new owner (almost) of a 443?

General help and support for your Lindeman through 2010 John Deere crawler
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10fords
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new owner (almost) of a 443?

Post by 10fords » Mon Nov 26, 2012 10:27 pm

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

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Lavoy
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Post by Lavoy » Mon Nov 26, 2012 11:09 pm

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.
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Parts and restoration for antique and late model John Deere crawlers.
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shinnery
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Post by shinnery » Tue Nov 27, 2012 12:13 am

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
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Post by Lavoy » Tue Nov 27, 2012 9:17 am

Thanks for the catch Bryce, at least I was close. :lol:
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10fords
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Post by 10fords » Tue Nov 27, 2012 7:38 pm

Lavoy 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
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 :cry: 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 :D I'll post with more info as I get it. Thanks- Scott

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jtrichard
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Post by jtrichard » Tue Nov 27, 2012 8:47 pm

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

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Post by 10fords » Thu Nov 29, 2012 12:25 pm

jtrichard 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
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 :cry: Oh well- can't exactly rush someone who is giving you a free crawler :lol: 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. -Scott

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Post by 10fords » Sat Dec 01, 2012 4:59 pm

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

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Post by 10fords » Tue Dec 18, 2012 11:59 pm

Update: The old timer has not been able to get out to where the crawler is yet, and probably wont until after the holidays :cry: 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 :shock: 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. -ScottImage

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Post by 10fords » Wed Dec 19, 2012 12:08 am

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Post by 10fords » Wed Dec 19, 2012 12:14 am

Image[/img]

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Post by 10fords » Wed Dec 19, 2012 12:26 am

Image[/img]

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scampr
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Post by scampr » Wed Dec 19, 2012 8:38 am

Looks like you got a nice one there, I would say the 2075 hours if true is a good find too.. that to me is pretty low hours for its age.. good luck
scampr 440icd, 350B, 47 Farmall H, 55 Farmall cub and ashamed to have a Kabota too

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It's alive!

Post by 10fords » Sun Dec 30, 2012 11:00 am

I finally met up with the old timer and with a battery and some ether it fired right up! :D 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! :D :D 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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jtrichard
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Post by jtrichard » Sun Dec 30, 2012 8:25 pm

that grease/oil gun is for the rollers it uses SAE. 140W all i ever use to adjust the tracks is a regular grease gun with chassis grease
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

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