955L

[Pat Kohne]

Hello all, recently picked up what I believe is a 955L. Wondering what motor I have for sure. Runs/idles great and when getting her under a load she overheats fairing quick. When tearing into it I cannot find a thermostat. I’m wanting to put a thermostat in it and then see what I have before rebuilding/replacing the water pump. Also looking for help in obtaining a service manual and a parts manual if possible. Thanks, Pat

 

[OzDozer]

Hi Pat - Your traxcavator is definitely a 955L, built in early 1972, the engine is a 4.75" bore, model 3304 with Scroll fuel injection pump.
Many owners often pull out thermostats when the engine starts overheating, in the false belief it helps to cool the engine. It doesn't, no thermostat will often worsen overheating problems.
Most older traxcavators have overheating problems, a lot of the problem is often due to debris falling over the back of the bucket when raised, and it gets picked up by the fan and driven through the radiator core, sandblasting the core, blocking the core, or bending over the fins.
A cooling system cleanout is a good start, is the coolant really rusty? Some cooling system cleaner and a pressure flush is a good start.
eBay is a good place to start looking for service manuals and parts catalogs.

 

[Bluox]

Hey Ozposer see your still a wealth of misinformation.
Thats not a 3304 but is a D330c motor.
It uses a regulator not a thermostat.
955L weren't made until 1976.
Bob

 

[OzDozer]

Thanks Bob - Glad to see you still know it all, still as arrogant as ever, and know more than the Caterpillar books, and the AED Serial number guide.

 

[fest777]

the motor does not have a 3304 style water pump , it could be a updated 330c who knows after all these years, lots of parts are interchangable , according to nige 4672 to 6246 is an L model so i believe ozdozer is correct on that part. oh but the" lord of the northwest has spoken", from what i understand 330c and 3304 share a lot of parts like cly head and injection pump, maybe block and crank not 100% sure on that, turbo looks newer like on 3304

 

[Nige]

Based on the information I have access to it's a very early 955L with a D330C engine. The clue is that (provided the engine is original) the S/N plate on the engine will carry the same S/N as the one on the tractor.
955K model changed to L at 85J4672, only 16 machines before the one in your photos.
955L with 3304 engine did not appear until 85J6247.

if you want a Parts Manual for it, this is the one you should be looking for........



EDIT: Sorry you also asked about a Service Manual. Cat Publication REG00634 is the appropriate one. https://picclick.com/Caterpillar-CAT-955K-955L-Track-Type-Loader-Service-172531558330.html

 

[OzDozer]

Yes, all correct Nige, I'm sorry I didn't meet Bluox's exacting knowledge requirements, as he is the fount of all knowledge. But if you went to acquire parts for this engine, it's a 3304 to everyone supplying you with parts.

Cat, unfortunately, caused confusion with the previous 4.5" bore D330 engine by naming the new 4.75" bore engine the D330C. That only happened for a short period before Cat renamed all the 4.75" bore engines "3300 series" with the D330C becoming the 3304.
The change to the 3304 nomenclature came in early 1974 when, with the change in nomenclature to 3304, the Cat engines all gained an arrangement number (S/No) that was separate to the tractor S/No. In the case of the 955L, the 3304 arrangement number was 78P.
I really should dig out all the Product Bulletins from this era, I have them all on fiche, they supply every piece of knowledge on the engineering changes for new releases, that is lacking in many other books - excepting parts catalogs, of course.

 

[AllDodge]

Based on the information I have access to it's a very early 955L with a D330C engine. The clue is that (provided the engine is original) the S/N plate on the engine will carry the same S/N as the one on the tractor.
955K model changed to L at 85J4672, only 16 machines before the one in your photos.
955L with 3304 engine did not appear until 85J6247.

if you want a Parts Manual for it, this is the one you should be looking for........

View attachment 263502

EDIT: Sorry you also asked about a Service Manual. Cat Publication REG00634 is the appropriate one. https://picclick.com/Caterpillar-CAT-955K-955L-Track-Type-Loader-Service-172531558330.html

This info helps me also. Mine came with 330 but when I got it it had a 3304 (Found out years later it was a Genset). My number is right there during the transition

 

[Bluox]

Yes, all correct Nige, I'm sorry I didn't meet Bluox's exacting knowledge requirements, as he is the fount of all knowledge. But if you went to acquire parts for this engine, it's a 3304 to everyone supplying you with parts.

