Cat 225 LC rear main seal replacement project

[Nige]

Strictly speaking the only pumps that count are the main implement pumps because they supply the oil for the machine functions. The pilot pump in the centre simply supplies oil to the pilot system and not to the implements. Therefore in the case of the OP's particular excavator it would be correctly described as having a 2-pump implement hydraulic system, despite physically having 3 pumps mounted on to the pump drive box.

 

[Dapperdan16]

Looks like you got some kind of leak going on also

 

[Dapperdan16]

Thanks Nige for the explanation, don't some of the 225's have a one pump system? I hear they are not as desired, is this true?

 

[Dapperdan16]

Looks like you got some kind of leak going on also

etd66ss, I was referring to the pic of your pump, looks like oil is leaking from somewhere

 

[etd66ss]

etd66ss, I was referring to the pic of your pump, looks like oil is leaking from somewhere

I have a bunch of issues with my 225 I am working on this summer, leaks included.

1) Seized pins & bushings: http://imgur.com/a/5XNFq

2) Cooling issues: http://imgur.com/a/UxGTA http://imgur.com/a/92mJo http://imgur.com/a/0GrQQ

3) Head scratching engine mounting issues: http://imgur.com/a/C6yiC

I did just get a new power washer last weekend, so am in the process of cleaning up the machine. I'll try to fix leaks wherever I find them. I think there are a lot of hardened O-rings & seals all over the machine that need replacing.

 

[Dapperdan16]

I have a bunch of issues with my 225 I am working on this summer, leaks included.

1) Seized pins & bushings: http://imgur.com/a/5XNFq

2) Cooling issues: http://imgur.com/a/UxGTA http://imgur.com/a/92mJo http://imgur.com/a/0GrQQ

3) Head scratching engine mounting issues: http://imgur.com/a/C6yiC

I did just get a new power washer last weekend, so am in the process of cleaning up the machine. I'll try to fix leaks wherever I find them. I think there are a lot of hardened O-rings & seals all over the machine that need replacing.

I hear ya, luckily the 225 I just purchased looks like it was well taken care of, besides a few leaks, "rear main seal,bucket cylinder, travel pedal seals, and swivel seals" the rest of the machine seems to be in great shape. I must say, I'm really enjoying working on the machine and getting to know it, it's my first excavator. I literally searched for years to find a 225 LC with the 3304 4cyl and two pump set up.

 

[etd66ss]

I hear ya, luckily the 225 I just purchased looks like it was well taken care of, besides a few leaks, "rear main seal,bucket cylinder, travel pedal seals, and swivel seals" the rest of the machine seems to be in great shape. I must say, I'm really enjoying working on the machine and getting to know it, it's my first excavator. I literally searched for years to find a 225 LC with the 3304 4cyl and two pump set up.

After looking at other 225's, I realize mine was well taken care of too. I've already dug 3 ponds with it and logged 10 acres of land, it's just time I do some repairs I have been putting off for a few years...

 

[Dapperdan16]

After looking at other 225's, I realize mine was well taken care of too. I've already dug 3 ponds with it and logged 10 acres of land, it's just time I do some repairs I have been putting off for a few years...[/QUOTE

Some of the machines I looked at were completely toast, it actually amazed me that they even still ran and functioned, they looked more like parts machines or ready for the scrap yard. I don't understand how some people can neglect a piece of equipment that bad. How many hours are on your machine?? Got any pictures of it??

 

[etd66ss]

After looking at other 225's, I realize mine was well taken care of too. I've already dug 3 ponds with it and logged 10 acres of land, it's just time I do some repairs I have been putting off for a few years...

Some of the machines I looked at were completely toast, it actually amazed me that they even still ran and functioned, they looked more like parts machines or ready for the scrap yard. I don't understand how some people can neglect a piece of equipment that bad. How many hours are on your machine?? Got any pictures of it??

Here are some pictures from when I bought the machine in 2006: http://imgur.com/a/sM8kJ

When I bought it, it had 5830 hours on it, however it is not the original CAT hour meter, it's a Hobbes meter, so I have no idea on the true hours. I was told by the previous owner there was ~1600 hrs on the CAT meter when it broke, but he could say anything and who knows, why would an hour meter break at 1600 hours... I think now the meter reads ~6200 hours (I'd have to check, going from memory). So I have put about ~370 hours on it since I got it in 2006.

About 3 years before I bought it they replaced the 3208 with a rebuilt engine, rebuilt the main pumps, and bought new CAT chains, all the bottom rollers, 2 carrier rollers and one idler. At the moment I have one idler that was welded up and turned but it is kind of a mess and 2 carrier rollers are almost gone. The rest of the UC will last my lifetime.

