Buying Advice Buy Oliver Tractor for real work?

[GoldenTreeLover]

Hello,
I am wondering how ambitious it would be to buy an Oliver tractor to really use, i.e. bushhog, till etc,. Do folks buy Oliver Tractors to use or just for the hobby.

I was looking at Oliver 1250, but I heard that you cant get parts for them. So I maybe I should consider another model Oliver tractor
What model can you get parts for? I am looking at 20HP-40HP because I already have a larger John Deere.

I want an Oliver tractor because Oliver is a family name and I think that would be cool, but if i cant use the Oliver tractor for real work I may have to pass.

Thanks
GTL

 

[murphy1244]

Hello,
I am wondering how ambitious it would be to buy an Oliver tractor to really use, i.e. bushhog, till etc,. Do folks buy Oliver Tractors to use or just for the hobby.

I was looking at Oliver 1250, but I heard that you cant get parts for them. So I maybe I should consider another model Oliver tractor
What model can you get parts for? I am looking at 20HP-40HP because I already have a larger John Deere.

I want an Oliver tractor because Oliver is a family name and I think that would be cool, but if i cant use the Oliver tractor for real work I may have to pass.

Thanks
GTL

I see them still used on farms here in Ohio

 

[roadhunter]

Still used around here as well

 

[fidowanttobe]

Lots of Olivers still earning their keep up north here which makes me think that parts are available. Steiner's has them too.

 

[murphy1244]

Heck we even have a Oliver grave yard for used parts up here. One time Oliver was the #1 seller here.

 

[mddorange]

:welcome:
To TBN forum GTL. Are you west of Montgomery and north of US80 in Saint Clair?

 

[jeff9366]

How proficient are you in diesel, hydraulic and general mechanical repairs?

Do you have time for same and time for tracking down parts?

 

[super55]

Wow tough crowd on oliver tractors here.

There's a reason why you see so many of them in the fields still. It's because they are very good tractors.

If you are looking for a good utility tractor I would highly recommend an Oliver Super55 or a 550. I have a Super55 hence my ID and I absolutely love the tractor. To best describe the Super 55 think if it as a Ford 8n and add 15 hp and live PTO and hydraulics. It has 6 forward speeds and 2 reverse speeds that give a wide range and plenty of pulling power. Mine has the Wakasha 4 cyl. gas engine which puts out the same HP as the diesel version and has been an incredibly faithful and strong motor for me.

My oliver does 90% of my field work. I have a JD 4310 as well and the only thing that it does is run the tiller and flail mower because the RPMs are more stable and I can run it at a slower speed. The oliver does all the discing, plowing, seeding and manure spreading. Even though it is only 2wd with R1s it is as good if not better than my 4310 in 4wd with R4s.

All major parts are easy to find. eBay and Steiner's carries a lot of them. A lot of junkyards will have parts as well since they were very popular tractors in their day.

I wouldn't recommend getting one with a FEL though. No power steering and the design of the spindles make it a weak point for heavy weight on the front end.

Maybe I lucked out with mine but I only paid 2500 dollars for it and only done basic maintenance of fluids, filters and plugs. I've had it for about 5 years and probably have over 300 hours on it.

People think that these old tractors are undependable but I honestly see more people having issues keeping these new tractors running from issues with safety switches and other issues.

 

[GoldenTreeLover]

:welcome:
To TBN forum GTL. Are you west of Montgomery and north of US80 in Saint Clair?

ST Clair County, North East of Birmingham

 

[4570Man]

What happened to Oliver. Based on what I have gathered they were great tractors. I went to that farm show in Indiana a few years ago, and I was completely amazed at all of the different brands that are no longer made. I was actually pretty amazed at the whole thing.