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Challenger 55 Specs ( 1996-1998 )

Name: Challenger 55
Brand: Challenger

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Nebraska Test #OECD 1752 / Nebraska Summary 254

CATERPILLAR CHALLENGER 55

Max Drawbar HP 223.8 hp

Max Pull 29,060 lbs

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Overview

The Challenger 55 is a high-performance agricultural crawler tractor powered by a Caterpillar 7.2L 6-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine delivering a claimed 225 hp at the PTO. Built between 1996 and 1998, this model features a 16-speed full power shift transmission and a versatile track-based drive system designed for demanding farm operations.

Ideal Applications

Heavy Tillage and Field Prep: With a 26,000 lb operating weight and 191 hp claimed at the drawbar, this crawler is built for pulling heavy implements through various soil conditions.

Precision Implement Control: The Category III/II rear hitch with draft control and a 12,500 lb lift capacity allows for the efficient operation of large, three-point mounted equipment.

High-Demand Hydraulic Applications: A variable-displacement load-sensing hydraulic system providing 31.2 gpm at 2750 psi supports modern hydraulic implements requiring consistent flow and pressure.

Production

Description	Agricultural Crawler tractor / Original price was $133,000 in 1998
Manufacturer	Challenger (a part of Caterpillar)

Engine

Engine type	Caterpillar 7.2L 6-cyl diesel
Fuel tank	125 gal (473.1 L)
Bore/Stroke	4.33x5.00 inches (110 x 127 mm)
Coolant capacity	34.4 qts (32.6 L)
Description	Caterpillar 3126 / turbocharged diesel / 6-cylinder / liquid-cooled
Displacement	442 ci (7.2 L)
Rated RPM	2100
Starter volts	12
Drawbar (claimed)	191 hp (142.4 kW)
PTO (claimed)	225 hp (167.8 kW)

Transmission

Gears	16 forward and 9 reverse / 32 forward and 18 reverse
Type	full power shift / creeper
Transmission type	16-speed full power shift / 32-speed creeper
Transmission type	16-speed full power shift / 32-speed creeper

Mechanical

Cab	Cab standard with air-conditioning.
Description	Wet disc brakes
Drive	crawler
Steering	differential power

Hydraulics

Pressure	2750 psi (189.6 bar)
Pump flow	31.2 gpm (118.1 lpm)
Type	variable-displacement load-sensing pressure-compensated
Valves	3 or 4

Hitch

Control	draft control
Rear lift	12500 lbs (5670 kg)
Rear Type	III/II

PTO

Clutch	electro-hydraulic wet disc
Engine RPM	1000@1900
Rear PTO	independent
Rear PTO Type	1000 (1.75)

Electrical

Battery volts	12
Charging system	alternator
Ground	negative

Dimensions & Tires

Gauge	60/68/72/76/80/88/90 inches (152/172/182/193/203/223/228 cm)
Height (cab)	120 inches (304 cm)
Height (exhaust)	125 inches (317 cm)
Length	211 inches (535 cm)
Weight	26000 lbs (11793 kg)
Wheelbase	86 inches (218 cm)
Width	91 inches (231 cm)

Challenger 55 Tracks

Width	16 inches (40 cm) / 18 inches (45 cm) / 20 inches (50 cm) / 25 inches (63 cm) / 32 inches (81 cm)

Dimensions & Tracks

Description	16-inch tracks
Weight	26000 lbs (11793 kg)
Wheelbase	86 inches (218 cm)

References

Description	Challenger 65B published in 1995, by Caterpillar / Challenger 35, 45 and 55 Product Bulletin published in 1995, by Caterpillar

Nebraska Tractor Test Results

Test #OECD 1752 / Nebraska Summary 254

Download PDF

Test Date: September - October, 1997

Location: Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI), Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada

This section is compiled from original Nebraska Tractor Test PDFs using AI-assisted extraction and human review. For full verification, download the source PDF above. Differences between reports, incomplete source data, and occasional extraction or data entry mistakes can occur.

