Oliver owners present?

[jerry shannon]

Hello. Happy New Year everyone. I am restoring a 1974 Oliver 1855 diesel. Just seeing if any Ollie owners are out there. Have all the tin removed that can be removed, sanded and painted. Cold weather has slowed me down. Come Spring, I will start on frame, wheels and all other body painting when the sun comes back out. I am in Michigan by the way.

 

[flusher]

Happy New Year to you.
I bought my Oliver 60 two years ago from a fellow tractor club member. Clean, straight tin all there. Paint job is fine. The brakes were worn badly, so I relined the shoes--no problems. The gear oil was super thick--took forever to drain. Had to flush twice before adding the good stuff.



The 60 has the classic Oliver look that makes it a unique tractor IMHO.

Good luck on your restoration. I'm finishing up the restoration work on my 1951 Minneapolis Moline BF tractor. Next up--1948 Farmall Cub that needs an engine rebuild along with the usual restoration stuff.

 

[Bird]

I never owned an Oliver, but I sure did cut and bale hay with an 1855 in the late '90s. It showed to have 5,000 hours on it when a neighbor bought it. The dealer thought it was a 1972, 85 hp tractor.

 

[Farmerjonathan]

Hello and Happy New Year to you also. Have an Oliver 770 in the shed that I bought with a loader on it and used it for years and then the driveshaft running the hydraulics wore down so bought an Oliver 1650 gas wide front that I put the loader on. The 770 is sitting with a rear tire blown out in the shed. Both are amazingly dependable tractors and really have enjoyed using them.

 

[Bison]

Hello. Happy New Year everyone. I am restoring a 1974 Oliver 1855 diesel. Just seeing if any Ollie owners are out there. Have all the tin removed that can be removed, sanded and painted. Cold weather has slowed me down. Come Spring, I will start on frame, wheels and all other body painting when the sun comes back out. I am in Michigan by the way.

I have 3 of them(Canadian build Cockshutt) I'm in the process of rebuilding the engine in one of them.
My tractors have to work for a living,..sitting pretty is not an option

 

[jerry shannon]

Happy New Year to you.
I bought my Oliver 60 two years ago from a fellow tractor club member. Clean, straight tin all there. Paint job is fine. The brakes were worn badly, so I relined the shoes--no problems. The gear oil was super thick--took forever to drain. Had to flush twice before adding the good stuff.

View attachment 352930



The 60 has the classic Oliver look that makes it a unique tractor IMHO.

Good luck on your restoration. I'm finishing up the restoration work on my 1951 Minneapolis Moline BF tractor. Next up--1948 Farmall Cub that needs an engine rebuild along with the usual restoration stuff.

Nice looking tractor. I never intended to restore my 1855. Mechanically it ran great. no real leaks to worry about. Once I stared to take parts of the sheet metal off I could not stop. I have all the removeable parts off, sanded and painted. As I am in MIchigan too cold to do painting so in the Spring I will be shooting the wheels, 3 point, frame and all other parts. Thanks

 

[jerry shannon]

I never owned an Oliver, but I sure did cut and bale hay with an 1855 in the late '90s. It showed to have 5,000 hours on it when a neighbor bought it. The dealer thought it was a 1972, 85 hp tractor.

Thanks for joining in Bird. My 1855 diesel is rated at 98 hp at the pto and is plenty big enough for me to do what I want, Brush Hogging, Hay rides for the kids, and pulling the occasional tree stump out of the fence row.

 

[jerry shannon]

I have 3 of them(Canadian build Cockshutt) I'm in the process of rebuilding the engine in one of them.
My tractors have to work for a living,..sitting pretty is not an option

I agree with you Bison. My 1855 will not be in any parades either. It was missing parts and pretty worn in the paint. Those big Flat top fenders, needed to come off to clean out the bottom where they bolt to the frame as they collect 30 + years of mud and dirt. Some parts of the fenders down low were rusted through and out all together. Once I took them off, cut out the bad metal and Mig'ed some new metal in, I could not stop taking off the hood and side panels to sand and paint them as well.

