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Re: Oliver 550

Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 7:24 pm
by Barnyard
Mr E wrote:With the three of you, there is never a dull moment.

Roy, I think one of Steve's favorite memories is standing behind me with a flash light while I had a screwdriver stuck in a 200 amp breaker panel and David Grapes called my cell phone (on vibrate) just as the screwdriver made contact with the wire. I dropped the screwdriver and said what I almost did in my pants. :shock: :lol:

Re: Oliver 550

Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 7:30 pm
by Denny Clayton
My neighbor has had a Super 55 for the past 25 years. The 550 is the next model out. The Super 55 has been a great tractor with a FEL. The 550 has power steering, the 55 doesn't. It is the one thing he has wished for for years.

Re: Oliver 550

Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 7:55 pm
by BIGHOSS
Roy it does have the funny gear shift lever. I will need lessons on how to shift into the gear I want. I didn't know what to call it.

Re: Oliver 550

Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 8:02 pm
by Mr E
BIGHOSS wrote:Roy it does have the funny gear shift lever. I will need lessons on how to shift into the gear I want. I didn't know what to call it.


My Uncle used to have a 1600 Oliver. Dual range When in neutral, you could move the lever either up or down (depending on current position) into another set of gears. Kinda unusual pattern. Until you became aware of the dual range, you couldn't find the same dang gear to save yore neck. :lol: :lol:

Here is some info from TractorData.
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***EDIT *****

For your reading enjoyment.
http://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/6/8/680-oliver-550.html

Re: Oliver 550

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 5:33 am
by Tom
The brakes are disc and when operating correctly, they are about the best vintage tractor brakes that I have ever operated. Like I said earlier, I have been around a lot of these, but if I haven't driven one for a little while, I still have to look at the shift pattern plate for a second before I go anywhere. This could just be a function of "old timer's" disease, though.

Tom

Re: Oliver 550

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 9:59 am
by BIGHOSS
Yeah Tom, the brakes appear to be like the older Farmalls. I had a IH 340 with disc brakes.

The manual calls for 10wt oil in the hydraulic system. I suppose that hy-tran will work?

Re: Oliver 550

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 9:24 pm
by Steve-N-Tn
Bill, how right you are about the phone when we were doing the wiring! Only me and Sparkle Laundry know how much that scared me too!! And Roy, thanks for the update on the VAC, JR and I were bound determined to get that thing up and running--got lucky!! Here is a shot of the carb that we're working on--when its 28 degrees and you get carb cleaner on your hands, makes an exciting afternoon but think this one is going to be as good as yours--only a HECK of a lot bigger carb!! Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Bash--and think Ron and I have JR talked into coming too and he's looking forward to it!

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Re: Oliver 550

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 9:31 pm
by Barnyard
Steve-N-Tn wrote: Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Bash--and think Ron and I have JR talked into coming too and he's looking forward to it!

We'll set an extra plate on the table. Rosie is still working on the menu for several good meals. Thank goodness all those women take the time to give her a hand. You all would never eat my cookin'!

Re: Oliver 550

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 9:32 pm
by Mr E
Man, if'n that old VAC could burn that much fuel she'd be a hoss. :lol:

Looking forward to seeing y'all. Glad to hear JR is going. He is a blast.

Re: Oliver 550

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 5:01 am
by Tom
Big Hoss,

My service manual states that 10W oil below 32 degrees, 30W above 32 degrees and 10W-30 year round. I have always used the 10W-30 successfully in my 550's. I suspect that Hy-Tran would work, I just have never used it.

Tom

Re: Oliver 550

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 4:55 pm
by Steve-N-Tn
Its ALIVE!!! We had to pull it to get it started but after we blew the wasp nests, mud dobbers, mouse nests and the like out of the exhaust system, it started! Will have to take the gas tank off and clean it out as the stuff in it looks like mushroom soup but she runs strong!! Thought we'd share!


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Re: Oliver 550

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 5:04 pm
by Mr E
Now Steve, I know your phone does video! :lol:

Re: Oliver 550

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 5:08 pm
by Steve-N-Tn
For sure Roy--JR is dyed in the wool RED so getting him on a Green one might be hazardous to my health--although he sure does like those G's!!! Ron had coffee and donuts to enhance the project--nothing like the taste offresh donuts flavored with carburetor cleaner and PB Blaster!!

Re: Oliver 550

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:53 pm
by Mr E
:big smile:

Re: Oliver 550

Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 7:24 pm
by Mr E
By the way Steve, I find it hard to believe you guys took time out for donuts & coffee. I've seen you on a mission before. :lol:


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