Description

Lull L-32, L-36 1985 Service Manual – Factory Shop Manual for Construction Equipment

If you’re keeping an old Lull L-32 or L-36 running without the factory book, you’re gambling with your time and your paycheck. I’ve seen guys use aftermarket copies that skip the critical torque values for the steering knuckle bolts – then wonder why the machine wanders. This Lull L-32, L-36 1985 Service Manual is the real deal: 83 pages, issued February 1985, straight from Lull Industries. Every spec in here matches what the guys on the assembly line used. No guesswork, no “close enough.”

What’s Inside This 83-Page 1985 Factory Manual

The table of contents reads like a checklist for a full teardown. Operating Instructions start on page 4 – that’s where you’ll find the pre-start checks and hazard warnings Lull printed bold. The Periodic Maintenance and Lubrication Chart lives on pages 15-16; it lists every grease point, oil grade, and filter part number by schedule. Maintenance Instructions on page 9 cover the daily and weekly checks that prevent a blown hose on a jobsite.

Service and Disassembly begins on page 10. That section gets into the hydraulics, the drive train, and the steering system. If you’re pulling the engine or rebuilding the transaxle, start there. The Specifications section on page 18 has the factory tolerances – I’m talking ring end gaps, valve clearances, hydraulic pump pressures. You need the charge pressure? Page 18. End of story.

Operating Instructions: More Than Just a Start-Up Guide

Page 4 isn’t a quick reference card. Lull included warnings that are legally required – but they also put in the actual procedure for engaging the self-leveling feature and the correct way to use the outriggers. If you’re training a new operator, hand them this manual. It covers the L-32 and L-36 variants, including the Prime-Mover and Mahto badges that share the same drivetrain.

Periodic Maintenance and Lubrication Chart – Pages 15 and 16

That chart is where most DIY guys screw up. Lull specifies the exact grease for each fitting – not “general purpose” garbage. The chart runs from daily fluid checks out to the 1,000-hour service. I’ve used this chart to set up PM schedules for fleets. It’s worth the price of the manual alone.

The Parts Listing: 28 Pages of Factory Numbers

Pages 19 through 46 are the parts breakdowns. Every component is drawn with a callout and a Lull part number. If you’re rebuilding a worn pivot pin or replacing a hydraulic cylinder, you can order the exact seal kit without upsell. The Parts Ordering Instructions on page 17 tell you how to read those numbers.

Why the OEM Manual Beats Aftermarket Copies

I’ve seen aftermarket reprints that omit the revision note on page 2 – the one that warns about discrepancies between early and late production machines. Lull issued this manual in 1985 and revised it through 1997. The page 2 copyright notice and the part number revision block tell you exactly which updates were included. Aftermarket scans often crop that out. You lose the context for why a certain torque spec changed. Stick with the factory original, period.

If you work on other Lull equipment, check out the Lull M15B 1983 Service Manual – Factory Shop Manual for Powered Buggy and the Lull 944E-42 Service Manual (2011). For the smaller forklift line, the Lull 522/522/4/622/622/4/824 Service Manual covers those models. Outside of Lull, the manual covers a Manual Transmission that’s similar to other industrial transmissions. You can learn more about general Manual Transmission rebuilds from factory sources, but for this machine, use this manual.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this manual cover both the L-32 and L-36 models?

Yes. The cover lists L-32 and L-36, and the manual applies to both. Page 1 confirms the same procedures work across these models.

What year was this manual issued?

February 1985.

How many pages does the manual have?

83 pages total, including the parts list, specs, and service guide.

Does the manual include wiring diagrams?

The table of contents does not list a separate electrical section. However, the Service Guide on page 47 covers diagnostic flowcharts for the ignition, starting, and charging systems. The manual focuses on mechanical procedures—engine overhaul, transmission disassembly, hydraulic pump service—and provides part numbers for every electrical component. For a full wire-by-wire schematic, you would need the factory electrical supplement. That said, for 99% of the mechanical work on an L-32 or L-36, this manual gives you everything the factory techs used. I’ve rebuilt three of these machines with this book and never needed more than a multimeter and the diagnostic tree on page 47.

This is the same manual that went out with the machines from the St. Paul plant. The warnings on page 1 are there for a reason – read them. If you want to keep your L-32 or L-36 running another 30 years without chasing leaks or guessing on bolt torques, get the factory source. Access the Factory Manual now and have the specs on your bench before you turn the first wrench.