Oliver 1800 FWD help needed

[arlen aas]

I have a 1800 FWD. SN 129 960 (or C?)-898. I'm looking for more info such as year and number built. It was bought new by Green Giant and used on the "company farms". When Green Giant got out of doing their own farming ( they contract sweet corn by the ton from farmers since 80's) an employee bought it and farmed his own land. When he died I bought the 1800. I was an employee of Green Giant at the time. I retired 10 years ago. Can anyone help me with more info. Tractor has the throttle on steering column and checkerboard cast grill.

Has wakesha. Thanks. Arlen in Minnesota.

 

[oliverkid]

I have a 1800 FWD. SN 129 960 (or C?)-898. I'm looking for more info such as year and number built. It was bought new by Green Giant and used on the "company farms". When Green Giant got out of doing their own farming ( they contract sweet corn by the ton from farmers since 80's) an employee bought it and farmed his own land. When he died I bought the 1800. I was an employee of Green Giant at the time. I retired 10 years ago. Can anyone help me with more info. Tractor has the throttle on steering column and checkerboard cast grill. View attachment 163396Has wakesha. Thanks. Arlen in Minnesota.

Call the Floyd county museum with your serial number and get the build card.

 

[ss55]

I have a 1800 FWD. SN 129 960 (or C?)-898. I'm looking for more info such as year and number built. It was bought new by Green Giant and used on the "company farms". When Green Giant got out of doing their own farming ( they contract sweet corn by the ton from farmers since 80's) an employee bought it and farmed his own land. When he died I bought the 1800. I was an employee of Green Giant at the time. I retired 10 years ago. Can anyone help me with more info. Tractor has the throttle on steering column and checkerboard cast grill. View attachment 163396Has wakesha. Thanks. Arlen in Minnesota.

To find the year made:

https://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/pages/oliverwheel/

Some Oliver Operator's Manuals list the serial number codes for popular options available on that tractor model, like what the 899 code at the end of your serial number means.

Maybe someone else can tell you how to interpret the model number code or if those codes are listed in the service manual ( long shot ).

As suggested a build card is your best option.

 

[Tramway Guy]

I make it to be a 1963 Series ‘B’. