Cat 955L cheap or expensive fix?

Rreidnauer

New User

I'm looking at an 13X 955L that has a few issues, most being pretty simple matters. The big one that has me worried is it will not brake on the left side while going forward. Reverse, both brakes working properly. He is telling me it just needs adjusting, but I'm thinking to myself, "then why haven't you adjusted it already?" He already has me nervous because he had the machine started and warmed up when I got there.

Any thoughts on no brake in just one direction?
 
IF you are doing the repair your self I cannot see it costing more that 2 or 3 hundred to make it brake on that side and by the fact that it does steer in reverse I am thinking just adjustment on that brake band. If he has the price right that should not be near as big a deal as him having it started when you got there. Check and make sure it cranks bot hot and COLD.
 
Check the price of new bands and then you will know the cost. Go look at it with the owner not knowing your coming. Cold starts will tell you a lot. Check blow by after it's hot.
 
It always make me weary when I see it will steer going backwards but not going forward why would that be,it is the same clutch,same drum and same brake band,is it because the bearings carrying the drum is shot and not holding against the band when going forward or is it because the linings have come off the band and are only stopping the drum in reverse,the 955L is pedal steer with oil immersed clutches and brakes,the brake band is one piece meaning that the steering clutches have to come out to replace the bands,have an experienced heavy equipment man look at the machine if you are not familiar with them yourself,I would drain the oil from the final drive of the offending side to check it for metal,if you want to try the brake adjustment on top of the clutch/brake housings you will see two dome type covers one each side remove them,inside is the adjuster,nip them up tight,then back them off nine clicks and put the covers back.
AJ
 
There's too many good machines out there to risk a nightmare with this one. We don't even know what machine you are looking at. 955L and 13X don't go together. 60A - 955H / 61A - 955K / 85J-955 late K or 955L. Spend a couple extra bucks and get one that works. Personally, I would take pride in demonstrating a cold start. You're right, having it running when I got there would give me second thoughts.
 
Yes, aside from the brake issue, you want to cold start it. A buddy went and looked at a JD892 and it was all warmed up when he went to look at it, after setting up a time to see it. After he found out the swing brake didn't work at all, he wondered what else the owner didn't tell him after he said it was all ready to go, every thing worked, and starts right up. So he showed up unannounced (this is a rental yard, so no big deal) and tried to start it cold which was actually 50 degrees, and it cranked and cranked and smoked before finally taking a sluggish start after 30 seconds of cranking. The guy was ticked that he didn't believe him that it was ready to use, and after trying to start it cold, the guy was even more ticked since he was proved a liar.
 
Yea, I think I'm going to do what has always served me well, and go with my gut. And this deal has me feeling uncomfortable, so I think I'll just keep looking.

Another thing I didn't previously mention, was it didn't seem all that powerful when pushing into a dirt pile. Now, it could have been me subconsciously leaning on the pedals a little while testing, and the only way to be sure is go back and test again. Also, he came down $2500 with no arm twisting at all. To me, that also felt odd.

Trust thy gut feeling. It will rarely steer one wrong.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top