1957 Oliver super 55 Buy it or not

[shovelmike]

Yesterday's Tractors is the place I was going to recommend, Jstpssng beat me to it. They have given me great service regarding parts for my old Ferguson. If your steering wheel is like mine it is steel covered with plastic, it won't fall apart anytime soon, mine has been cracked since I bought it in 1980. I wear work gloves when I operate it because it blackens my hands, otherwise no problems.
It should serve you OK as you describe it. Hopefully it is wide front end as opposed to row crop, wide is less prone to roll over.

 

[David Wayne]

I would be all over that, if it is in Ohio let me know if you dont buy it.

 

[ovrszd]

The steering wheel is bakelite (sp?) covered. That's why they blacken your hands.

Pretty sure they never made the 55 in row crop. They were competing with the Ford 6 series.

 

[Jstpssng]

$1,200 is what I pay for periodic hydraulic fluid, engine oil and filter changes, + tractor pick up and return, at my Kubota dealer.

Go for it.

Good point!!!! :thumbsup:

 

[LouNY]

Olivers were good tractors, be aware that some will lockup in 2 gears at once, and the shifter can be a royal pain to get used to,
with the 3 speed and reverse pattern then going from neutral to the other range and the same 3 speed pattern again.
I'm not sure if the 55 used the expanding disc brakes or not, they can be hard to get working just right at times.

 

[ovrszd]

The Oliver shift pattern came easily to me. I thought it was ahead of it's time.

The 55 trans shifter comes out the side of the trans. So the pattern tends to be up/down with the shifter rather than fore/aft as in the larger row crop models.

 

[LouNY]

I used to cuss mine at times on the 1550 especially when she'd lock up and I'd be standing in the snow with the shift tower unbolted and the looong screw driver stuck down and lining up the shift rails to get her going again.

 

[airbiscuit]

Those are tough tractors, and for some reason, Oliver parts seem to be pretty available. The Super 55s are going for $3,000 + on tractorhouse. It is a nice size with nice features. I wouldn't hesitate a minute. You can use it as long as you like, and sell it for more than you paid for it.

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[super55]

For that price I would pick it up immediately. I absolutely love my 55. Easy to work on. Most parts are still readily available except for major parts but even those can be found in junkyards. They are great tractors for light farm/utility work.

One thing to check is hook it up the PTO to something and run it and see if is slipping. That inspection plate is where you adjust the PTO clutch. If it is slipping you manually adjust the tension to the clutch disc. I ended up having to replace my clutch disc on mine. You can do it without splitting the tractor.