PTO Drawbar Hydraulics Technical Sound Tires & Weight

Maximum Power & Fuel Consumption

Rated Engine Speed

229.60 hp

N/A lb/hp·hr

Standard PTO Speed

251.80 hp

@ N/A rpm PTO

Torque Statistics

Maximum Torque	839 lb.-ft. (1137 Nm) at 1252 rpm
Torque Rise	46.2%

PTO Power Curve

Maximum Power & Fuel Consumption Details

Condition	HP	kW	RPM	PTO RPM	Fuel gal/hr	Fuel L/hr
Rated Engine Speed	229.60	171.10	2102	1104	13.68	51.80

Varying Power & Fuel Consumption

Click column headers to sort

Power	RPM	gal/hr	lb/hp·hr	hp·hr/gal	DEF gal/hr
251.80	1900	14.16	0.40	17.78	N/A
229.60	2102	13.68	0.42	16.78	N/A
203.30	2190	12.52	0.44	16.23	N/A
155.00	2226	10.33	0.47	15.00	N/A
105.20	2265	8.09	0.55	13.01	N/A
53.60	2309	6.05	0.80	8.87	N/A
4.50	2258	4.07	6.42	1.12	N/A

Fuel Consumption Characteristics (Ballasted)

Click column headers to sort

Power	kW	Pull (lbs)	Pull (kN)	Speed	Slip	Air °F	Cool °F	Barometer Inch Hg	Condition	Engine RPM	Fuel Consumption Hp Hr Gal	Fuel Consumption Lb Hp Hr	Speed Km H
202.80	151.30	15,500	68.95	4.91	4.10	45	180	29.00	Maximum Power - 8th Gear	2100	14.42	0.49	7.90
159.40	118.90	11,620	51.68	5.15	3.70	51	183	28.90	75% of Pull at Maximum Power - 8th Gear	2195	13.13	0.53	8.28
109.00	81.20	7,760	34.52	5.26	3.30	51	181	28.90	50% of Pull at Maximum Power - 8th Gear	2234	11.45	0.62	8.47
159.50	119.00	11,630	51.74	5.14	2.70	51	185	28.90	75% of Pull at Reduced Engine Speed - 9th Gear	1855	14.83	0.48	8.28
109.00	81.20	7,750	34.49	5.27	2.20	55	180	28.90	50% of Pull at Reduced Engine Speed - 9th Gear	1892	13.13	0.54	8.48

Fuel Consumption Characteristics (Unballasted)

Click column headers to sort

Power	kW	Pull (lbs)	Pull (kN)	Speed	Slip	Air °F	Cool °F	Barometer Inch Hg	Condition	Engine RPM	Fuel Consumption Hp Hr Gal	Fuel Consumption Kg Kw Hr	Fuel Consumption Kw H L	Fuel Consumption Lb Hp Hr	Speed Km H
204.00	152.20	15,510	69.00	4.93	3.20	46	181	28.90	Maximum Power - 8th Gear	2100	14.72	0.28	2.90	0.46	7.94
163.00	121.60	11,630	51.73	5.26	1.20	55	183	28.90	75% of Pull at Maximum Power - 8th Gear	2193	13.27	0.33	2.61	0.53	8.46
111.30	83.00	7,750	34.45	5.39	0.60	55	180	28.90	50% of Pull at Maximum Power - 8th Gear	2234	11.40	0.38	2.25	0.62	8.67
163.30	121.80	11,640	51.75	5.26	1.30	57	181	28.90	75% of Pull at Reduced Engine Speed - 9th Gear	1877	14.40	0.30	2.84	0.49	8.47
111.30	83.00	7,750	34.48	5.39	0.60	57	180	28.90	50% of Pull at Reduced Engine Speed - 9th Gear	1908	12.92	0.33	2.55	0.55	8.67

Maximum Power In Selected Gears (Ballasted)