Cat, unfortunately, caused confusion with the previous 4.5" bore D330 engine by naming the new 4.75" bore engine the D330C. That only happened for a short period before Cat renamed all the 4.75" bore engines "3300 series" with the D330C becoming the 3304.
The change to the 3304 nomenclature came in early 1974 when, with the change in nomenclature to 3304, the Cat engines all gained an arrangement number (S/No) that was separate to the tractor S/No. In the case of the 955L, the 3304 arrangement number was 78P.
I really should dig out all the Product Bulletins from this era, I have them all on fiche, they supply every piece of knowledge on the engineering changes for new releases, that is lacking in many other books - excepting parts catalogs, of course.

More Ozpozer BS
The 3304 engines serial # will be a 78P-1 up.
The arrangement number on a 955L 85J6247 up will be either 2P6783 or 4N3974.
The 3304 is a different engine than a D 330C Although they share some parts.
Almost all track loaders came with a pusher fan and a reversable fan was offered as an attachment .
Bob

 

[Bluox]

Hey Ozposer see your still a wealth of misinformation.
Thats not a 3304 but is a D330c motor.
It uses a regulator not a thermostat.
955L weren't made until 1976.
Bob

I was laughing so hard I typed weren't instead of were.
Bob

 

[Bluox]

the motor does not have a 3304 style water pump , it could be a updated 330c who knows after all these years, lots of parts are interchangable , according to nige 4672 to 6246 is an L model so i believe ozdozer is correct on that part. oh but the" lord of the northwest has spoken", from what i understand 330c and 3304 share a lot of parts like cly head and injection pump, maybe block and crank not 100% sure on that, turbo looks newer like on 3304

If you ever worked on these engines you should be able to tell the differents by looking.
Thats why you won't get far in Caterpillar land without a serial number.
Bob

 

[tctractors]

Wow' lot of voltage on this engine thing, but the engine in the picture is a D330C with the high line water pump, the 330C was just the earlier 3304 as they both ran a 4"3/4 Bore, anyhow lets think about the Overheat issue as this engine could well run piston cooling spray jets, so it's going to need the oil cooler checking in the water passages and possibly a wash out through the cylinder block, the temp regulator sits under the top hose mount and really needs to be in place when running, the radiator will love a good steam clean through the air fins, this is best done by removing the front grill plates and the inner fan guarding, then a check of the Fan belts and fan would be worth the effort, the Air Filter is also worth a look as this can increase cylinder temp, 955 anything is a nice shovel to own and not to bad on fuel. tctractors

 

[Pat Kohne]

Thanks to everyone for the help. I got all the parts ordered through CAT this afternoon. I’ll head up north with everything and let you all know how it works out. Might be a week or so.

 

[Pat Kohne]

I bought a water pump rebuild kit with all the o rings per the cat parts guy. Going to flush the system, steam clean the radiator and then install thermostat and rebuild pump. While I’m at it a new air cleaner, fuel filter, and oil change.

 

[OzDozer]

I note that Bluox failed to admit that his profound statement that "955L weren't made until 1976" is straight-out wrong. Couldn't have Bob, the greatest Cat mechanic the word has ever seen, admit to a mistake.

 

[tctractors]

Don't forget the oil cooler as that will be a most lightly cause of your temp issue, the water pump and the cooler is a gasket job, the pump gland seal replacement is simple enough but there is a few tricks to make sure of no leaks, best of luck. tctractors

 

[Welder Dave]

955L 71J series started mid 1972 and 955L 85J started in mid to late 1971.

 

[fest777]

a possible radiator rod out here if the core will handle it, there are some good radiator cores out of canada, , the core was around $1,400 complete with ship, i think the company was beray in canada if you have the 5s5991 thats the wide rad. with no converter cooler next too it, i have there ph # let me know

 

[bartholomew_banebridge]

Hi Pat - Your traxcavator is definitely a 955L, built in early 1972, the engine is a 4.75" bore, model 3304 with Scroll fuel injection pump.
Many owners often pull out thermostats when the engine starts overheating, in the false belief it helps to cool the engine. It doesn't, no thermostat will often worsen overheating problems.
Most older traxcavators have overheating problems, a lot of the problem is often due to debris falling over the back of the bucket when raised, and it gets picked up by the fan and driven through the radiator core, sandblasting the core, blocking the core, or bending over the fins.
A cooling system cleanout is a good start, is the coolant really rusty? Some cooling system cleaner and a pressure flush is a good start.
eBay is a good place to start looking for service manuals and parts catalogs.

Cat has manuals and parts books available online. I just picked up operating/maintenance manual for my 74 955L.

 

[Pat Kohne]

a possible radiator rod out here if the core will handle it, there are some good radiator cores out of canada, , the core was around $1,400 complete with ship, i think the company was beray in canada if you have the 5s5991 thats the wide rad. with no converter cooler next too it, i have there ph # let me know

Hello, radiator is shot. Do you by chance have the number to the place in Canada? Thanks