Ford 4500 Axle Oil Level Plug Inaccessible

First, you guys have a great community here and you have already answered a handful of my questions in older threads, so THANK YOU!

Recently acquired a Ford 4500 industrial, diesel, 6/4 manual transmission, loader, 3 point hitch and pto, and a cab. I'm assuming the cab is aftermarket based on the torched cutouts.

The 3 point hitch wasn't lifting consistently so I added some hydro oil which helped. Its going up and down slowly and a little jerky, and I wanted to check the axle oil level. I found the plug in a really tight spot almost comletely hidden by the right foot rest. Add to that the small cab with the only door on the left side, and the axle oil level plug is basically inaccessible. Now, I can access the filler plug very easily and I can get a camera to drop down to see where the level is. I could also make a dipstick but I don't know the correct level.

Anyone have any insight on how to know the proper axle oil level without using the level plug. Should the oil be at the level of the axle? 1 inch lower? 2 inches higher? What are the consequences of adding too much hydro oil?

I have a few other questions I'll throw onto this but let me know if I should start other threads.

1. No thermostart, so will this thing start with ether in the winter? How cold is too cold?
2. I have a lever to engage and disengage the PTO. But I read that some manual transmissions will have two clutch positions: first engaging the pto and then moving the tractor. I don't think I have that option but I wondered if I just needed to make some linkage adjustments to be able to stop the tractor but keep the pto engaged.
3. Is it just me or is the lowest gear not actually that low? I am using this tractor with a tree cutter and I would like to move a little slower going in forward and in reverse.

Thanks again!
 
Overfilling could lead to axle seals leaking. The 6x4 trans is trans pto only, when clutch is engaged it turns, when disengaged it stops. Dont know how cold it gets in your location. If engine is in good
condition it should start in the 30s.
 

The level plug is behind the foot board on many of them. Usually you can remove the plug from underneath then add oil until it starts to run out.
 
(quoted from post at 09:33:53 11/10/22)
The level plug is behind the foot board on many of them. Usually you can remove the plug from underneath then add oil until it starts to run out.

It gets tighter with the loader frame, but I can still access the level plug on my 3 cylinder 4000 from below with the loader frame there. The first and only time I did that, once I had the fluid at the proper level, I made a dipstick out of an oversized white zip tie so it would be flexible enough to make it down to the level of the fluid and put a mark on it where the known good fluid level was. I've been using that home made dipstick ever since. I made my mark with a Sharpie at first, but the next time I used it the ink started to fade, so I used a pair of pliers to flatten it where the mark was. The flat spot will not fade.
 
Ok, so don't overfill. Got it.

Would it start with ether at 10 to 20 degrees F?



It may be a little less hard to access the plug from underneath but the cab basically goes down to the loader subframe so I would have to get to the bolt from under that, the very bottom of the tractor.

I may look at that again. I may also try to fish a camera through the filler plug forward to the inside of the level plug.
 
(quoted from post at 06:55:28 11/10/22)
(quoted from post at 09:33:53 11/10/22)
The level plug is behind the foot board on many of them. Usually you can remove the plug from underneath then add oil until it starts to run out.

Do we have the same axle? How many inches from the top is that dipstick line?
 

The rear axle on you tractor hold 32.4 quarts of fluid which is a touch over 8 gallons
If. You can t access the check plug drain the axle and refill it, I d add 8 1/2 gallons to have it slightly over full, then make a dip stick to check fluid level through the fill plug

If you have electric near by install a inline bottom radiator hose heater, starting one with either is a judgment call and knowing how to do it
Personally I don t have a issue with either but using to much can damage a engine

The 6x4 reverser trans was only available with trans pto, every time you push the clutch down to stop the tractor the pto will also stop. Clutch must be pushed down and tractor movement stopped to engage the pto
 
Sorry, I'm not near the tractor at the moment. I'll try to get that information next time I'm there. I can't say when that will be though, my life is a little hectic at the moment.
 
For me ether is a last resort on an engine I'm selling, put an electric heater and a good battery on it and skip the ether. Thermostat has nothing to do with starting, why no thermostat?
 
(quoted from post at 09:24:34 11/10/22) For me ether is a last resort on an engine I'm selling, put an electric heater and a good battery on it and skip the ether. Thermostat has nothing to do with starting, why no thermostat?

No thermoSTART. It was an optional intake heater on these tractors and I don't think I have it. But there are some wires going to the front of my intake manifold. Not sure what that is but I'll check later.
 
(quoted from post at 17:49:28 11/10/22)
A wire and small fuel line going to a fitting near the front of the intake is the thermostart

That what I thought when i first saw it but I don't have the 5 position key cylinder and I don't see any other buttons to get it going. Its definitely not working because cold starts are rough. But I'll look more closely this weekend. Thanks!
 
