Oliver OC3 loader- big enough?

[jeffgreef]

Hi folks- considering an old Oliver OC3 track loader as a snow removal tool. I'm at 4000 feet in the California Sierras with 1/2 mile of gravel road. Some winters there's no snow, but we can get a four foot dump on occasion. Usually 6-24 inch snows. Those I can blade with a truck or tractor. But after you blade three or four snows the piles on the side of the road start to get in the way. So, I've been looking at track loaders. Most are too big, Deere and Case make some smaller ones. The OC3 is the smallest I've seen. 25hp or so, bucket is 42" wide. What do you think, too small for what I'm doing?

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Do you ever get any hard packed snow, or ice???

A dozer on ice has little to NO traction and WILL end up on the bottom of any grade!

There are ways to weld on the track to improve that, but it's a lot of work...

PERSONALLY, I'd want a heavy dozer for that job... OR better yet, a chained up bigger tractor with a good blower!

SR

 

[jeffgreef]

Thanks SR- so you think a chained tractor will get better traction in ice and compacted snow?

 

[2458n]

Can not believe you are thinking of using a antique open station piece of equipment for real work. Neighbor was a real Oliver man - it was a job to keep running in Ohio in the summer. Just working up a burn pit.

 

[Xfaxman]

I had an Oliver OC3 with a Ware loader. Being an Ag crawler it wasn't geared low enough for dirt work, but might be OK for snow removal with a wider bucket.

It can be modified with a Ford Model A transmission between the engine and transaxle, for slower speeds.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Thanks SR- so you think a chained tractor will get better traction in ice and compacted snow?

NO question about it!

A "decent sized" tractor with GOOD chains will easily out push a dozer on hard packed snow or ice!

SR

 

[fried1765]

Hi folks- considering an old Oliver OC3 track loader as a snow removal tool. I'm at 4000 feet in the California Sierras with 1/2 mile of gravel road. Some winters there's no snow, but we can get a four foot dump on occasion. Usually 6-24 inch snows. Those I can blade with a truck or tractor. But after you blade three or four snows the piles on the side of the road start to get in the way. So, I've been looking at track loaders. Most are too big, Deere and Case make some smaller ones. The OC3 is the smallest I've seen. 25hp or so, bucket is 42" wide. What do you think, too small for what I'm doing?
View attachment 516457

DON'T DO IT!
I owned an OC-46-3G for a few years.
It will break down when you most need it!
Mine broke down, and needed a new ring and pinion. You cannot imagine what that cost,..... and where to find the parts?
STAY FAR AWAY from that ancient machine!
It will cause you GRIEF!

 

[jeffgreef]

Hmm... see your points. Guess I should save up for a recent model 40-50hp wheel tractor/loader with 4wd and good chains. The Oliver sure is cute though...

 

[jimmysisson]

But it's so cute! We've all lost our hearts, and heads, and cash...
Jim

 

[fried1765]

Hmm... see your points. Guess I should save up for a recent model 40-50hp wheel tractor/loader with 4wd and good chains. The Oliver sure is cute though...

Oh, I absolutely agree! The Oliver is cute.
It is probably cheap to buy also (others also know what a nightmare it would be)
How is your wallet?
Fat ????

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

That's deff a cool looking machine but man that thing looks cold.

A cab with heat will be the best money you ever spent.

 

[TMGT]

I have an OC3 with the Anderson blade in need of restoration and I would say unless you're retired and just want to play in the snow and enjoy working on old equipment it might be ok to play with.

If you need to actually move snow and rely on it to get out and time is at a premium like me get a newer tractor with chains.

They are cute though.

 

[jeffgreef]

I can afford to buy it, but can I afford to fix it? If you have to ask how much the yacht is, you shouldn't be buying....

 

[flyerdan]

I remember as a kid back in the 60's people slagging off the Oliver cletracks as they had a propensity to shed tracks on a fairly regular basis. I can't imagine that the intervening half century has improved matters much where that's concerned.

 

[TMGT]

I remember as a kid back in the 60's people slagging off the Oliver cletracks as they had a propensity to shed tracks on a fairly regular basis. I can't imagine that the intervening half century has improved matters much where that's concerned.

Haven't heard that before, based on the design of mine (an early 50's oc3) I would say the track would have to be pretty out of adjustment or the machine was abused to cause a track to come off.

 

[DJ54]

I had an OC-3, with a dozer blade, back in the early 90's. As a couple others have mentioned, ground speed was way too fast for dozer work, unless it had the aux. transmission. I looked into one, and it was $1800.00 back then, through a fellow in PA., named Zimmerman. Still think they sell used parts for them. He did offer to buy mine, for $1,000.00, and it was in good shape. I did what I needed to do with mine, and sent it down the road.

Personally, I'd buy a snow blower, and hope you never need to use it.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I think I would go wheeled tractor, chains if you need them, heated cab, and a snow blower attachment to throw the snow farther off the road. Then you don't have the accumulation sitting along the road bed all season.