I did the unthinkable........

JD430C · Post by **JD430C** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 5:53 pm

Well after 10 years of saying "no I wont sell it" yesterday I traded my 430 crawler for a 550. I wanted to sell my 450C and keep the 430, but with the crappy economy that didn't happen. Its in great shape other than having a torque converter problem. I am not too crazy about the transmission on it, I used it a little yesterday to back fill a ditch and kept hitting the brake thinking it was the clutch. I do like the flat operators platform.

Andrew

digitup2 · Post by **digitup2** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 6:53 am

when you get on to it that 550 will out push and run circles around the 450C you will notice this Deere likes her fuel though. One time I had two of them and a 450C I could only get one of each onto a golf course job Little brother was running the 550 I told him several times to slow down he was making me look bad I worked my but off to keep up to him and the site superintendent told me I wasn't a great operator!! that was it I swapped the 450C out for the other 550 and told little brother now keep up to me!! BUTHEAD . What is wrong with the torque converter they are easily fixed as well.Digitup.

JD430C · Post by **JD430C** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 8:12 am

The PO told me it will start out strong, and after and hr or so it will start to lose functions. The oil will get foamy in that time too. He had a hyd guy come and do some tests and the best they could think of was there was a seal leaking in the torque converter. It has a hyd whine to it the moment you start it, like it has a internal leak. He forgot to bring a manual with him so hes mailing it, waiting to see if its the tech or not before I order one. The 550 only has 3700 hrs on it. Hes owned it for 20 years, and its pretty much sat unused for the last 7 or so.

Andrew

digitup2 · Post by **digitup2** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 2:00 pm

Check the trany pressure as that sounds like a clutch pack slipping I know that is bad news but when the clutch packs slip the oil heats and froths like crazy and things heat up and get even worse I put a large gallon jug of LUCAS transmission fixer in my 550 last fall then I ran it till spring like that I don't recommend it and can't grantee it but it worked for a while for me If the clutch packs are in that bad of shape it may have more than 3700 hours on it [Don't shoot the messenger but don't be surprised]it may have more hours than that on it .Digitup.

JD430C · Post by **JD430C** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 6:32 pm

Well I went to run it today and it wouldnt move. I ended up finishing up with the 450C. Then tried it again and finally got it to move, but if you touched the steering levers it would stop. Pressure gauge is in the green, but doesnt move during shift changes. As soon as I get a book I will do some tests to figure out whats going on. Its possible it has a lot of hrs, but the condition of the machine points to low hrs vs high hrs.

Thanks
Andrew

digitup2 · Post by **digitup2** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 7:36 pm

It might still be the converter if pressure is in the green .That converter is made by Twin Screw for John Deere .If you pull the converter all used converters rattle but some have internally gernaded early in life The pump drive shaft gets a grove to it and leaks down when sitting .Replace the seal if you replace converter Find a torque converter re builder in your neighbor hood and he should be able to do it .they grind these units open and replace the insides for half the price .Even ask large contractors who they use there is someone around to rebuild it .Digitup.

mini kahuna · Post by **mini kahuna** » Tue Oct 26, 2010 6:09 pm

once you get that 550 sorted out,you won't want to use the 450.
those 550 will push and grade like an sob,they are my favorite still to this day.
for some reason people don't seem to like the feel of the torque converter drive,they think they slipping all the time...they don't jerk into gear like a HLR tranny.
you will come to love that 550,you'll be able to make that dozer dance once you get a feel for her.

digitup2 · Post by **digitup2** » Tue Oct 26, 2010 7:55 pm

The 550 was the first John Deere dozer to push more than 100% of tractive weight .Because it was also the first torque converted crawler tractor that Deere produced .I have owned twenty hydrostatic Deeres and the only two I like are my lawn tractor and combine that is it .Direct drive is fuel efficient but torque converters are for real dozers .Work that converter and you will out push a direct drive by far.To work a converter just work the throttle and you will feel the build up .Direct drive doesn't have it and and hydrostatic cant compound torque to take off under heavy load nice it's close but nothin like the real thing .I guess the latest is electric motive drive just like a train engine I hear Deere has a 750 EMD at this time they are playing with that should be big bucks .Cats new D7E is available now and it is EMD I could have ordered one for $370,000 in July a bit rich for my blood !!.Digitup.

Stan Disbrow · Post by **Stan Disbrow** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 7:52 am

Hi,

I don't know as this is so unthinkable. I'd consider trading my 420c for a 350 if I could find one to trade for that was still in decent condition.

The older iron is becoming too old to do any really serious work, and I always worry about busting something that is too 'deere' to think about busting....

Of course, now I'm thinking about just letting the 420c go because it's all but a done deal that I'm going to live in an apartment in Dallas for a few years.

Eventually, we'll sell out in NC to move to TX and find something else, but (a) will I need a crawler/dozer at all, (b) will I want to move it *again* and (c) will I want to move it that far??

later!

Stan

Post by **Lavoy** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 10:37 am

Stan,
You could always send the 420 up here for restoration and I will store it for you!

Lavoy

Stan Disbrow · Post by **Stan Disbrow** » Thu Oct 28, 2010 5:20 am

Hi,

Actually, that might be an option. At least I know it won't sit and sit at your place. Heck, you'd probably use it right along with that trencher!

later!

Stan

Post by **Lavoy** » Thu Oct 28, 2010 9:39 am

Snow's coming, I sold the 350, need something to clean the driveway!

Lavoy

shinnery · Post by **shinnery** » Thu Oct 28, 2010 6:32 pm

I thought the weather guessers down here were saying that your snow is already there!
Bryce

Post by **Lavoy** » Fri Oct 29, 2010 7:46 am

It is, just mostly missed us. I heard 4" West of me, slush East of me, but we only got a small amount stuck to the side of the house and the cars. I don't think any of it will hang around long, back into the 50's today and most of next week.
Lavoy

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I did the unthinkable........

I did the unthinkable........

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