Need advice on tough to get to hydrolic lines.

[Bostonian]

Hi everyone,

Im a rookie here and with tractors in general, just bought an 86 555b. I was using it for the first time today and about 2 hours in I blew a hydraulic line under the cab. I can see the line that leaking. Its one of the main lines that feeds the block of valves in the rear that controls the hoe. Its about a 1" line roughly 24" in length.

I was going to pull the line off so I could bring it somewhere and get a replacement however its nearly impossible to get a wrench on either end of the line just because its jammed in there so far. Seems almost like I would have to take the floor of the cab out to get at it.

As I lay under the tractor cursing and covered in oil I was noticing most of the connections under there are nearly just as impossible to get at. So surely someone thats reading this has run into the same problem. Am I missing something? There has to be a way to change these? Any tips, tricks, specialty tools, advice is greatly appreciated.

Oh and yes I sure did look like a fool in my wifes eyes after convincing her this tractor was worth the money and 2 hours in Im rolling around under it with no answers. Haha please help!


P.S. I have an owners manual and service manual on order which I have not received yet, so I apologize in advance if its somehow spelled out in those.

 

[Harry in Ky]

Probably not much point in waiting for manuals, as there's most likely nothing in there for this problem. Simply put, the machines are designed to be worked, not worked on. As for advice -- You have to take off whatever is in the way of access to the lines/fittings in question. If the floor plate will come off(not always easy in itself) that may help some but not always. It WILL help provide more light, and maybe access to something that has to be moved without doing it ALL from the bottom. Quite often it means taking other lines off in sequence, starting with the only one you can get a wrench on, and work your way in to the one that's bad. Having a large assortment of wrenches, different lengths, angles, thickness all help, but it's still a major pain. There's no magic bullet, just a lot of work with some swearing thrown in for good measure.

 

[zombie]

Yeah, it always seems like the worst line to get to is the one that goes. I've always had fairly good luck with an assortment of angle wrenches. I also have a set of large crows feet that have gotten me out of some binds. They are listed as jumbo crowsfeet. The set that I have id's made by v8 tools, but there are other off brand companies that make them. Obviously, any line you pull off to get to the leaker, would be much easier to replace now.