 

[Bison]

Yeah, that's the problem with sheet metal,..once you start fixing and painting it is hard to stop by just the one piece..lol
If i start with one tractor then i got to do all 3 to keep them from getting jealous on one other and i just can't get motivated to do that much work
Now they all carry the same colors, red/white/rust and blend in nicely with the rest of my equipment :laughing:

Here is one of them,..this one was repowered with a 4-53 detroit

 

[2458n]

My friend reworked his diesel 1650. Started the same way doing little stuff like fixing the power steering. Then there was a flat plate horizontal inside the trans that was leaking fluid- so the top came off the trans. Injectors rebuilt or replaced. Do not remember but very big $. This brought out the fact that the engine needed rebuilt. The man that did this will be baling Hay till he is well over 100 years old to come close to being even. New tires and tubes needed new rims on the rear. The tractor still has every bit of old paint and rust on it. New seat also. Someday someone will be saying what a wonderful good running tractor. The man that did this project is to proud to tell anyone how much money has gone into this Oliver.

 

[Bison]

My friend reworked his diesel 1650. Started the same way doing little stuff like fixing the power steering. Then there was a flat plate horizontal inside the trans that was leaking fluid- so the top came off the trans. Injectors rebuilt or replaced. Do not remember but very big $. This brought out the fact that the engine needed rebuilt. The man that did this will be baling Hay till he is well over 100 years old to come close to being even. New tires and tubes needed new rims on the rear. The tractor still has every bit of old paint and rust on it. New seat also. Someday someone will be saying what a wonderful good running tractor. The man that did this project is to proud to tell anyone how much money has gone into this Oliver.

Can't say i have a lot of money in my cockshutts.
The first one i bought in 86 for $3500, it had 2000 hrs on it today it is at 6900 hrs, only repairs i made was a Injection pump rebuild and a turbo and a couple other little things,$2000 tops.
The second one was the one in the pic in 99 for $3500 and it needed a engine rebuild,..got that done for $2200. after 2000 + hrs on the rebuild (7000 hrs total)it still trouble free.
The third one i bought last oct for a grand. i am rebuilding the engine on this one,.. hope to get it running for under $3000.
engine kit $ 1200
crank grind 250.
Valve job $300.
rebuild cam shaft $600.
Clutch kit $ 500.
I don't count my hours,..they're worth nothing anyway.

It still beats the price of just one new tractor and when it breaks down ..and they do, you are stuck till it's fixed.

I just grab another one if/when that happens

 

[Sonny580]

We had a 70 that I grew up on and in the mid-late 60's I bought a Super 99 GM ( 3-71 Detroit Diesel ) in pieces and re-built engine and installed new foot clutch, made a bull pinion for it (none were avail. at that time,) , ran it for 15 years! loved it! thanks; sonny580

 

[jerry shannon]

Yeah, that's the problem with sheet metal,..once you start fixing and painting it is hard to stop by just the one piece..lol
If i start with one tractor then i got to do all 3 to keep them from getting jealous on one other and i just can't get motivated to do that much work
Now they all carry the same colors, red/white/rust and blend in nicely with the rest of my equipment :laughing:

Here is one of them,..this one was repowered with a 4-53 detroit

LOL. I hear what your saying. Nice Cockshutt. Thanks for sharing the Pic

 

[jerry shannon]

My friend reworked his diesel 1650. Started the same way doing little stuff like fixing the power steering. Then there was a flat plate horizontal inside the trans that was leaking fluid- so the top came off the trans. Injectors rebuilt or replaced. Do not remember but very big $. This brought out the fact that the engine needed rebuilt. The man that did this will be baling Hay till he is well over 100 years old to come close to being even. New tires and tubes needed new rims on the rear. The tractor still has every bit of old paint and rust on it. New seat also. Someday someone will be saying what a wonderful good running tractor. The man that did this project is to proud to tell anyone how much money has gone into this Oliver.

I could be that guy. You start with the small leaks, then the sheet metal, the seat needs replacing, missing a pto shield and the list goes on. This Spring I will be changing out all the filters and fluids and OUCH, that is going to sting. 44 quarts or so of 80/90 for just the over under hydro shift at $50.00 per 2.5 gallon jug for the oil and theres $250.00 for just the oil. The Hydro fluid is just as bad. I thought my horses were "spensive". Those fluids must be made of liquid gold.