Click column headers to sort

Gear	Power	kW	Pull (lbs)	Pull (kN)	Speed	Slip	Air °F	Cool °F	Barometer Inch Hg	Engine RPM	Fuel Consumption Hp Hr Gal	Fuel Consumption Lb Hp Hr	Speed Km H
5th Gear	191.30	142.60	29,060	129.27	2.47	15.00	47	185	29.00	1940	13.21	0.54	3.97
6th Gear	211.30	157.60	25,710	114.38	3.08	7.40	46	183	29.00	1900	14.55	0.49	4.96
7th Gear	217.90	162.60	22,010	97.89	3.71	5.20	45	181	29.00	1899	15.02	0.47	5.98
8th Gear	220.20	164.20	18,770	83.50	4.40	4.90	45	181	29.00	1899	15.28	0.46	7.08
9th Gear	221.60	165.30	15,870	70.57	5.24	3.30	45	180	29.00	1901	15.39	0.46	8.43
10th Gear	214.80	160.20	13,080	58.18	6.16	2.70	45	181	29.00	1899	15.08	0.47	9.91

Maximum Power In Selected Gears (Unballasted)

Click column headers to sort

Gear	Power	kW	Pull (lbs)	Pull (kN)	Speed	Slip	Air °F	Cool °F	Barometer Inch Hg	Engine RPM	Fuel Consumption Hp Hr Gal	Fuel Consumption Lb Hp Hr	Speed Km H
6th Gear	187.10	139.50	24,390	108.50	2.88	15.00	45	181	28.90	1939	12.91	0.55	4.63
7th Gear	214.10	159.60	22,050	98.07	3.64	6.70	45	181	28.90	1901	14.76	0.48	5.86
8th Gear	220.90	164.70	18,880	83.98	4.39	5.00	46	181	28.90	1901	15.30	0.46	7.06
9th Gear	223.80	166.90	15,960	71.00	5.26	2.60	46	181	28.90	1901	15.56	0.46	8.46
10th Gear	221.10	164.90	13,390	59.54	6.20	1.70	48	181	28.90	1899	15.52	0.46	9.97

Category: III Quick Attach: None

Hitch Dimensions (No Load)

Dimension	Inches	mm
a	30.20	766
b	15.00	380
c	17.40	444
d	15.60	395
e	7.90	200
f	12.40	315
g	31.90	810
h	2.40	60
i	19.90	505
j	19.50	495
k	18.60	473
l	48.80	1240
m	25.20	640
n	36.00	915
o	7.90	200
p	41.50	1055
q	37.90	962
r	33.70	855

Engine

Make	Caterpillar Diesel
Type	six cylinder vertical with turbocharger and air to air intercooler
Displacement	442 cu in (7215 ml)
Compression Ratio	16.7 to 1
Rated Engine Speed	2100 rpm
Air Cleaner	two paper elements and aspirator
Crankshaft	lengthwise

Chassis

Type	tracklayer-rubber tracked
Steering	differential steering hydrostatically actuated by steering wheel
Transmission	selective gear fixed ratio with full range operator controlled powershift
Speeds	16 forward (17.92 mph max)
Brakes	caliper disc hydraulically operated by foot pedal
Hydraulic Control	direct engine drive
Unladen Tractor Mass	23,610 lbs ( 10,709 kg )

Consumables

Fuel	No. 2 Diesel
DEF Fluid	N/A

Sound Levels

Bystander	89.70 dB(A)
At 75 Percent Load In 8th Gear	75.50 dB(A)

Tires & Tracks

Height of Drawbar

Static Weight

Rear	N/A lbs
Front	N/A lbs
Total	N/A lbs

Challenger 55 Specs ( 1996-1998 )

Overview

Ideal Applications

Production

Engine

Transmission

Mechanical

Hydraulics

Hitch

PTO

Electrical

Dimensions & Tires

Challenger 55 Tracks

Dimensions & Tracks

References

Nebraska Tractor Test Results

PTO Performance

Maximum Power & Fuel Consumption

Torque Statistics

PTO Power Curve

Maximum Power & Fuel Consumption Details

Varying Power & Fuel Consumption

Drawbar Performance

Fuel Consumption Characteristics (Ballasted)

Fuel Consumption Characteristics (Unballasted)

Maximum Power In Selected Gears (Ballasted)

Maximum Power In Selected Gears (Unballasted)

Hydraulic Performance

Hitch Dimensions (No Load)

Technical Specifications

Engine

Chassis

Consumables

Sound Levels

Sound Levels

Tires & Weight

Tires & Tracks

Static Weight

Test Remarks