New Owner of Komatsu 1974 d55s-3 track loader with ripper and 4 in 1 and log grapple.

[Papa John]

New owner New member. Just purchased this machine couple of weeks ago and am doing maintaince, stopping valve cover leaks, connecting broken wires,

wil be taking my baby to tennessee to help grade move dirt fell trees etc.


Any info as to where parts are available after market as dealer pricing is a bit much. Include some photos machine weight is 29 t without the ripper or fork grapple. Would be interested in selling the fork grapple if the price is right it is a quick connect model.

Hope fully photos will show up

Comments are always welcome. Yes I know parts are hard to come buy but $ 75 for a glow plug seems a bit much

 

[Papa John]

hours are 4733 pins distance is about 70% used little less as tape is not that accurate, looks like the engine had some work as stack was removed broke wires around engine compartment, wear and tear on machine looks like little hours used no dings scrapes etc bucket looks like orginal paint on most of it on the outside sides etc.
Engine model 4d120 which i think is 90 hp but some one sayed in other poost it was 105 hp
No smoke white or blue out the stack, no creaks crackling clunking etc when driving turning.

will do a compression check when weather breaks here.

only problem i seem to have is hard to start cold have to spray to start in the morning but after it warms up starts easy faster than my chevy truck. power to glow plugs, but not working , will replace plugs when i get my parts order would like to know how to test them or is it just current running thru line to plug

Oil level in transmission in mid range clear no metal on dip stick, But was wondering if I need to check it cold no running or running
Oil level is motor is lower mid range but has several leeks at valve cover gasket and cover hold down clamp which would explain the qt or 2 lower.

havent open up the final drives yet to check fluids but will drain them and replace just for piece of mind.

MONEY PIT as My wife is calling it
so far
2 new batteries 250 both
mis part from dealer 750
manuals from Russia 100
manuals from dealer 120
transportation 120
fuel oil etc 200
original cost at auction 7000

any hints checks test you have would be apprciated.

 

[JimInOz]

PJ,
I operated one of those in '87.It was a rough old thing,but pushed well.I ended up on a D57S which was a better machine...
There are a few here in Australia,& one occassionally comes up for sale.
Your best bet for used parts might be by searching Machinery Trader or Rock & Dirt.
There are a few Komatsu aftermarket parts suppliers around too.
I have a source for glow plugs,if they are hard to get.

Jim

 

[Papa John]

yea one of the guys that helped asses the condition said something like this "This thing was built before I was born, Looks like it should be in a farm show( here farm show is generally old antique machines which I guee this is). I ordered glow \plugs from dealer Just hate waisting money for someones elses pockets.

been looking in macinery trader and rock and dirt.

prevously quoted 29 tons as weight weith is 29,000 lbs 15 tons + ripper and Log grapple.

 

[boone]

Congrats on your machine! Looks like a good size loader. Hope you get a lot of good service out of it.

I know what you mean about money pit. After a good 40 hours of work you should find any weaknesses it may have.

You could take the pans off and inspect underneath if you haven't already. Check for leaks, loose fittings and if inclined clean out any dirt that's accumulated around the engine, pumps and transmission.

Good luck!

 

[Papa John]

gonna try and get the lower plates off tommorow and take a look see

 

[Papa John]

Man been greasing all day, did find a couple of problems, from what I can tell there is a parking brake under the floor plates that doesn't seem to be connected some sort of gear with a latch that should move to the gear that would lock the brakes via a separate pedal(?) which is not there, which if I understand the principal you step on the pedal or lever which is not there which locks the brakes( I assume steering brakes ) and when you depress the steering brake pedals it releases the parking brake, Any info on whither I need to manufacture a new brake pedal for this operation or what is the purpose of this pedal ( missing pedal ).

Second problem I am having is unable to shut of engine using the throttle, can get the rpms down low but the lever at the fuel pump shows that it needs another 1/2"+- of play, the control rods seem straight enough( from throttle to fuel pump ) and when I tested the machine out had no problems shutting down the engine. via throttle. Now from the time I tested to the time I delivered the machine ran out of fuel 5' from the front of the low boy and could not restart the machine because I couldn't prime the pump as the primer pump did not work, my question is there anything in the primer pump that could of fallen off and got into the fuel line that is stopping the throttle valve from closing completely and if so is there a way to get to it, or blow out the line from the fuel pump to the primer pump mounting spot. Have a new primer pump and when I look at it I see nothing that would seem to fall thru the hole into the fuel line. when I manual pull on the throttle rods I can close the throttle valve almost completely and shut off the engine. there is several options for me to extend the rods by adding 1/2" of rod length via threaded nuts, loosing the bolt that mounts the throttle lever and readjusting the position of the lever, or adjusting the stop bolt in the cab which best I can see if I back it out to allow closing of the throttle will not work as a stop,

shown on the pic below there is 2 bolts each side far left of picture you can only see the nuts one is a bit sloppy more so than the other 3 it looks like a sleeve is covering the bolt I guess for protection and its this sleeve that seems looser than the others bolts all seem to be tight and about the same amount as there is a locking washer nut

