[scottparks87]

So I have been searching through many threads here but I am not finding what I need. To be fair, I also didn't carefully read the auction disclaimer either. They are not, it turns out, responsible for inaccurate descriptions. My 1995 gas-powered loader is a very old 3-cylinder diesel. Also, you can't pull a 15,000-pound tractor with a 1500 Chevy. So as you can see, I have already learned a lot. I would like to know what I actually bought and what engine is in it so that I can learn how to work on diesels. Believe it or not, I am actually pretty clever and very excited to get started on this project.
What I know so far:
It turns over. I hooked up a battery and it rolled over.
The right side of the engine has DONN 6015 L cast on it
2B below that
Stamped at the bottom, D471402
5500 on both sides of the front (a backhoe?)

 

[JohnWindl]

It shows up on Tractor Data.com. Says it has a 4 cylinder Ford diesel engine.
Here is a link to the page I found:

https://www.tractordata.com/backhoe-loader/000/1/0/104-ford-5550.html

 

[Dave55]

And it looks like your 1995 tractor is a little older, 1970 thru 1973.
With the backhoe removed that will be several thousand pounds off the tractor and get the weight down to something that could be towed with a 1500 if you were careful.
I remember those tractors.

 

[scottparks87]

It shows up on Tractor Data.com. Says it has a 4 cylinder Ford diesel engine.
Here is a link to the page I found:

https://www.tractordata.com/backhoe-loader/000/1/0/104-ford-5550.html

I keep running into that same thing everywhere but I really feel like this is 3 cylinders.

 

[scottparks87]

And it looks like your 1995 tractor is a little older, 1970 thru 1973.
With the backhoe removed that will be several thousand pounds off the tractor and get the weight down to something that could be towed with a 1500 if you were careful.
I remember those tractors.

I hired a guy to haul it for me. And I will be keeping an eye out for that missing backhoe. How did you arrive at 70-73?

 

[Dave55]

Tractor data and I remember those tractors back in the day.
The WV State Road used to have those back in the 70's.

And your engine is a three cylinder as seen in the picture, makes no sense.
Wait I found something.
Here is your tractor.

555 was a three cylinder, 1978 - 1984 https://www.tractordata.com/backhoe-loader/000/1/0/101-ford-555-engine.html
555A was three cylinders, 1984 - 1985 https://www.tractordata.com/backhoe-loader/000/0/9/90-ford-555a-engine.html
555B was three cylinders,1985 - 1988 https://www.tractordata.com/backhoe-loader/000/0/9/91-ford-555b-engine.html

555C and 555D were four cylinder diesels.
I would be worried about the leaves around the valve springs. No rocker cover and water/dirt in the engine, not a good combination for an engine.

 

[609745]

I hired a guy to haul it for me. And I will be keeping an eye out for that missing backhoe. How did you arrive at 70-73?

ford part numbering started with the letter A for the 1940's B is 1950's C is 1960's D 1970's and up the zero next to the D would be 1970 when the casting was first used, NN is model code 6015 is a common number used for engine crankcase castings across all ford lines,
alongside you have a 2m15 meaning 1972 the letter m becomes dec since letters i and sometime l are not used due to being mistaken for a number, 15 is the date 1970 plus 2 makes 1972 dec 15 the date the block was cast .

 

[Nouveau Redneck]

Charles is correct on those engine casting numbers indicating that the casting was designed in 1970 and that the individual block was cast on December 15, 1972.

D471402 is the engine serial number The fact that it starts with a D indicates that it was made for the 4000 series tractors, so it should be a 201 ci 3 cylinder engine with a 4.4" bore and 4.4" stroke. The intake manifold with the firing order cast into it definitely makes it a 3 cylinder engine. The 201 engine puts out about 60 hp. If the tractor has a PTO then the PTO hp would be around 52.

It is definitely not a 5500, as the hood panels are too short to fit over a Ford 4 cylinder engine of that time period, plus they stopped making the 5500 near the end of 1969 and replaced it with the 5550, and the engine was cast in 1972.

It looks like a 4500 to me, which is the Indusrial model in the 4000 series. I'm not sure why someone went and stuck 5500 on the nose though. It's possible that the radiator shroud was replaced at some point with one from a 5500, as I think they might be interchangeable with a little drilling of new mounting holes. Or someone put 5500 on there when they repainted it at some point because they thought that's what it was.

For further identification, look on the underside of the right side hood panel, up above the battery, for a foil sticker with lots of numbers on it. If that sticker is still there and is still legible, post the numbers back here and we can tell you for sure what it is. If the sticker isn't there or is illegible, look on the flat spot on the transmission bell housing, just above and a couple inches toward the rear of the tractor from the starter. A few of those same numbers from the sticker should be stamped into that flat spot as well. It might be hard to see them because they are behind the loader frame upright and the front of the cab door.

 

[scottparks87]

Tractor data and I remember those tractors back in the day.
The WV State Road used to have those back in the 70's.

And your engine is a three cylinder as seen in the picture, makes no sense.
Wait I found something.
Here is your tractor.

