Ford 655C Digger.

[76masseyman]

655c specified super universal in everything other than the hydraulics, wether thats what was best or just simplest i am not sure.

Mine specifies the UTTO transmission oil in the hydraulic tank.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Mine specifies the UTTO transmission oil in the hydraulic tank.

Dad used to run the old 550 on anything he had to hand, oil was oil you know!!! By heck, it had some lifting and digging power. Guaranteed the ‘thicker’ oil was assisting with pressure losses!!!

 

[Lincsman]

Mine specifies the UTTO transmission oil in the hydraulic tank.

I was thinking it was also in there but doubted myself... its been 20 years since mine was here!

 

[Barrynunn]

One clamp pivot is seized solid on mine aswell, it will not budge (655not a C series) As it happens it had a quick road trip this afternoon and where it’s sleeping for next week or two has a set of oxy acetylene bottles!! Hopefully can get them moving!!

View attachment 638368

Mine is the same, I’ve got the top two free but the bottom ones are stuck solid
This machine has stood for around 12 years
Any ideas ?

 

[Mursal]

Leave it where it is ..............
After 12 years, will you be able to work it in a different spot?

 

[Lincsman]

Mine is the same, I’ve got the top two free but the bottom ones are stuck solid
This machine has stood for around 12 years
Any ideas ?

Keep using it with the clamp open, at some point it will let go.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Got mine moving last week. Boom right out, front axle off the ground with front bucket and just lift the back off it’s jack with the backactor. I Got them moving without the gas torch by whacking them with the sledge while someone else lifted and droped the machine!!

@Mursal Also got the dump working aswell, traced back to fuse box, dirt 5amp fuse!! Horn was working though so must be wired differently somewhere. Dropped the roof lining then and fitted a replacement beacon and tackled the radio and heater not working. Replaced the rocker cover gasket and did the tappets aswell and fitted new oring on hydraulic pump output pipe before unseizing the 4wd lever linkage by the drop box!! Old girl doesn’t know what hit her!!!

 

[Barrynunn]

Got mine moving last week. Boom right out, front axle off the ground with front bucket and just lift the back off it’s jack with the backactor. I Got them moving without the gas torch by whacking them with the sledge while someone else lifted and droped the machine!!

@Mursal Also got the dump working aswell, traced back to fuse box, dirt 5amp fuse!! Horn was working though so must be wired differently somewhere. Dropped the roof lining then and fitted a replacement beacon and tackled the radio and heater not working. Replaced the rocker cover gasket and did the tappets aswell and fitted new oring on hydraulic pump output pipe before unseizing the 4wd lever linkage by the drop box!! Old girl doesn’t know what hit her!!!

What gadge did you set the tappers ??
I was going to do mine too
My brakes were crap so I dropped the fluid out the back diff and refilled it with hi tran fluid there cracking now . I’ve replaced every filter , alternator , also took the fuel tank off and took the tap out the bottom ,glad I did it was rotten would definitely of caused me problems down the line

 

[Mur Huwcun]

What gadge did you set the tappers ??
I was going to do mine too
My brakes were crap so I dropped the fluid out the back diff and refilled it with hi tran fluid there cracking now . I’ve replaced every filter , alternator , also took the fuel tank off and took the tap out the bottom ,glad I did it was rotten would definitely of caused me problems down the line

.4mm I think, just glanced in a Ford Workshop manual. Inlet and exhaust do have different clearance range but .4 IIRC overlapped both. I took tank off this one aswell as it was blocking the intanc filter.

 

[Barrynunn]

Keep using it with the clamp open, at some point it will let go.

Well that worked and the clamps opened
Just need one of these now , any ideas it s the dump switch off the hand control
It’s seized solid

 

[Happy hillbily]

View attachment 646976

Well that worked and the clamps opened
Just need one of these now , any ideas it s the dump switch off the hand control
It’s seized solid

Was going to to say Maplins
Try googleing push button momentary switch ?

 

[ploughman1963]

Ive been to see a 655 for sale. The cab is very tidy and everything works.
Main issue is the amout of slop in the bushes/pins on the backator. Fair bit of play in the joint where the slew rams attach to the backactor and the bottom pins on the backactor. Pins and bushes? Likely cost? Machine should come for £5K plus and allowing £2K for repairs? I would possibly have just walked away but the engine is great (started first time and ran sweet) and hydraulics seem good - cab is very tidy (did I mention that?). Opinions/advice please
@Kevtherev

 

[Kevtherev]

You will re pin and bush the slew for a lot less than £2k
Watch the bottom pin as when they wear the pin falls out then the casting breaks!
Malpas tractors or Teme valley tractors at Welshpool for parts.

 

[Rs chunk]

Cracking diggers but going to be hard not to get one with slop in it. To do the job right the main casting will need line bored as the pins will have elongated the holes but worth doing as they are good machines

 

[Lincsman]

Ive been to see a 655 for sale. The cab is very tidy and everything works.
Main issue is the amout of slop in the bushes/pins on the backator. Fair bit of play in the joint where the slew rams attach to the backactor and the bottom pins on the backactor. Pins and bushes? Likely cost? Machine should come for £5K plus and allowing £2K for repairs? I would possibly have just walked away but the engine is great (started first time and ran sweet) and hydraulics seem good - cab is very tidy (did I mention that?). Opinions/advice please
@Kevtherev

How bad is it? why not just use it as it is like the last owner?

 

[ploughman1963]

How bad is it? why not just use it as it is like the last owner?

For one thing we are going to be trenching with it and I dont want to be waiting for the boom to stop see-sawing each time I want to drop in, but mainly, I want this to be around for a year or two and if I can get it somewhere near right early on it will last longer - BUT I take your point - last chap has spent nowt on the pins/bushes, its done the job and probably moving it on for similar money to what he bought it for so who is the mug?

I did buy it and I reckon another grand spent on the back end will make things a lot better and it will still be a sensibly priced purchase considering the other rust buckets Ive seen. It came with 5 buckets and a good 4-in-1 so I think it was a good deal

 

[Barrynunn]

Mine getting a make over, slow process though with being self employed I only get a spare hour now and then

 

[Barrynunn]

 

[Barrynunn]

 

[Kevtherev]

For one thing we are going to be trenching with it and I dont want to be waiting for the boom to stop see-sawing each time I want to drop in, but mainly, I want this to be around for a year or two and if I can get it somewhere near right early on it will last longer - BUT I take your point - last chap has spent nowt on the pins/bushes, its done the job and probably moving it on for similar money to what he bought it for so who is the mug?

I did buy it and I reckon another grand spent on the back end will make things a lot better and it will still be a sensibly priced purchase considering the other rust buckets Ive seen. It came with 5 buckets and a good 4-in-1 so I think it was a good deal

You can lengthen the levers for arse end to make it a lot nice to use.
Ford used to offer a kit years ago.