Has anyone attempted to back flush or clean the sump screen in a Ford 555 tractor that has a hydraulic power shuttle and torque converter?I bought a Ford 555 loader tractor that won't move because the shuttle won't engage. The previous owner had changed the fluid (very milky looking), and it stopped working, which is why he sold the tractor. I tested the pump pressure and it showed very little pressure with a lot of pulsing on the gauge. I changed the fluid (again, very milky), and got 100 PSI on the test port which is within specification, but the longer the engine ran, the less the pressure became, then started pulsing from 40 - 80 psi. When I would rev up the engine the pressure would drop to almost zero. When I drained the fluid, it first ran water then milky oil. Also, there was a lot of gray crud while it was draining. After refilling with fresh fluid, the engine was started and stopped several times. Each time when first starting, the pressure very quickly would jump to 100 PSI, then begin to drop downward to 20 - 40 PSI. This is seeming to indicate that the sump screen is clogged. No access can be made to it short of breaking apart the tractor and removing the front pump/valve/reversing clutch assembly. In studying the Ford 555 repair manual, I see that there is a pipe plug in the bottom of the pump assembly that I may be able to get to from the pump test access hole that is covered by the inspection plate at the bottom of the bell housing. If I can remove the pipe plug, it will give me an entry point into the passage between the sump and the pump. I'm considering blowing air and kerosene through it to reverse flush the sump screen, and allow it to drain out the transmission case through the drain plug hole. Has anyone ever done anything like this on this style Ford? Industrial tractors tend to be parked outside in the weather, and can get water into through the shifter boot. I'm sure this contributes to forming the slimy crud that accumulates on the sump screen. Also, has anyone tried to add some kind of detergent that will allow the oil and water to mix, then drain it out and refill with fresh fluid? I just don't want to break the tractor in half to fix the problem.
| 
