new owner (almost) of a 443?
new owner (almost) of a 443?
Howdy all! found this great site after searching the internet for info on a tractor that was given to me. It is a John Deere tracked loader with a diesel engine. The plate below the console said series 443 and I don't recall the serial# as I had nothing to write with or on. As near as I can tell it is a 440, as I can't find any info or reference to a 443. It also has a 3 point hitch setup. It has been sitting for at least 6 years, but the owner (a 92 year old man) said it ran when he parked it other than some sort of a brake problem. I am going back to where the tractor is this Weds. to see if I can get it to start and get the manuals etc. from the owner. Any advice other than the obvious fuel, coolant, oil stuff? I will have more details after Weds as I barely got a look at it the first trip, but want to do my homework to avoid doing anything stupid! I am pretty excited as I have never owned a crawler yet, and have a lot of jobs on my property where it will be quite useful. Thanks for any advice- Scott
Post a pic if you can. Being a diesel and a serial number tag on the dash signals a 440. the 443 is part of a serial number, but a diesel would be at least 448,001 or above, so is possible what looks like a 3 is an 8.
A 3PT on a loader crawler is odd, but not impossible.
I would drain all fluids to be sure, and make sure to get an oil rated for the Detroit diesel that is in the crawler. I think Delo 400 is one of the names I remember other members posting here, but someone will know better than me.
Congrats on the find, welcome to the board.
Lavoy
A 3PT on a loader crawler is odd, but not impossible.
I would drain all fluids to be sure, and make sure to get an oil rated for the Detroit diesel that is in the crawler. I think Delo 400 is one of the names I remember other members posting here, but someone will know better than me.
Congrats on the find, welcome to the board.
Lavoy
Parts and restoration for antique and late model John Deere crawlers.
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com
In my 440ICD (2-53 detroit diesel) I use Delo 100 straight 40W {in Texas}. In a cooler climate maybe 30W. But Delo 100 not 400 is supposed to be the only "low ash" oil available. It takes about 9 quarts on a change. HTH
Bryce
Bryce
No trees were hurt in the creation of this message.
But, many electrons were terribly bothered.
440IC/602, 2-440ICD/831 MM UBU-LP, 445N-LP, 445E-LP, BIG MO 400-M, 4 Star-LP M5-D, M5-LP, M602-LP, M670-LP, G900-LP, G900-D, G1000 Vista-LP Case 580CK
But, many electrons were terribly bothered.
440IC/602, 2-440ICD/831 MM UBU-LP, 445N-LP, 445E-LP, BIG MO 400-M, 4 Star-LP M5-D, M5-LP, M602-LP, M670-LP, G900-LP, G900-D, G1000 Vista-LP Case 580CK
Thanks for the catch Bryce, at least I was close.
Lavoy
Lavoy
Parts and restoration for antique and late model John Deere crawlers.
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com
Thanks Lavoy. The 443 was stamped in the "model" box of the data plate, and the serial # is in the box next to it. I could have mistaken the 3 for a 0 possibly? Anyway I am chomping at the bit to go see it again and see if it will fire up! It looks like a big rainstorm is headed my way for tomorrow though, and the old timer wants to reschedule if it is too nasty out I will see if I can come by anyway and get a better informed second look and possibly some pictures. When I first went to look at it I went with a buddy who had been offered the tractor, and knew nothing about it other than it was a tractor and it was free. Since he is an equipment operator for a living he didn't really need an older crawler to fool with so I said I would love to have it I'll post with more info as I get it. Thanks- ScottLavoy wrote:Post a pic if you can. Being a diesel and a serial number tag on the dash signals a 440. the 443 is part of a serial number, but a diesel would be at least 448,001 or above, so is possible what looks like a 3 is an 8.
A 3PT on a loader crawler is odd, but not impossible.
I would drain all fluids to be sure, and make sure to get an oil rated for the Detroit diesel that is in the crawler. I think Delo 400 is one of the names I remember other members posting here, but someone will know better than me.
Congrats on the find, welcome to the board.
Lavoy
you might want to take a piece of plywood to put over the air intake in case the rack is stuck when you try to start it ...if its stuck it will run at top RPM or more and not be able to shut down ... also with a 53 series Detroit don't worry to much about the use of either
2010 with 622 dozer with mod. 35 ripper and a 2010 with 622 dozer bought in 1969 and a 2010 loader with drott and mod. 36 ripper
Good tip- thanks. I just got off the phone with the owner and he confirmed that it is a 440 with an 831 loader. Too much rain this week to try and fire it up, so now I have to wait until next week Oh well- can't exactly rush someone who is giving you a free crawler I will get the serial# and some pics as soon as I can though. It is an hour away and with the price of fuel I don't want to make a trip to town just for that. -Scottjtrichard wrote:you might want to take a piece of plywood to put over the air intake in case the rack is stuck when you try to start it ...if its stuck it will run at top RPM or more and not be able to shut down ... also with a 53 series Detroit don't worry to much about the use of either
OK- I went today and took a second look and here is what I found: It is a 440ICD for sure and the serial # is 450654. It is a 5 speed and has a three point hitch which appears to operate from a ram located on the left rear fender next to the battery box. The tracks are 12" wide and were replaced along with the sprockets shortly before being parked. Something is wrong with the left steering brake, but I won't know exactly what until I get it started. I took some pics and will post them when I figure out how to!- Scott
Update: The old timer has not been able to get out to where the crawler is yet, and probably wont until after the holidays I did work on it today for a few hours though to prepare for the day when I will hopefully start it up. I used my hilift jack to lift the bucket up high enough to allow me to remove the engine cover and what a mess I found The engine was not even visible under the rats nests! I cleared away what I could and it doesn't look like anything important was damaged from what I can see so far. I'm hoping to get the manuals from him next week so I can research what I am looking at and know what I am doing when I disassemble something. Oh- the hourmeter says 2075hrs- is that a lot for one of these crawlers? I am going to see if I can attach some pics to this post too. -Scott
It's alive!
I finally met up with the old timer and with a battery and some ether it fired right up! It turns out that it has been sitting for more like 12 years, but about 6 years ago he put fresh diesel in it and fired it up. The oil pressure came right up to about 50 psi and stayed there while I ran it for a few minutes. The hydraulics all work, but the right side bucket cylinder sprays when you let it down. I think its a hose. I moved it back and forth a few times and the left turn is kinda weak. I,m hoping an adjustment will help, although the old timer said it probably needs new parts from what he remembers. He also said the tracks and sprockets are almost new and they are Berco? brand. I also got the factory operators and parts manuals, and a couple of boxes of genuine John Deere parts for it! Unfortunately the shop repair manual burnt up in a house fire years ago. Apparently it came with a backhoe originally, but he had it converted to a 3 point for the rippers. He has had the tractor since 1960, and bought it from the local dealer as a repo! I also have a pile of records for it that I will have to decipher, but from what I can tell, he stopped using it daily in the mid 1980's. Oh, and I also got the special grease gun for the track adjuster! Next step is to get it hauled to my house and give it a thorough cleaning and sevice and see where it goes from there. I can hardly wait!- Scott
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