Ford 655A Tractor Loader Backhoe Operator's Manual
This is the Operator's Manual for the Ford 655A Tractor-Loader-Backhoe, covering the full controls, operation, and maintenance procedures for both loader and backhoe functions across 116 pages. This is the factory document Ford issued to 655A owners and is available as an instant digital download.
About the Ford 655A
The Ford 655A was Ford's larger-frame TLB offering during the mid-1980s, positioned above the 555 and 555B in the industrial lineup and designed for heavier commercial excavation, utility trenching, and construction applications. It shared its general layout and shuttle transmission design with the 555B but carried a more powerful 4-cylinder diesel engine, a higher loader lift capacity, and a longer-reach backhoe with greater dig depth — making it the choice for contractors who needed more capability than a compact TLB could deliver but didn't require a full-size excavator. The 655A's front drive axle was available as an option, providing traction in muddy or soft site conditions. Like the 555B, the 655A used Ford's synchromesh shuttle transmission. The hydraulic system, stabilizer cylinders, and swing circuit are the highest-wear components on high-hour machines, and proper maintenance intervals and fluid specifications — all documented in this manual — are the most important factor in their longevity.
What This Manual Covers
This 116-page manual covers every operational and maintenance aspect of the 655A as a complete machine, with loader and backhoe procedures documented throughout. Key sections include:
- Safety Precautions — Ford's original TLB-specific safety requirements including stabilizer, trench, and overhead hazard guidelines
- Controls & Instruments — brake and rear axle controls; transmission controls; front drive axle operation; loader controls; backhoe controls
- Operation — break-in procedures; engine starting; transmission operation; towing and transporting; weighting limitations; loader operation; backhoe operation; loader and backhoe attachments; backhoe removal and installation
- Lubrication & Maintenance — lubrication and maintenance chart; fuels and lubricants specifications; fuel and lubricant service procedures; general maintenance; hydraulic hoses and tubing inspection; storing the Ford 655A
- Specifications — factory-specification dimensions, capacities, and performance ratings for loader and backhoe functions
- Safety Decals — original safety decal content and placement reference
- Pre-Delivery & 50-Hour Service — factory inspection and break-in service checklist
Why This Manual Matters
- Front drive axle documentation: The optional front drive axle on the 655A has its own fluid, engagement procedure, and service requirements — the manual documents all three, covering a system that 2WD-only resources will miss entirely
- Backhoe removal and installation: Correctly removing and reinstalling the 655A's rear backhoe requires following the factory sequence for counterbalance, hydraulic disconnects, and stabilizer positioning — procedures frequently mishandled without the correct documentation
- Hydraulic hose and tubing inspection criteria: The 655A's hydraulic circuit serves loader, backhoe, and stabilizer functions simultaneously, and the maintenance section documents Ford's inspection criteria for a system under constant high-cycle stress
- Weighting and stability limits: Ford's specified front/rear weight distribution and load limits for the 655A with loader and backhoe are documented here — essential for safe operation on grades or near trench edges
- Shuttle transmission service: The factory-specified fluid type, change interval, and operating guidelines for the synchromesh shuttle are documented here, covering the most operationally critical system on the machine
- Original factory content: This is the manual Ford issued to 655A owners, carrying manual code SE 4435 685
Manual Code: SE 4435 685