JCB 1550 problem

[piscor1ckey]

I got an ancient backhoe loader, my favorite '80s JCB 1550, it just developed a serious knock, now I'm a little worried. It's got that Leyland 4/98NT engine, and it sounds bad.

I'm hoping to avoid a huge job, but it looks like the oil pan is part of the machine's frame.
Anyone know if there's any way to get it off without pulling the whole motor? If not, what's the best way to pull the engine?
Has anyone ever done an engine swap on one of these? What's a modern engine that would be a good replacement if this one is totally shot?
Any tips would be a huge help!

 

[MandRaith]

What's the history of this backhoe? More importantly, how quickly did that knock develop, and did anything else happen right before or at the same time, like a drop in oil pressure or a loss of power? You also need to confirm the status of the oil—when was it last changed, or has it ever been changed since you've owned it? Try to isolate the issue to a single cylinder. The standard way to do this is to carefully loosen the injector lines one at a time while the engine is running to see if the knock disappears. If cutting the fuel to a cylinder makes the noise go away, you have likely identified the source. You can then swap the injector with one from another cylinder to verify the injector is the problem, or you may just want to pull all of them and have them professionally rebuilt.

 

[Alan]

Taking out the 4/98NT's oil pan is tough because it supports the engine, so you've got to pull the whole thing. Lifting from the front is usually the easiest way. If you're swapping it out, a Perkins 1004 or a small Kubota V3300 could work if you use an adapter. Just be sure the engine mounts line up and the bellhousing fits right.

 

[tractorClub]

what's the best way to pull the engine?

because you're going to have to pull the motor, to pull the engine, you need to split the tractor. It sounds scary, but it's safer and gives you better access. Support the transmission/rear half, separate it from the front chassis, and then you can lift the engine out of the front frame.

take tons of photos of the hydraulic lines, fuel lines, and throttle linkage before you unbolt anything.
you'll thank yourself during reassembly. Also, have a big engine hoist rated well over the weight of that old cast iron lump, ready to go