(quoted from post at 01:33:44 11/11/22)
(quoted from post at 17:49:28 11/10/22)
A wire and small fuel line going to a fitting near the front of the intake is the thermostart

That what I thought when i first saw it but I don't have the 5 position key cylinder and I don't see any other buttons to get it going. Its definitely not working because cold starts are rough. But I'll look more closely this weekend. Thanks!

Does it have 4 distinct electrical connectors on the back of the key switch? Later replacement switches did not have the positions to the left of center for the thermostart. They used a position halfway between the run and start positions to activate the thermostart. You have to hold the key there against the pressure of the return spring to power the thermostart.
 
Thank you! We've got a working ThermoSTART over here! My dad got in the tractor and he said he tried to turn the key Backward. It can't move Backward barely at all, and maybe it forced the key further in enough to push the switch. I could see the intake heat up using an infrared camera. Starting was a lot easier


mvphoto99350.jpg



Here is the back of the intake, under the battery. I circled the Thermostart.

mvphoto99351.jpg



Back to my original issue, here is the top view of the axle oil level plug. It is an extremely tight fit. I couldn't see it very well from underneath but I'll clean it up better and try to get a better look. I tried but i was not able to push a littlecamera forward to the level plug from the large fill plug.

mvphoto99352.jpg



This post was edited by Rise&Grind on 11/11/2022 at 05:55 pm.
 
(quoted from post at 08:24:59 11/10/22) Sorry, I'm not near the tractor at the moment. I'll try to get that information next time I'm there. I can't say when that will be though, my life is a little hectic at the moment.

Just bumping this to get any more ideas. I tried to remove the fill plug but I couldn't get enough torque on it and I rounded it a little when the wrench slipped off. I can't access it from underneath because the foot rest bracket is in the way. Removing the footrest is a major challenge too.

I will plan to drain the oil in the spring when I have more room to collect gallons of old oil. And i will plan to report back with my findings. For now I think I'll just fill it up to just below the axle? If my eyeball is correct that's about where the fill plug level is.

Please let me know if that sounds like a good plan.

Here is my key cylinder. It doesn't look like the key should be able to move Backward but it definitely does, and the thermostart works great even in the 20s today!

Thanks!

mvphoto99530.jpg
 

What brand / model is that thermal camera and has it been reliable for a good while? I've been looking at them trying to decide which to get. The brand name ones are pretty low thermal res in the ~$300 range while the random brand ones seem to have fairly good thermal res in the same price range but of course the question of reliability / warranty.
 


I use an infrared thermometer that I have had for probably over ten years. For me I don't see the need for a camera It gives me the temp of what I am pointing it at.
 
(quoted from post at 08:24:13 11/20/22)

I use an infrared thermometer that I have had for probably over ten years. For me I don't see the need for a camera It gives me the temp of what I am pointing it at.

I have several IR thermometers I've used for many years. They are great, I even use one in my kitchen along with the usual instant read thermometers.

I've really been wanting a thermal imaging camera for some time for more detailed analysis of larger areas rather than just spot temps. Just another capability for the shop.
 
(quoted from post at 05:03:00 11/20/22)
What brand / model is that thermal camera and has it been reliable for a good while? I've been looking at them trying to decide which to get. The brand name ones are pretty low thermal res in the ~$300 range while the random brand ones seem to have fairly good thermal res in the same price range but of course the question of reliability / warranty.

This is just a cheap one from Amazon, mainly purchased to inspect bee hives in the winter. Works great. Had it for about 3 years. Definitely not hi res like an infrared scope but its been very hand for little projects. I also have an infrared thermometer which is a ton cheaper.

220 x 160 IR Resolution HTI Thermal Imager, Handheld 35200 Pixels Thermal Imaging Camera with 3.2" Color Display Screen(Battery Included) $388
https://a.co/d/g63gKTu
 
(quoted from post at 08:00:23 11/10/22)
The rear axle on you tractor hold 32.4 quarts of fluid which is a touch over 8 gallons
If. You can t access the check plug drain the axle and refill it, I d add 8 1/2 gallons to have it slightly over full, then make a dip stick to check fluid level through the fill plug

If you have electric near by install a inline bottom radiator hose heater, starting one with either is a judgment call and knowing how to do it
Personally I don t have a issue with either but using to much can damage a engine

The 6x4 reverser trans was only available with trans pto, every time you push the clutch down to stop the tractor the pto will also stop. Clutch must be pushed down and tractor movement stopped to engage the pto

I have a 1969 4400 with the 6x4 and live PTO. the operators manual seems to confirm that was an option as well.
 

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