Maintenance on newly bought JD 855

[dsmau]

Hi Guys,
As you can see, I am new here and I have just purchased a 855 with 1100 hours. I found it on machinefinder.com and had it shipped from Illinois to Vermont. Dealer here says I made a very good deal as I paid less than 6000 for it with shipping and it has 4wd, loader and mower. When they inspected it here, they said the only thing they found that I should keep an eye on is the tie rod on the PS cylinder. Unfortunately, it can not be changed and the hole cylinder will have to be replaced according to the dealer. Complete service has been done on the machine before it was sold to me.

Anyway, I usually do most of the regular maintenance on my cars and tools and I intend to do the same with this tractor although I do not know much about diesel/hydrostatic/hydraulic maintenance. I did not get any manuals with the tractor. Which ones should I get? Should I get manuals for all attachements or only the tractor. Is the tractor technical/shop manual useful? I am not planning to do any heavy work at this time but it will probably come later. Are there any parts that are good to keep in the garage for these tractors? My dealer is 30 minutes away.

Thanks for you input.
David

 

[dfkrug]

David, that's a very good tractor, and you got a smokin' deal if it is in
good shape.

I loved my old 955s, which I bought as ex-rentals and rebuilt.

Here are the problem areas to watch:

> front grille design is horrible....hard to get off and on, and will not stay on.
It easily gets damaged and costs over $400 for a replacement.

> the air cleaner system is behind the grille and its support can vibrate loose
and fall on the battery. Bad.

> the engine is mounted on top of a frame like in car....the motor mounts are
rubber and break often.

As for your tie rods, yeah they wear out, but if your steering cylinder is OK,
I would look at a custom fix, rather than paying JD hundreds of $

 

[dsmau]

dfkrug,
Thanks for the tips. I will have to do something about the front grill. It is missing the grill guard which is not much on these tractors but better than nothing. There is no body damage at the moment but I do not want to start now. I worked with a ford 1920 last summer and I know how easy it is to put rocks on the hood for a beginner when lifting the bucket too high with wrong angle... Are there any better grill guards available for these tractors? It has to be able to tilt for hood access. Maybe I will build my own but I will have to get some good ideas so it is practical and good looking.

The tractor is in very good shape. It was stored in a shed so it is much better than newer x55 I have seen with similar hours but sleeping outside. There is some paint peeling on the fenders and I will repaint them this winter. I will take them off and do a good job as I like things well done. I have seen just too many tractors with spray paint all over everything with no preparation under the paint...

For the tie rod, I am also thinking about a custom solution but it will have to be something that does not involve welding as I would damage the perfectly working cylinder. I will make an extra effort to keep it well greased in the meantime. I really need to get an operator's manual to know what there is to grease on these machines and at what interval.

Dealer here says it is a steal what I paid for it from the dealer in Illinois. I forgot to mention that the tractor came with the power 3 bagger and already has power beyond kit. Nothing missing except for the grill guard and steering wheel JD emblem

 

[dfkrug]

Are there any better grill guards available for these tractors? It has to be able to tilt for hood access. Maybe I will build my own but I will have to get some good ideas so it is practical and good looking.

Here is what I do to protect my hood and grille, as well as provide a
place for a large tool tray. It hinges up to open the hood for fueling.
JD sells a serious hood and grille protector for my JD4300....you can
see it in my 4300 rebuild thread.

You can weld on the end of your cylinder rod without damaging the cyl
if you are careful.

 

[dsmau]

Good idea on the grille/hood protector!

How can I save the PS cylinder when welding? Should I have someone pour water on it while I am welding to keep it cool?
Thanks for the advice!

 

[jd110]

If you slide the cyinder all the way out to keep the heat from the seals, and then wrap a heavy, water soaked rag around the rod. That will protect the chrome plating from splatter and help dissipate any excess heat. Just leave enough exposed to weld.

 

[dfkrug]

I did not get any manuals with the tractor. Which ones should I get?

I had the operator's manual, the cheapo I&T service manual, the
Technical Manual (service manual), and the parts manual. The first 2
were paper and the last 2 were PDF files. You can get parts info and
drawings free off JDParts.com, but the PDF is better. The I&T is lousy, IMO.
I also have owned FEL manuals, but they are not so valuable.

As for welding on cylinders, JD110 is correct....I have done it many times,
successfully.

 

[dsmau]

I went to pickup my tractor last night! I asked the dealer if he had any manuals and he gave me used copies of both tractor and loader operator's manual that he had around. I will wait to see if I need to get the technical manual or buy it if I find a good deal. Everything went well on the way back. I used a friend's landscaping trailer and his truck.

I got about an hour of daylight when I got home to mow and try the loader. Everything was as I expected and I found the tractor easy to operate. I made some room in my double garage and put the tractor in for the night. Now I need to sell my Simplicity Legacy which was very good to me but won't be needed anymore.

The first attachment I would like to get is a box blade. From reading the posts here, its seems a 4 or 5 feet box would be the best for my size tractor and what I want to do with it. I'll see what I can find used around here.

 

[mcnitt]

dsmau- Welcome to TBN! Folks here like to see photos. How about a picture of that new 855?

 

[855Idiot]

Go with a 5ft box blade.

I have an 855 with a 5ft box blade and it works just fine.
Not too big not too small.