JD 450 Loader, 1969

Hi, I have a nice 450 Crawler, with a backhoe attachment and as I was using it today it lost all the hydraulic fluid. I can't see clearly, but the whole front is soaked and I am not sure if I am lucky and it is just a hose, which I highly doubt since I believe everything is hardpiped, or the pump seal. Just trying to see if there is anyone that has experienced this before. I would greatly appreciate any feedback.

Hard pipes can get holes in them or fatigue and crack, hoses blow, fittings loosen, seals fail, pump casings can split. Those are some ideas for things that have been known to happen in that area. Sorry but the only way I know of how to tell the actual problem in your case is, to get in there and look.

Thank you for the response Jim. Once I take the hood off I should be able to see it better, which brings me to another question do you know the weight of the hood by any chance?

Hood should be made of sheet metal which 2 people should be able to remove from over engine.

It appears from viewing 450 parts catalog there are several hoses that could be the cause for a hyd leak.

Good morning Tx Jim, the hood I as referring to is the front where the grille attaches to. I am in the middle of my yard and I am trying to see what I need to consider for portable hoist support.

I don't know how much cast nose piece weighs but it's "heavy"!!

That is referred to as the nose, not hood. To find the leak, I would remove the grill and sheet metal under the radiator and maybe lower the front belly pan (with a jack or com-a-long) before I pulled the nose. The nose may be around 500 pounds, if it needs to come off. No, it isn't going to be fun or easy with a loader down in front of it. If you can get the loader up, be sure to put the safety support bar on the lift cylinder ram (if it has one) or get some heavy angle iron (like 3/8 x 3 x 3) to make support to put on the lift cylinder rams so the boom can settle.

Tx Jim is correct with his picture of the filter and lines for the HLR that is in that area and could have a leak as well as the hydraulics. I would suggest doing a good bit of looking, by removing light things, before tearing the nose off.

It was the outlet tubing that had a crack. I did take the front off anyway and I was able to clean the mess that was collected under and get some hoses and the belt. Also found my heater! it was buried in so much gunk that I didn't even see it before. no w I know that I can also take the metal pan below, drop it on the ground and clean it that way. It is my first heavy machinery and I am learning, but it was pretty interesting and definitely showed me that the old machines are so much better then all new electronically controlled junk. It is nice to have the AC and heater for the winter, but I don't do this every day and I can get by without the comfort.

Thank you all for the help and tips! I will be back for some more once I get into the clutches.

The one man crew can accomplish this with this setup for only $500 from Amazon.





This post was edited by GGB80 on 07/09/2022 at 07:35 pm.

Good afternoon folks, after the recent hydraulic lines repair the machine worked very good for about a few hours before it died right in the middle of a pile scoop. I have something wrong with the alternator and charging the battery which I assumed might have something to do with it, but even on a jump start it wasn't doing anything. I can hear a clicking right under the dash, but nothing more. First thought was that the starter went bad since few times when it was hot and I ran the machine longer and shut it off it wouldn't start back again until it cools off a bit. I went and picked a new starter and replaced it. The new one I was told it has only one connection to the solenoid as oppose to the two, like the old one use to have, just to mention that this is the diesel engine, and now it is not even making the clicking noise. I was told that all new starters unless this is a gasoline engine come with only one solenoid connection. I did check the start button and it shows incoming and outgoing power as I press, therefore not the issue. Next one that I wasn't aware of was the safety switch on the left side below my foot, and I tried to get a jumper wire just to bypass it and see if that might be the problem, but again nothing. I would greatly appreciate any input from the group. Any words of wisdom on this 450 debacle.