We had this dozer show up with a leaking torque converter. I didn't know what I was in for to get the engine out though. What a job! Not so bad working around the engine, but that standing on your head pulling the controls and floor to pull the hydraulic pumps and hoses was almost too much... Then I had to figure out that parking brake to get it to roll out of the way. Finally, success!! http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk271/Spectramac/450g1.jpg http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk271/Spectramac/450g2.jpg http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk271/Spectramac/450g3.jpg Then, back in there!! http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk271/Spectramac/450g4.jpg
I have a couple pictures that look almost identical to that. The converter went out on our 450G about 2 years ago. I think it was later that summer our 455G had a leak underneath and after looking, my cousin saw it was the converter on it too. its motor got to be pulled too.
I'm used to working on older machines that you can actually pull some belly pans and do something to. That little round cover under the driveshaft really isn't good for anything! I would've pulled the converter all by itself if I could've gone through a better placed cover plate in the floor and removed those 12 flex plate bolts... They sure weren't made to be worked on.
the deere stuff has well known reputation for being about the worst there is to work on. I have cussed and swore my way through many a thing on my 450C crawler loader. Not only are they a S.O.B. to work on. Even the oil filter is a nightmare to change. You can't get hydraulic oil into them with out spilling 90 percent of it. Change the starter is a nightmare. Hydraulic lines are a nightmare, adjusting the clutch will give you fits and the list goes on and on and on. A fine example of "If you had to work on them you would never design and build them thay way."
Well, I know I'll think twice before taking in another one, that's for sure! I got it fired up for a leak test today and I didn't see any drips. Tomorrow I'll throw the floor, seat, batteries, hood, and front roll cage on and see how it works... I hope.
That has to be one of the worst jobs ever.........been there and done that and will never attempt again...Nice work getting it done.
Well, I didn't have as good of luck as I'd hoped. I got the whole thing DONE, right to the front safety cage and backed it out into the yard and let it run for a while. After about 15 minutes I backed it up and saw a small puddle under it... Long story short, I now have it pulled out for the 3rd time and found a small hairline crack in the front plate of the converter. There is a ring with threaded holes that is welded to it for attaching the flexplate and it has cracked through the weld and to the other side of the 1/4" thick drive plate, right into the oil! Now the funny part (at least I laughed to keep from crying) the new plate is $1500 from JD!!!! After calling every torque converter place we could think of, we found a place in Texas that is hooking us up with a plate that is the same except for the ring of holes around it are 5/16 instead of 3/8. Good part is it's half the price! It comes in tomorrow, so we'll see how it works and I'll give you guys an update.
Well, it fits! We bought a 3/8" reamer and drilled out the bolt holes and it went right together and all the bolts went in. I got some pics I'll throw up later but it sure looks nice. Now to get it back in the cat...