555 was a three cylinder, 1978 - 1984 https://www.tractordata.com/backhoe-loader/000/1/0/101-ford-555-engine.html
555A was three cylinders, 1984 - 1985 https://www.tractordata.com/backhoe-loader/000/0/9/90-ford-555a-engine.html
555B was three cylinders,1985 - 1988 https://www.tractordata.com/backhoe-loader/000/0/9/91-ford-555b-engine.html

555C and 555D were four cylinder diesels.
I would be worried about the leaves around the valve springs. No rocker cover and water/dirt in the engine, not a good combination for an engine.

Tractor data and I remember those tractors back in the day.
The WV State Road used to have those back in the 70's.

And your engine is a three cylinder as seen in the picture, makes no sense.
Wait I found something.
Here is your tractor.

555 was a three cylinder, 1978 - 1984 https://www.tractordata.com/backhoe-loader/000/1/0/101-ford-555-engine.html
555A was three cylinders, 1984 - 1985 https://www.tractordata.com/backhoe-loader/000/0/9/90-ford-555a-engine.html
555B was three cylinders,1985 - 1988 https://www.tractordata.com/backhoe-loader/000/0/9/91-ford-555b-engine.html

555C and 555D were four cylinder diesels.
I would be worried about the leaves around the valve springs. No rocker cover and water/dirt in the engine, not a good combination for an engine.

555 makes sense except...

 

[609745]

that machine makes zero sense, the drive and model numbers don't match written specs

 

[MARK (LI)]

Hi scottparks 87

 

[Alien5044]

I think you had it right when you observed that the auctioneers are not responsible for misinformation about the lots they are selling. They always say its up to bidders to inspect before bidding.

If the valve cover was off or missing as it appears to be, it is a good indication that someone was in there and found something that was over their head in terms of repair, so just left it open. Classic "gave up on it" then it sits, then someone says get rid of it, and off to the auction it goes. Hopefully "it" is somethig that can be repaired to bring this back to service for you. Major test to pass is it rolls over.

Maybe its just the photo, but that "5500" looks a lot newer than the surrounding paint. I looked at a number of on line photos of Ford 5500 tractors both used and appearing new in sales brochures, and the "5500" does not appear to be in that position on the cowl. I know, that's a pretty long stretch, but the little stuff adds up to it not being a 5500.

As already pointed out, the engine is the real tell. Still, looks like a great project with some potential for a nice loader if you can get it back into service.

 

[Nouveau Redneck]

As I said, it looks to be a 1972 4500. Just because it has "5500" on the nose does not mean that's what it is. Any previous owner could have added that at any point in the past.

Please look for the other numbers in the other locations that I mentioned earlier.

 

[daman1]

Looks like a 4500

 

[scottparks87]

As I said, it looks to be a 1972 4500. Just because it has "5500" on the nose does not mean that's what it is. Any previous owner could have added that at any point in the past.

Please look for the other numbers in the other locations that I mentioned earlier.

I'll get back at it with a wire brush on a dremel tool.

 

[scottparks87]

View attachment 2582427
I'll get back at it with a wire brush on a dremel tool.

 

[scottparks87]

Charles is correct on those engine casting numbers indicating that the casting was designed in 1970 and that the individual block was cast on December 15, 1972.

D471402 is the engine serial number The fact that it starts with a D indicates that it was made for the 4000 series tractors, so it should be a 201 ci 3 cylinder engine with a 4.4" bore and 4.4" stroke. The intake manifold with the firing order cast into it definitely makes it a 3 cylinder engine. The 201 engine puts out about 60 hp. If the tractor has a PTO then the PTO hp would be around 52.

It is definitely not a 5500, as the hood panels are too short to fit over a Ford 4 cylinder engine of that time period, plus they stopped making the 5500 near the end of 1969 and replaced it with the 5550, and the engine was cast in 1972.

It looks like a 4500 to me, which is the Indusrial model in the 4000 series. I'm not sure why someone went and stuck 5500 on the nose though. It's possible that the radiator shroud was replaced at some point with one from a 5500, as I think they might be interchangeable with a little drilling of new mounting holes. Or someone put 5500 on there when they repainted it at some point because they thought that's what it was.

For further identification, look on the underside of the right side hood panel, up above the battery, for a foil sticker with lots of numbers on it. If that sticker is still there and is still legible, post the numbers back here and we can tell you for sure what it is. If the sticker isn't there or is illegible, look on the flat spot on the transmission bell housing, just above and a couple inches toward the rear of the tractor from the starter. A few of those same numbers from the sticker should be stamped into that flat spot as well. It might be hard to see them because they are behind the loader frame upright and the front of the cab door.

 

[Dave55]

A Sherwin Williams overhaul can make everything look shiny and new. They can also cause model numbers to change to something that is impossible.

The 555 series looks like the best fit to what is in the pictures.

 

[Nouveau Redneck]

3D19B is the Unit Number. It says that the tractor was assembled on April 19 1973 during the Day shift.

C377800 is the serial number, which is an early 1973 serial number, which agrees with the Unit number above.

Look up above those two numbers in the picture, up in the rough part of the casting to find the model number. You may need a wire brush to clean it up enough to read the model number. It Should start with D50 if it is a 4500.

 

[609745]

looks more like the numbers are telling the truth, 1973 the fact that it's 3 banger making it a 4500