Re: Help Identifying 70s Tractor/Backhoe

[sotxbill]

would be a 5550 industrial from 1970 to 1973, 74 hp 256 cu in engine

 

[Sean in PA]

(quoted from post at 11:59:08 12/20/23) would be a 5550 industrial from 1970 to 1973, 74 hp 256 cu in engine

But he claims it's got a 3 cylinder engine.

 

[Grown_in_gravel]

(quoted from post at 12:52:10 12/20/23)

(quoted from post at 11:59:08 12/20/23) would be a 5550 industrial from 1970 to 1973, 74 hp 256 cu in engine

But he claims it's got a 3 cylinder engine.

Definitely a three cylinder diesel. I ll get more pictures tomorrow.

 

[showcrop]

Why do you have the head off? There is no problem there that Sea Foam wouldn't fix.

 

[Sean in PA]

The way that hood isn't closing all of the way, it looks liek someone might have cut down a 4 cylinder hood from a 5550. SO you definitely need to post some pictures of the front and rear axles so we can help you figure out exactly what it is. That does look like a 4500 nose cone to me, but it could be a 3500 or 3550. The axle pictures would tell for sure.

 

[Grown_in_gravel]

(quoted from post at 15:15:32 12/21/23) The way that hood isn't closing all of the way, it looks liek someone might have cut down a 4 cylinder hood from a 5550. SO you definitely need to post some pictures of the front and rear axles so we can help you figure out exactly what it is. That does look like a 4500 nose cone to me, but it could be a 3500 or 3550. The axle pictures would tell for sure.

The tractor is split but here are pictures of the parts. Also, I found the numbers by the starter, but it does not appear to have a model. Looks like just a date code and the serial number. It was pretty well camouflaged, but a wire brush exposed it.

 

[Grown_in_gravel]

The hood looked well trimmed and not a hack job. Here s a picture of the underside of 1/2 of it.

 

[ptfarmer]

I'd say it's a 4500

This is slide show of my 4500.
https://youtu.be/-zP38ajZyjg?si=zfV483PGsRGEK9xw


This post was edited by ptfarmer on 12/22/2023 at 07:50 pm.

 

[Sean in PA]

The pictures of the numbers on the flat spot that you posted only show the serial number and the Unit Number, which only tell us when the tractor was assembled. C341009 is a 1972 serial number, and 2E15B is a Unit Number for a tractor built on May 15, 1972 during the day shift. There should be a third number, probably up in the rough part of the casting, above where you found those two numbers. Please find and post that third number.

You haven't provided any pictures of the front axle. The rear axle pictures definitely narrows it down to either a 3550 or a 4500. The front axle would tell us for sure which it is.

 

[ptfarmer]

The 3550 has the 735 loader, that tractor has the 740 loader on it.

 

[Destroked 450]

4500 was the only one with the oil tank built into the nose section
3500/3550 had that steel shell but didn t have the oil tank built in
It looks like my 4500

 

[Grown_in_gravel]

(quoted from post at 08:38:00 12/23/23)
4500 was the only one with the oil tank built into the nose section
3500/3550 had that steel shell but didn t have the oil tank built in
It looks like my 4500

 

[Sean in PA]

That's a 4500 front axle for sure.

 

[Check Break]

(quoted from post at 18:05:50 12/22/23)
The hood looked well trimmed and not a hack job. Here s a picture of the underside of 1/2 of it.

Is the ID decal in this photo legible.

 

[Grown_in_gravel]

(quoted from post at 17:37:51 12/23/23)

(quoted from post at 18:05:50 12/22/23)
The hood looked well trimmed and not a hack job. Here s a picture of the underside of 1/2 of it.

Is the ID decal in this photo legible.

Yes, it s legible. The numbers don t match, that s one of the reasons why I ve been struggling identifying this tractor.

 

[Sean in PA]

Do the latches on that hood line up with the brackets that they're supposed to latch onto?

 

[Grown_in_gravel]

Good question, I don t remember. It fit with the front nose and sheet metal over the fuel tank pretty well, but I don t remember if the latch is worked or not. I split it about a month ago.

 

[Grown_in_gravel]

Thanks everyone, looks like it s a 4500 for sure! Now I ve got to ask Santa for a new crank shaft, get the block sleeved, and find under the tree a 201cid piston gasket set!

 

[Grown_in_gravel]

Thought I had it all figured out but one more wrinkle. The service manual does not agree with the stroke of the crankshaft in the backhoe. That is, assuming the 4000 engine is what the 4500 backhoe uses. Service manual says it’s a 4.4 inch stroke but the crankshaft seems to have a 4.2 inch stroke. Did the 4500 have a 3000 engine in it?

Finally got all the numbers off the bell housing behind the starter

Behind starter numbers
D5011K
2E15B
C3(or 5)41009

Engine
Casting C7NN 6015 AK
Stamped D380108

 

[Sean in PA]

Thought I had it all figured out but one more wrinkle. The service manual does not agree with the stroke of the crankshaft in the backhoe. That is, assuming the 4000 engine is what the 4500 backhoe uses. Service manual says it’s a 4.4 inch stroke but the crankshaft seems to have a 4.2 inch stroke. Did the 4500 have a 3000 engine in it?

Finally got all the numbers off the bell housing behind the starter

Behind starter numbers
D5011K
2E15B
C3(or 5)41009

Engine
Casting C7NN 6015 AK
Stamped D380108

D5011K is a 4500 with a diesel engine, no PTO and a 6x4 manual reversing transmission.

The stamped number on the engine is the engine serial number, and the D at the beginning says that it was made for a 4000 series tractor, so it should be 4.4 inch bore x 4.4 inch stroke. I guess it is possible that it was rebuilt at some point and they used a different crank shaft with a 4.2 inch stroke, but that would be strange.

What is the bore?