to burnt units.
1. If the engine was running when the fire occurred, metal, aluminum in particular, are circulated through the hydrastat components and in bedded in the rotating groups.
2. The heat will cause the springs in the rotating groups to weaken and not provide pressure for the pistons to seal against the swatch plate. Paint on the motors or pumps is not an indicator of no damage.
In short, before you do anything with the engine I would disassemble the hydrastats and check for damage.

 

[gmwest80]

There are two things that I have run into over the years pertaining to burnt units.
1. If the engine was running when the fire occurred, metal, aluminum in particular, are circulated through the hydrastat components and in bedded in the rotating groups.
2. The heat will cause the springs in the rotating groups to weaken and not provide pressure for the pistons to seal against the swatch plate. Paint on the motors or pumps is not an indicator of no damage.
In short, before you do anything with the engine I would disassemble the hydrastats and check for damage.

Thanks for the tips I was also wondering if you might know why this unit has 2 deep cycle batteries instead of 1 I had an Case 85xt with a much larger engine and it only had 1 battery? Thanks again for the input

 

[Tazza]

Thanks for the tips I was also wondering if you might know why this unit has 2 deep cycle batteries instead of 1 I had an Case 85xt with a much larger engine and it only had 1 battery? Thanks again for the input

The other areas i like to check is the oil cooler and tube lines. If you get lots of heat into them the oil will turn to carbon that will block things up. Ensure they are clean.