Oil & Fuel Help with JD 855

[JLuke]

Hello, I'm new to this forum and need some advice. My father just passed and left me his JD 855. I can't find his owner's manual, so I was wondering about some basic maintenance questions till I get to the JD dealer and order a manual.

1. What type of Engine oil for the Diesel motor?
2. How full should the Hydraulic fluid be in the filler behind the seat above the PTO be? I believe I should be able to see it and I can't.
3. How much hydraulic fluid does it take and what weight?
4. Are there any other fluids I should check?
5. Any other things I should check?

Sorry for so many questions. I just don't want to run it till I check it out.

Thanks, John

 

[deere755]

Sorry to hear about your Dad and welcome to the forum. I used John Deere plus 50 15w40 in my 4700 and used it in my 755 when I had it. You should be able to see the hydraulic level on the dipstick. If there is no oil on the dipstick you need to add some. It can be hard to see at times. Your John Deere dealer can help you with the the type of hydraulic oil you will need. Only other fluid to check would be the antifreeze unless it is 4wd then there would be oil in the front axle to check. There are several places to grease. I change the oil every 100 hours or once a year. I think hydraulic oil for the 55 series is every 500 hours. Hope this helps out a little. I don't have my manual for my 755 anymore as I traded it off last year so I am trying to remember all of it.

 

[techwrtr2]

x2 on the 15w40.

Dealer will be a good source for fluids. Random parts can often be head on fleebay.

I like to do engine oil once per year. Top off coolant as needed. Make sure you grease it. There are fittings underneath in addition to those obvious to you.

Post up some pictures if you have a chance.

 

[beenthere]

:welcome:
What are your uses for the 855?
Has the tractor been setting idle for any long period of time?
Will you be using it on the same property as your father?
And with the same attachments? And they are??

Sorry of your loss. I know how I felt when my father passed away. Really miss him.

 

[JLuke]

Thank you for the sentiments. Also thanks for the info. I'll be on here frequently now that I have a John Deere.

 

[beenthere]

JLuke
Any help with the answers to the questions?

If too personal, ignore them.

 

[kiotiken]

I sold my 955 last year. JD has one of the best online resources of any company for parts. If you sign up (free), you'll have access to all of the parts diagrams and parts lists. You'll be able to search for any part you need, get the part number, order it and have it arrive at your local JD dealer with a few clicks of the mouse. Sorry I can't help you with your questions, but this is a great resource to have.

https://jdparts.deere.com/servlet/com.deere.u90.jdparts.view.publicservlets.HomeUnsigned

 

[JLuke]

beenthere,

I'll be using it to get my Firewood out of the woods, and next spring to plow the garden
It hasn't been sitting it was used on his farm.
No implements except the FEL.
Will be using at my place

 

[amaxwell]

On some tractors the fill for the hydo is in a diffrent location from the check level dipstick . Please check for this before you fill it up and overfill it. I use the Shell diesel oil in my old ford

 

[beenthere]

Hello, I'm new to this forum and need some advice. My father just passed and left me his JD 855. I can't find his owner's manual, so I was wondering about some basic maintenance questions till I get to the JD dealer and order a manual.

...............
2. How full should the Hydraulic fluid be in the filler behind the seat above the PTO be? I believe I should be able to see it and I can't.
................

There appears to be just the dipstick for the tranny, and the end of it should have markings to show the level. If no oil on the dipstick, then more shoule be added (I'd suggest a quart at a time until it shows). Have the FEL on the ground so you get a good reading on the dipstick. Appears this is also where tranny oil is added. Don't see a sight glass for the 855.

Firewood is what I am doing now with my 4300. Can't beat the help these small tractors can be to save on the back. If your Dad has been using the tractor within the last year, you should be good to go in the short term at least. Look around for some writings on the filters to see if he wrote/scratched/painted the hours of the last change. I do that, and rely on that for reminders when to do it the next time.

A couple pics showing the dipstick.

 

[Mechanos]

The dipstick on the transaxle that beenthere described is the dipstick to use to check the hydraulic oil level. The 855 uses a shared reservoir for the hydraulic implement pump and the transmission. Other than the engine oil dipstick, the only other oil level to check would be the front axle if it's a 4WD model. The recommended hydraulic oil is Lo-Viscosity Hy-Gaurd. Hold on to your shorts if you go to buy some... it's not cheap. I just priced a 5 gallon pail a couple weeks ago and it was about $100. The reservoir capacity is 4.5 gallons.

 

[2weelz4me]

just picked up a JD 855 today. The aforementioned dipstick was showing empty. so I guess i have to figure out where to by lo viscosity hy-guard and add it through the dip stick hole? also want to change oil and whatever else I can do myself, and I don't have a manual yet. any tips on something simple like an oil change? first time tractor owner.

 

[kebo]

JD will have all the fluids you need for it, if there is a dealer near you. There should be another port with a screw cap on it to fill the hydraulic fluid. I am pretty sure it doesn't go in through where the dipstick is at. Maybe someone else here can say for sure where it's located at, or your dealer can tell you.

I've always used the Shell Rotella T 15-w40 engine oil in my tractors. Nothing wrong with the JD brand, of course, just my preference since the Shell is more readily available. Heck, even Walmart and Kmart carry it. Try to find some JD oil there lol!

As for changing the engine oil, there is no magic to it. Just get yourself a new oil filter (this will probably have to come from JD) and enough oil. According to tractordata (see link below) the 3cyl Yanmar engine in the 855 requires 3.8 quarts of engine oil, so I would go ahead and buy a gallon container of new oil and one extra quart to keep it topped off with.

Let the engine idle a few minutes to warm up the oil, then shut it off. Pull the plug and drain the old oil, and remove the old filter. Reinstall the drain plug after the old oil has drained out.

Get the new filter and fill it about half way full of new oil. Take your finger and dip it in some oil and lube the rubber seal on the top of the filter.

Spin the new filter on, but try not to spill any. If your filter is mounted horizontal, I would place a big rag underneath it to catch whatever does spill. This is when you HATE filters that are mounted horizontal!

Refill engine with 3.7 quarts new oil (allowing for the little bit you already poured into the new oil filter). Crank it up and look for any leaks. If no leaks, you are done! Here are most of the 85 spec's:

TractorData.com John Deere 855 tractor information

 

[2weelz4me]

Thank you. gotta find the place to add the hydraulic fluid. all foreign to me because it is first tractor. guy gave me tons of extra filters, but just discovered they are all for a different tractor! bummer! I must have 10 different filters for oil, and gas, and they are all worthless to me. well gotta find a store near me to buy hydraulic fluid now. wish me luck.

 

[kiotiken]

Thank you. gotta find the place to add the hydraulic fluid. all foreign to me because it is first tractor. guy gave me tons of extra filters, but just discovered they are all for a different tractor! bummer! I must have 10 different filters for oil, and gas, and they are all worthless to me. well gotta find a store near me to buy hydraulic fluid now. wish me luck.

If it's the same as a 955, it's at the back, directly in the centre and under the seat area. I had a cab, so I can't say exactly what to look for, but that's the area you'll find it in.

 

[Mechanos]

Circled in yellow

 

[Boombollie]

There's two oil caps under the hood. What are they for?

 

[v8only]

to fill the oil.

 

[JD755]

You can ignore the lower one on the side. It does the same thing as the one on the top.

 

[Boombollie]

Thanks for the useful comment. Now that I'm under there, does the fuel filter housing just unscrew? Am I not doing something there? It's a real PITA to get off!