Oiliver Superior Grain Drill

[cedar21]

I picked up an Oliver Superior Grain Drill, and am trying to see if I can use it for planting a field. I took the drain plugs out of gear boxes to see what the oil looked like, and if it had oil. It seems to have grease in it. A bit of water came out of one of the gear box drain holes. Wondering if someone here might know what sort of grease would be in the gear boxes. The gear boxes each have a filler plug, level check plug, and drain plug.

Thanks to anyone who might be able to help.

 

[ovrszd]

Nice machine!!!

Made during simple times to do simple work. Requires simple lubricants. I'd use 80w-90. Nothing fancy or expensive.

 

[cedar21]

It seems to be in decent condition. It was parked under cover when I got it. The gear boxes seem to have grease in them, so if I were to put 80W-90 in there, wouldn't that require cleaning the grease out first?

 

[ovrszd]

I'm sure they started with oil. Someone may have switched to grease because they leaked.

If you want grease, use Poly Urea grease. Don't use cheap gun grease.

I converted my brush cutter boxes to grease. Also my 20K GN trailer axle hubs.

Use the right grease and it's no problem.

 

[cedar21]

Since grease does not settle in like oil, and come out the filler hole, how does a person tell how much grease to use, or how much grease is already in the gearbox? I suppose I could take the top cover off of the gearbox, and use gasket maker caulk when putting it back on.

 

[ovrszd]

I pumped in more grease than I thought my cutter needed. During operation it liquifies and bleeds out the vent until it's where it needs to be.

In your case, the gearboxes are not going to generate any heat. I'd pump in all the grease I could. Might even check them and pump in more after some use.

 

[cedar21]

Since some water came out of one of the gearboxes when I removed the plug, I am wondering if I need to take the top cover off and clean it out before re-lubricating it, whether with grease or 80W 90 oil.

 

[ovrszd]

Might be a good idea.

Take some pics, we love pics.

 

[cedar21]

I removed the gearbox covers and found out that what I had thought was grease, was actually sludge with the consistency of grease. Any recommendations on what to use to remove sludge from a gearbox? I have diesel and gas on hand, though would that leave a residue? I am going to use 80W-90 in the gearboxes once they are cleaned out.

 

[ovrszd]

I'd use diesel and a good stiff parts cleaning brush.

Also, try to not worry about this much. Clean em up to remove deterioriated lubricant and fill em back up.

Nothing in these boxes is high speed. Any standard lubricant will provide all the protection they need.

 

[cedar21]

I used diesel, and let it sit for a couple of hours before draining it.

With the gear boxes filled with oil again, I think I am almost ready to start seeding, except for I am trying to figure out how it needs to be set as far as the seeding rate, and also the direction that the plates inside the seed bin need to be. I have 2 fifty pound bags of buckwheat to seed, and was going to plant 100 lbs. of seed per acre. I guess I can weight 25 lbs. of seed and measure how many quarts this is, multiply by 4, and use this figure to compare to the chart

The plates have a number 1 or 2 when facing up, depending on what direction they are flipped. There was fine seed in the grain bin when I got it and the plates were flipped so that the 1 was showing. I am guessing this means that if the 1 is showing, the 2 opening is covered by the flap.

I have never used a grain drill before, so would be thankful for any useful advice.

Sorry for editing the post. Needed to think about it a bit more.

 

[ovrszd]

I can't help you with the settings. Have never used that drill. It's always a shot in the dark with me.

Post your results.

 

[cedar21]

I put the settings at 1 and 8. The grain drill worked as it should. I will know more when the seed comes up. It sure beats broadcasting the seed by hand, like I had to do before. I wondered what I had gotten myself into when I got it at an auction a while back, though it was all there, and just needed a bit of TLC.

 

[ovrszd]

You did good!!!

Rate of application isn't as important as planting depth.

Small seeds, the rule is no more than 150% of seed diameter. That's extremely shallow. Too deep and you'll get poor stand.

Please post your results after it comes up. Someone else may come here and search info regarding this drill.

 

[flusher]

Here are a few photos of a Minneapolis Moline P3-6 grain drill I refurbished about 10 years ago. Bought two of these from a neighbor for $250. Both were restored. Parked one on my front lawn. It's 10 ft wide, 20 drops, single disc openers.




I calibrated the feed mechanism by jacking up the drill, putting a weighed amount of grain in the hopper and counting the number of turns of the drive wheel to empty the hopper. Knowing the diameter of the drive wheel (4 ft) and calculating the perimeter of the wheel (diameter X pi) and using the width and number of turns, you calculate the area and then divide weight of seed by area to get pounds per acre. There are other ways to do this, but I think this is the most accurate way for a drill like this.

The photos show the seeding result using Kanota oats.

The tractor is a 2008 Mahindra 5525.

Be sure to lift the openers before making a turn. I installed a hydraulic ram for this job. It has two trip clutches with pull ropes but that was a little too authentic for me.


Good luck

 

[cedar21]

Thanks for all the information!

The Oliver drill I have has hand operated levers on the back of the drill to raise up the discs before making a turn. Sort of time consuming when operating it solo, without someone standing on the board on the back.

 

[ovrszd]

Nice restorations Flusher!!! Thanks for the pics.

 

[cedar21]

Here's a photo of the buckwheat seeding rate.

I would use the 1-7 settings I think next time. The seeding depth seems to have been OK.

 

[ovrszd]

I agree. Thanks for the followup pic.