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New to me Ford New Holland 555E

eodnut

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Joined
Jan 31, 2025
Messages
15
Location
Tennessee
I just purchased a 1998 555E 4x4 machine. It starts runs everything SEEMS to work only issue is the curling cylinder is pouring out what I believe is wiper seal. What are common issues/problems to watch for and where is best place for a paper service manual? TIA
 

NH575E

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Dec 30, 2015
Messages
1,424
Location
North, FL
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Retired Machinist
Search on here and you will find plenty of info and repairs on the E series New Hollands.

The wiper seal keeps dirt out. The gland seal keeps the oil in. Getting a kit with all the right parts is a lesson in frustration. New Holland superseded the gland on most of the cylinders and discontinued the original kits. I buy my hydraulic kits off eBay from whoever has the best price. Waiting on two loader lift cylinder kits now with baited breath and fingers crossed.

eBay is the best place to find a paper manual if you get lucky.
 

eodnut

Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2025
Messages
15
Location
Tennessee
Search on here and you will find plenty of info and repairs on the E series New Hollands.

The wiper seal keeps dirt out. The gland seal keeps the oil in. Getting a kit with all the right parts is a lesson in frustration. New Holland superseded the gland on most of the cylinders and discontinued the original kits. I buy my hydraulic kits off eBay from whoever has the best price. Waiting on two loader lift cylinder kits now with baited breath and fingers crossed.

eBay is the best place to find a paper manual if you get lucky.
I have worked on OTR trucks and some equipment for almost 30 years I have NEVER worked on one of these. Any specialty tools needed? Are they known for any problems?
 

NH575E

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Dec 30, 2015
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North, FL
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Retired Machinist
The only common problems I know of is the difficulty finding cylinder kits but we all manage to overcome it and get them sealed up. You can always bite the bullet and buy the new pistons and kits but that turns a $50-$80 job into a $500-$700 job.

Fuel contamination is always a possibility with a diesel. These machines have been known to clog the banjo bolt at the sediment bowl on the so called emission engines. If you start to lose power that would be the first place I would look.

The hydraulic screen in the tank has a rubber disc that is known to come loose and get stuck in the outlet hose. It needs a thin wrench with a 3-1/8" opening. I made a crude one from 1/4" metal.
suction-screen-wrench-drawing.jpg
 
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eodnut

Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2025
Messages
15
Location
Tennessee
The only common problems I know of is the difficulty finding cylinder kits but we all manage to overcome it and get them sealed up. You can always bite the bullet and buy the new pistons and kits but that turns a $50-$80 job into a $500-$700 job.
We have a place here in Knoxville that I've taken rods and pistons of "hard" to find or extremely expensive packing kits that they have matched them up and been 1/3 of everyone's prices. I was worried about transmission issues or something oddball. I got the backhoe for 4k, so I am extremely happy and it wil be used to build our new homestead. Thanks for the help. How do I search for specific equipment on here?
 

NH575E

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Search is in the top right corner of the screen.

Read my edits above I added after you read and quoted it.
 

HarleyHappy

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Sep 30, 2020
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Location
So NH
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Welder/Mechanic
What a fantastic deal you got! When you get a chance, post some pictures. That deal was so good, I and am sure others want to see if it’s real or a Tonka toy.
4k is pretty much salvage price for just the hoe in the back.
Where abouts in Tenn?
I lived and built my dream house in Buchanan right by LBL land.
 

eodnut

Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2025
Messages
15
Location
Tennessee
What a fantastic deal you got! When you get a chance, post some pictures. That deal was so good, I and am sure others want to see if it’s real or a Tonka toy.
4k is pretty much salvage price for just the hoe in the back.
Where abouts in Tenn?
I lived and built my dream house in Buchanan right by LBL land.
In east TN close to Knoxville and I will load some pictures today I only have 1 so far
 

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rumblecloud

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May 6, 2012
Messages
247
Location
Michigan
Occupation
Living the dream...:]
Dang! That is a great purchase price. I'm embarrassed by what I paid for mine.
Looks like you'll need some proper front rubber as you start your build, but that's easy enough.

And yes, please post more pics along with the SN# when you get a chance.

Welcome to the 3-Nickel Club!
 

eodnut

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Joined
Jan 31, 2025
Messages
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Location
Tennessee
Dang! That is a great purchase price. I'm embarrassed by what I paid for mine.
Looks like you'll need some proper front rubber as you start your build, but that's easy enough.

And yes, please post more pics along with the SN# when you get a chance.

Welcome to the 3-Nickel Club!
Heres the VIN plate hard to read in picture. I'm excited, I've known the family selling it for 20 plus years its been garage kept last 15 and only ran about once a year, I'm guessing lower hours but all that sitting probably gonna need a ton of hoses 1st time I really start using it
 

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rumblecloud

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May 6, 2012
Messages
247
Location
Michigan
Occupation
Living the dream...:]
Looks like a later model '98 based on a comparison of mine (0310003413).
Sometimes it helps in locating the right seal kit and other stuff.

Looking forward to your progress on your homestead!
 

eodnut

Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2025
Messages
15
Location
Tennessee
Local dealer looked it up said manufactured October 98. Yeah seals can be a pain to locate sometimes, but like I mentioned earlier we have a place here that is all they do, now it won't say ford/new holland or case, cat etc but I've never had a failure from their seal kits. I made a bid on fleabay for a manual we will see
 

NH575E

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North, FL
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Retired Machinist
That is a steal of a deal. Looks pretty much unmolested.

That is a strange tire arrangement for a 4WD. R1s on the rear and street tread on the front?

I just replaced one of my fronts. My hoe has R4 tread all the way around and I think that is probably standard.

R1s all the way around would be great for dirt only where you don't mind the grass damage.
 

eodnut

Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2025
Messages
15
Location
Tennessee
Y'all are correct the man selling it was wrong it's 2wd. It has 1100 hrs on it. I started playing with it to relearn how to use it and cylinder stopped leaking. There are some dry rotted so im going to replace them and service it completely.
 

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