1985 555 will not turn left

blakebam40 · Post by **blakebam40** » Mon Jun 29, 2015 6:53 am

need some help. my 1985 555 crawler has stopped turning left. I checked the break adjustment screw and turned it some, but no luck. think I have a blockage but just don't know where to look for more info.

LeonardL · Post by **LeonardL** » Mon Jun 29, 2015 9:13 pm

Is this a straight 555 or does it have a Letter following the number? As in A, B etc.?

blakebam40 · Post by **blakebam40** » Wed Jul 01, 2015 2:18 pm

I will have to drive out to the farm and check. Believe it is a straight 555 so my estimate of 1985 could be off. I was told it was a 84 or 85.

LeonardL · Post by **LeonardL** » Wed Jul 01, 2015 7:15 pm

Okay, So when you say it won't steer to the left, can you feel the brake try to engage at all on that side as you try to turn? Does it dog the engine when you try to steer to the left? Have you determined if your clutch on the left side is still engaged or has it quit pulling? Does it try to do anything at all on the left side?
I know this is a lot of questioning but we need to know so we can help diagnose your issue.

Check the simple things first like the linkage from the Pedal if it is pedal steer or the Hand lever if it is lever steer. Make sure everything is still connected, not bent or jammed with debris and functioning properly. Also check your fluid levels and make sure they are where they should be. Sometimes these issues are just this simple.
Otherwise it can be a few different things and they will require you to remove the cover over the left side steering clutch. Let us know what you have and we will go from there.

blakebam40 · Post by **blakebam40** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 6:33 am

here is the play by play so far. Use this crawler to clear brush from my farm. Have owned it for about 9 months, the engine has been rebuilt and only has about 70 hours and works great. In April while using it, the right upper boom cylinder rod guide blew. Had it replaced and then started using it again. Left side breaks have been a little slow, but then began to not work. I drove it out of the woods to where I could work on it and the left break just stopped working altogether. I checked the fluid levels, all good and then checked the linkage. Everything appears to be operating from the foot pedals all the way back to the upper housing.

I have now exhausted my limited crawler knowledge from the manuals I have been able to find. I do know that that when I push the right break down I feel back pressure (or resistance) but don't feel any on the left side. Pedal goes down to the floor with no resistance.

thanks for the help so far.

LeonardL · Post by **LeonardL** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 6:49 am

Before you do anything, make sure your brake on that side isn't just badly out of adjustment.
Could you tell if the steering clutch was releasing when you pushed the pedal down? If it isn't just out of adjustment, and as bad as I hate say this, it sounds like the cover will have to come off on the left side. You have either a broken brake band or you have a worn out brake band. It also could just be a pin has come out on the inside. I think your machine will have the two piece brake band and it will come out without taking the entire clutch assembly out. Some of these guys with more 450 / 550 experience may have more knowledge on this. Hope this helps even though it isn't what you was wanting to hear.

blakebam40 · Post by **blakebam40** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 11:00 am

I turned the adjustment screw clockwise about 10 or 15 clicks but was worried I would mess it up if I did it more. I was not tight or hard to turn so maybe I will try that a few more clicks.

thanks. for your help and I will let you know what I find when I get back out to the farm.

LeonardL · Post by **LeonardL** » Thu Jul 02, 2015 6:15 pm

Okay, it would be good to know what you find. I talked to a friend of mine today who has actually worked on more 450, 455s and 555s than I have. Unfortunately he thinks your brake band will be a one piece band. He also thought of something I hadn't. This could be a broken Brake band lug or dog on the top end of the brake band. If it is then it will all have to come out. There is a lug on each end of the band and this is how the band gets squeezed together to tighten around the drum. Again I hope for your sake it is just out of adjustment.

blakebam40 · Post by **blakebam40** » Mon Jul 06, 2015 6:49 am

all that sounds expensive. I do have a local shop that could fix it if I ask, but what would you guess that would cost to have someone do the work. I am in the early stages of clearing my land and building a barn so for me to work on it will mean it will be sitting for a while.

what should I be expecting for an estimate? This will determine what I do.

blakebam40 · Post by **blakebam40** » Mon Jul 06, 2015 11:11 am

what repair manual would you suggest? I have found many on the web from not too much to a few hundred dollars.

Stan Disbrow · Post by **Stan Disbrow** » Mon Jul 06, 2015 12:57 pm

Hi,

I would suggest the actual Deere manual. And, the Parts Catalog as well. If the later non-Deere manuals are like the earlier ones, they are not worth much more than to tear up to start a fire with....

And, when you find the Deere manual numbers for the 555, kindly post them. I am making up a list of manual numbers over in the FAQ section and do not have anything listed for 550/555 of any series.....

Stan

LeonardL · Post by **LeonardL** » Mon Jul 06, 2015 1:36 pm

Stan is right in that Deere manuals are the only way to go. To answer your question on cost, I wouldn't have a clue. Labor rates have changed a lot sense I was last in a shop, so what I would tell you would be wrong I'm sure. If you have a good local shop, then he should be able to give you a Ball Park figure on Labor. Parts are high and this goes for all manufactures not just Deere. You will see that statement on here a lot. If you want to see high cost, then go to a Cat dealer and buy Cat parts.
You can find some after market parts that are cheaper but be careful because you get what you pay for. I would buy select used before I would venture into some of the after market parts that are out there.
I'm not sure what all Lavoy handles on here as in if he has any 450 parts but his stuff is always good. I would check with him first.

Personally I would do a little looking first. Take your cover off on the bad side and see if you can pinpoint the issue before you get too excited. You may get lucky and it just be a pin that has came out. It could also be that it is so far out of adjustment that the mechanism has went over center and stuck. The biggest mistake a lot of people make is they assume the worst when it could just be something simple.
Also by looking and finding the problem, you can be more specific with who ever you have do the work. They can then give you a more accurate figure on Labor.
I'm also sorry you are just getting started and this crap happens. I would say that most of us have been there in one way or another. Hang in there and good luck.

west25346 · Post by **west25346** » Mon Jul 06, 2015 5:16 pm

I have a 1985 550a dozer tech manual # TM1292 parts manual # PC1890 took a quick look at steering section... my unit has a one piece brake band.I purchased the tech manual as a reprint off Ebay was still $200 but worth every penny when I rebuilt the transmission . John Deere data shows I have the last model year 550A

Stan Disbrow · Post by **Stan Disbrow** » Mon Jul 06, 2015 6:51 pm

Hi,

I added the 550/555 pub numbers to the ever-lengthening list. Thanks !

Stan

blakebam40 · Post by **blakebam40** » Tue Jul 14, 2015 2:39 pm

thanks again guys. I have a parts manual and a very basic owners manual. Going out to the farm this weekend and maybe I will take a look at it further. Has me gun shy right now. Stan, you are just down the road from my farm...Alamance County. If you are board this weekend...just saying help is always appreciated.

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1985 555 will not turn left

1985 555 will not turn left

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