Any help would be appreciated
Thanks in advance
Randy

 

[TRACTOJAN]

Me dedico a desmantelar un trascabo como este si requieres piezas tengo todo una maquina completa y te puedo vender lo que necesites abuen precio me encuentro en mexico pero te puedo enviar lo que necesites a to estados unidos de amÉrica te dejo mi correo [email protected]

 

[tctractors]

The D55S is a great little banger, I hope it serves its master well?? the transmision is as good as it get's, wet decked (BACK END) they are strong chariots, its worth checking the bottom hose as it can be fitted upside down , allowing the vee belts to cut into it slightly, the injector pump mounting bolts (4) are also worth checking as they can rattle free, the heater plugs are best tested with a 12 v battery charger, they will glow hot enough to burn your fingers on the low setting? the machine is fitted with an auto return to dig and nice lever control, the pedal steer is very good ( better than CAT) it should have the decel' peddle fitted, it needs using at any gear movement, also the grapple might be worth hanging onto as it is a rare item, plus life is never simple, you never know what is around the corner, the engine has 2 Lanchester style balance shafts (like CAT 3304) these shafts are spinning at twice crank speed, making the motor very smooth,I have owned near all the Komatsu shovels from the D30/31 to the D75S and the 55 was the best money earner of the lot, actualy I have had 3 they were that good to me.

 

[CM1995]

Me dedico a desmantelar un trascabo como este si requieres piezas tengo todo una maquina completa y te puedo vender lo que necesites abuen precio me encuentro en mexico pero te puedo enviar lo que necesites a to estados unidos de amÉrica te dejo mi correo [email protected]

Hola Tractojan, beinvenidos a HEF.

First of all we are an English speaking forum and require our posts to be in English. Second please take a look at our Forum Rules

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[tctractors]

Papa john, forgot to say that bolt with a tube thing? on Komatsu's the track frame is pivoting, CAT's were bolted solid on a hard bar, so all that bolt does is keep the E/ beam in location, if its loose you can always tighten it up, its not a worry item.

 

[Papa John]

kool been working the machine did have a problem with a coupling for the pto fuel pump area one day started the next ran rough next day ran even rougher had to get a tech in as I couldn't figure out the problem.

Machine works like a work horse moving dirt and digging holes now it sits for the next couple of months as I am back in Pa track loader is in Tn was wondering what long term storage need a machine like this needs
figured out the glow plugs did not use them for long enough hard to hold the key for 2 minutes waiting, been using the decompression pedals for shifting still getting the hang of it all. Thanks for looking at the post and giving me a bit of info

shutting down the engine is a knob pulling the know allows the throttle to close completly even the tech did not know how to shut my baby down till I showed him Old machine young gun tec.

one question is this how to properly start it up have gotten several manuals and one refers to non injector position for the throttle but doesn't say what position that is. is it to the idle position or should i open it up

as always be safe

 

[tctractors]

Papa john, the parts and service manuals on the early komatsu kit, can take some understanding, when you do understand its hard to stop laughing, a cylinder is called a cauldron, an exhaust valve is an extingishment valve etc, the non injector position for the throttle , is with the little knob pulled up and the throttle control pushed forward into the stop position, it might be worth checking the 4 bolts holding the injector pump to its mounting saddle as your drive coupling was loose, I would also check out those heater plugs some more, there is a glow signal in the dash panel, its a round disc with holes, when thats glowing its good to crank, using the de-compression lever helps the loading of the starter.

 

[Papa John]

haven't been able to get the dash panel controls to work yet lights horn so no glow lamp, my next trip down south I will try to investigate where the problem is It appears that some major work was done to this machine prior to my purchase, as I have found numerous wires disconnected, tracks were installed on backwards, and various nuts, bolts, guards removed or missing I managed to find some new old maintenance and operation manuals with wiring diagrams etc. so I just have to find the time to check it out, as I am 8 hrs away from my machine with a busy 17 yr old hard to get enough time to do the work i need, and to spend the time working the machine and the little things I would like to do