oliver 77 road speed

[Cody Meister 2]

I have a oliver 77 that I want to take on a tractor ride in the spring they require tractors to average a speed of 12mph or more. My 77 is at 12 wide open on flat ground, is there anyway to get anothe mile or two out of this 77 without swapping out gears?
 

[johns]

Cody, if it hasn"t been done I"d turn up the rpms first. Quickest, cheapest, easiest way to add speed. What size tires does it have? Going to 13.6, 14.9, or 15.5x38 would also help.
 

[Cody Meister 2]

what is the eaiest way to turn up the R's on a gas I did it on my 88 diesel by putting in a tighter gov spring? how many rpms can I safely run through this motor? it hasnt been rebuilt in years and might be getting a little loose.

it has new 12.4 38s I dont really want to switch tires seeing that the 12.4s are new
 

[chucksoliver77]

[Oliver Farmer in MI]

Personally, I'd be really leary to try to get EXTRA rpm's out of the old girl. You're asking to break something if you ask me. If she cruises at 10 mph without ragging on her, then she cruises at 10 mph. Maybe they'll let you bring up the rear?
 

[centralilbaler]

I'd be happy if my 77 would go 12 mph. About the best i can get out of mine is 9.
 

[redneckpullingteam]

Mine has a higher speed rear end--if i remember right there is one more tooth on the pinon and will run 16 easy. My other has the normal set and 12 is top speed.
 

[Dick W.]

Borrow some 14.9 tires and wheels, bolt on and have fun.
 

[Oliver88pa]

Ive been going on cruises for many years with a 77. Yes tire size helps the bigger they are. The gov spring is the answer to the speed. This engines love to sing around 2000rpms and it won"t hurt them. Your going to need to do this anyway because the gov is load sensing not speed (mph) sensing in order to go up the hills at 10mph to keep up w everybody you have to shorten the spring tension( make it stiffer) this is what the zip tie or wire is for. I usually leave about 3 coils for some give and tie the rest. I will make note this will suck your gas a lot more but if you play with the throttle a lot and idle a lot that doesn"t help either. I try not to touch the throttle unless I go up a hill or more importantly down a hill. My best advise is don"t use the brakes unless you need to stop or slow down not to run into the guy ahead off you. Your worst enemy on the cruise is your brakes. You hit the brakes hard and everybody behind you has to do the same thing too. There will be a couple of sudden steep hills perhaps on your journey. Let the tractor work and if your gov zip tie is right it will put it in 6. Unless of course the guy in front of you stalls shifts or misses a gear. It happens. Most tractors can"t be downshifted fast or easy. Also isn"t shifting fun? Going from 6 to 5 in an Oliver is the most challenging thing I"ve had to do on a cruise.
The last thing I want to say is you always put the slowest tractors in the front. If your in the back they will never catch up. Your last tractors should be able to do 12-20 mph. If and when they need to catch up and there will be those times. They will have the throttle and speed to do so. I think being in the back with a fast tractor is the most fun. It"s more relaxing and cool to see so many in front of you. Unless of course your so far behind you miss a turn and get lost. Never a good thing to happen in a cruise. And yes people will not see a turn and get lost. And it"s those who have never roamed that county.
All in all if you stay in the front and tie your gov. Also pump up your tires to 10lbs. I know you"ll be a good cruiser. I"ve been cruising for 8 yrs now with a hand full of tractors and it"s a blast. My fav cruising tractor so far is the super 55 Dsl. It"s fast nimble compfortible and cheap to run.