 

[Bison]

I could be that guy. You start with the small leaks, then the sheet metal, the seat needs replacing, missing a pto shield and the list goes on. This Spring I will be changing out all the filters and fluids and OUCH, that is going to sting. 44 quarts or so of 80/90 for just the over under hydro shift at $50.00 per 2.5 gallon jug for the oil and theres $250.00 for just the oil. The Hydro fluid is just as bad. I thought my horses were "spensive". Those fluids must be made of liquid gold.

FYI the over/under hydra shift uses ATF lll, not 80/90,..80/90 goes in the tranny and rear end only
Wally mart sells ATF.,80/90 HTF(hydr oil) and 15W40 or 10W30 by the 5 gallon pail for $50/pail.

 

[jerry shannon]

FYI the over/under hydra shift uses ATF lll, not 80/90,..80/90 goes in the tranny and rear end only
Wally mart sells ATF.,80/90 HTF(hydr oil) and 15W40 or 10W30 by the 5 gallon pail for $50/pail.

You are correct Bison. I meant Transmission / Final Drive. Oops. $50 for a 5 gallon pail of 80/90 gear oil is a great price. Half the price of ordering through Agco dealer. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[amberg]

I love my 1855, bought it in 1978, put dual 18.4.38s on it and ran it for years pulling a 12 shank chisel with 4" shovels on it. done the engine in 1983 and turned the HP up to 145 HP. ran it a couple years until my daddy twisted the crank shaft into, then rebuild the engine specs. of 1955t, and turned pump back to 115 HP. been running like that to this day. also only use it to pull a round baler for the last 15 or so years. it is (my baby) also have a 1810 loader that goes on it with a JD 7' bucket. don't use that any more either. I love my oliver !

 

[jerry shannon]

I love my 1855, bought it in 1978, put dual 18.4.38s on it and ran it for years pulling a 12 shank chisel with 4" shovels on it. done the engine in 1983 and turned the HP up to 145 HP. ran it a couple years until my daddy twisted the crank shaft into, then rebuild the engine specs. of 1955t, and turned pump back to 115 HP. been running like that to this day. also only use it to pull a round baler for the last 15 or so years. it is (my baby) also have a 1810 loader that goes on it with a JD 7' bucket. don't use that any more either. I love my oliver !

Sounds like a real love affair amberg. I picked my 1855 up in 2013, from the original owner family. The engine had been overhauled prior to any issues and runs great. Very tired looking. I have fixed a few small leaks, and pulled off all the sheet metal that I can. All has been sanded and re-painted. This spring I will shoot new Meadow Green on the frame and all other parts. Will be doing hay this year with it. Love the sound of it. Funny story this weekend. I am in MIchigan, we have been hammered by frigid cold and allot of snow. I have a 8' blade on the back and use it for snow. I'm running down my lane plowing snow and the muffler came off. I had loosened the clamp and forgot to tighten it back. It worked off and fell off to the side only to have me drive over it with both the rear "filled" duals. Noticed 2 things when this happened. #1 I love the sound even more with the muffler off and #2 the muffler is tough as it was dented and went back on the tractor. Replacing it with a chrome stack this spring.

 

[jerry shannon]

For anyone to weigh in on. My question is this. My Oliver 1855 is stock. 98 hp at the pto. I wonder how big of a plow could I safely pull. I know ground conditions come into play and mine are great. No clay, moderate stone, a little on the sandy or loose side. The old pics I have seen have shown a 6 bottom plow. That sounds like a lot. Would a 5 be safer?

 

[amberg]

I think that you might like to try a straight chrome stack on your tractor, sounds so good when can here that turbo whistling, and the black smoke blowing 100s of feet in the air. as for the plow I pulled a oliver 565 4 16" semi mounted plow for years in this clay we have here. 1000# weights on the front end, also 800#s ford hang on weights on the back of the plow for hard dry ground. plowed many acres with front wheels 3' up in the air in hard ground. in sandy soil you could pull 5 or 6 bottoms with tires loaded and weights on the front end. I have my tires loaded to 95% full also. ( take care of that baby ) my shop door has a sign on it that says ( parking for olivers only )