 

[Dapperdan16]

Here are some pictures from when I bought the machine in 2006: http://imgur.com/a/sM8kJ

When I bought it, it had 5830 hours on it, however it is not the original CAT hour meter, it's a Hobbes meter, so I have no idea on the true hours. I was told by the previous owner there was ~1600 hrs on the CAT meter when it broke, but he could say anything and who knows, why would an hour meter break at 1600 hours... I think now the meter reads ~6200 hours (I'd have to check, going from memory). So I have put about ~370 hours on it since I got it in 2006.

About 3 years before I bought it they replaced the 3208 with a rebuilt engine, rebuilt the main pumps, and bought new CAT chains, all the bottom rollers, 2 carrier rollers and one idler. At the moment I have one idler that was welded up and turned but it is kind of a mess and 2 carrier rollers are almost gone. The rest of the UC will last my lifetime.

looks pretty nice, are any of the parts they replaced 3 years before you bought it worn out? if so, how is that possible after only putting a few hundred hours on it? any pictures of it digging the ponds you did? here are a few pics of my machine, it has 10,360 hours and still ticking on the original cat hour meter, not sure if anything has ever been done to it, engine, pumps etc. I do know the chains aren't original, they say Berco on them.
Danny

 

[etd66ss]

are any of the parts they replaced 3 years before you bought it worn out?

Nope, so far so good.

any pictures of it digging the ponds you did?

I have way too many pictures of my projects at my land to sort through, but here is a collage I made a while back to show my project and equipment I have used at my lot. http://i.imgur.com/iXMdzJz.jpg

I'm gearing up to build my house on the lot now, and I want to get my 225 & D6C in good running order, hence the reason I am digging into both of them.

 

[Dapperdan16]

Nope, so far so good.



I have way too many pictures of my projects at my land to sort through, but here is a collage I made a while back to show my project and equipment I have used at my lot. http://i.imgur.com/iXMdzJz.jpg

I'm gearing up to build my house on the lot now, and I want to get my 225 & D6C in good running order, hence the reason I am digging into both of them.

Looks like a beautiful piece of land, how may acres, and are the ponds you dug on the property fed by a spring? is that an island in the middle of the pond?

 

[etd66ss]

Looks like a beautiful piece of land, how may acres, and are the ponds you dug on the property fed by a spring? is that an island in the middle of the pond?

63 acres total. The ponds are watershed filled, and the soil sandy loam + silty clay. I lined the ponds with the clay from on site, but the pond water level does fluctuate through the year. About 18 inches drop from spring to fall. There are no springs in my area. Where my land is was the bottom of Lake Ontario 12000 years ago, so it's a lot of sand an a lot of rounded stone & gravel etc.

And yes, that is an island in the center of the big pond. The ponds are about 1.33 acres in total area, I dug about 18 ft deep, just about before I hit bedrock at 19-20 ft. The 225 did its job...

 

[Dapperdan16]

Ok, had some time tonight after work so I removed the coupler, my questions is, how the heck do I remove the adapter plater from the flywheel? I removed the bolts and it won't budge, frozen on there it seems, any tricks besides the puller they show in the book? thanks for any help.
Danny

 

[Cmark]

Try giving it a few taps on the face with a hammer to loosen the rust, and maybe a little heat. You might have to rig up some kind of crosshead to the coupling bolt holes with a spacer to push off the centre of the flywheel.

 

[Dapperdan16]

Try giving it a few taps on the face with a hammer to loosen the rust, and maybe a little heat. You might have to rig up some kind of crosshead to the coupling bolt holes with a spacer to push off the centre of the flywheel.

Thanks Cmark, I'll give that a try and report back.
Danny

 

[Dapperdan16]

Homemade puller

Hello everyone, during a break in the rain today I made a puller to try and remove the adapter plate. I took two pieces of flat steel and welded a nut in between them, used the coupler bolts with washers in there original threaded holes, then used a long bolt to run through the welded nut, can you guys chime in and let me know if what I made will work?? "see pic below" it got to dark and I need to find a spacer to put against the flywheel for my bolt to push against before I could try it out. Thanks guys and gals.
Danny


View attachment 154558

 

[mitch504]

Invalid attachment, but it sounds like it.

 

[Cmark]

Don't know if it will work (perhaps a little lightweight?) but it's definitely the kind of thing that should work.

 

[Dapperdan16]

Invalid attachment, but it sounds like it.

Thanks for the response Mitch. I don't know why that happens with pictures sometimes, I uploaded another pic, can you view it now?
Danny