Jump to content

Oliver 550 Tractor


Recommended Posts

What does every college student that moved across the country need? That's right, a tractor! 

I actually got this because I inherited it. A very close family friend - my brother and I called him Grandpa Jim - passed away and I was left this tractor. I have wanted this tractor from the time I knew what a tractor was, so it is very sentimental.

 

I believe this tractor is a 65. Its 41.39 drawbar horsepower with 6 forward gears and 2 reverse gears. So far, I've refreshed the ignition system with new points and condenser, a new distributor cap, a new distributor rotor, new plug wires, and new spark plugs. I also replaced all of the loader hydraulic lines as they were all leaking. I am waiting to do an oil change as the oil looks very fresh and I have to wait until it is nearly out of gas to remove the fuel tank in order to replace the valve cover gasket. I will replace the sediment bowl and oil pan gasket at the same time along with a carb rebuild.

 

When I got it:

IMG_4225.jpg.3c38fb7b92ae820c843c86cb5f279b7d.jpg

 

After pressure washing it for the first time:

IMG_4226.jpg.a697500bac8a1a638ec4cc6c4f95cc81.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, White_Comanche said:

That looks like its fun to drive, and also use. Pretty cool piece of antique machinery.

Yes, it is a ton of fun. And it’s proven to be very handy. We live on 6 acres and this is anyone in my family’s first time owning a tractor. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, Pete M said:

comes with a name too. :D  planning on a resto?

I’m not sure. Probably more like making it mechanically sound but keeping it visibly how I always remember riding on it. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...
  • 1 month later...

IMG_4540.jpeg.3779cfc94be0d0853b4f796c7897f310.jpegIMG_4539.jpeg.57bf878f0483f9f93e7bdd7083cce2ae.jpegIt looks like I forgot to update that I changed the charging system. Either the generator or the voltage regulator went bad and we had a GM one wire alternator laying around, so we figured that we might as well upgrade. I included some pictures featuring a customer car in my dad's shop. 58 Corvette factory fuel injected car.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I also found a picture that my family took when I first got the tractor and was driving it home. 
IMG_4591.jpeg.817e1e0dccbcbf2ff63ee88eb40d1aac.jpeg

Of course, I needed the SMV triangle and I got a license plate off of a semi trailer belonging to the person I inherited the tractor from. 
IMG_4536.jpeg.add15232b3f508a7c0969eceaf50ce2e.jpeg

I taught a friend from college how to drive it. 
IMG_4333.jpeg.57cc6f9672f875872bb357f24bde0978.jpeg

Me putting it to work moving cars at the estate sale for the person I inherited the tractor from. 
IMG_4675.jpeg.48bac2be60264a0086d8f66fc2d1d38e.jpegIMG_3554.jpeg.24ec5c73a11e9a18153ca125b477d9fc.jpegIMG_3555.jpeg.74e264ce72131c0a03a16e01cc398711.jpegIMG_3556.jpeg.a43e12acc3c976baa356d9a4b3d44a3f.jpegIMG_3553.jpeg.8ef0f4e1cefc0ad41d6b49acdf4b00f9.jpegIMG_4697.jpeg.532ac6c8695d5f7fb7a0f5a7f4b76f1e.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

I know that it is hard to tell in these photos (no it’s not), but my PTO clutch pressure plate had a minor issue. 
IMG_4984.jpeg.c244f5b3c5f8eaf09f65a967e3b327bc.jpegIMG_4985.jpeg.144df1f8e61b23592a3bd4e001e95bc1.jpegIMG_4986.jpeg.784cd779f014c8df812d1107cd5664ad.jpeg

$450 later, I have a new PTO clutch assembly ready to install when I get home. 
IMG_5152.jpeg.bfc505c0251b16d9050aa5d13aadf5e2.jpegIMG_5151.jpeg.e5575ca6e74e70053d9a8dfab6f20b3a.jpegIMG_5150.jpeg.b2ff27fc190941bde568e717343fcc84.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don’t think I’ve mentioned my attachment collection for this either. 
I have a King Kutter finish mower. I can’t remember if it’s a 60” or a 72”. 
IMG_4496.jpeg.879799e7f58085449f732a2456f5a6be.jpeg

 

I also have a boom that attaches at the 3 point hitch for lifting things. 
IMG_4591.jpeg.0711019744da53c68539f7c3925e327c.jpeg

 

Not pictured, but I have a 3 point mounted blade as well. Anybody that has land but no tractor is really missing out! There is so much these can be used for

Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 minutes ago, Pete M said:

the guy I bought my stove pipe from had a new tractor about that big and only 2 acres.  I like my little garden tractor, but I was deeply envious. :D 

The capabilities of a garden tractor are certainly impressive. My Bolens did very well for 5 years, and there are certain things it does better than the Oliver

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

Had a tree go down in the yard. The Oliver was ready to get it taken care of. It sat since January with the battery connected and fired on the first try. 

IMG_5272.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

I was asked to have my tractor on display at the county fair. It’s not even close to ready and the fair starts next Wednesday. Tonight we worked on repairing the grille. 
IMG_5590.jpeg.2c4a4377d1685c3d8d44be948197c48e.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, fiatslug87 said:

Better haul some a$$!:))

Tell me about it! Got a few things I want to get done on the tractor before the fair, then my family goes on vacation for a little over a week, then I need to get the engine swapped in my Eagle, all before heading back to school mid-late August. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I got the grille repaired and installed at 9pm tonight. The tractor needs to be to the fair at 9am tomorrow. I cut that plenty close. 
IMG_5608.jpeg.f9d83dbe5f38d20b74904d16ff8cc07f.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 hours ago, Salvagedcircuit said:

Looking good :L:

Thank you!

 

 

And here is the setup at the fair. That is the Oliver pedal tractor that I rode when I was little with it. 
IMG_5609.jpeg.82643cc930a5e648a0157033756c70d2.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...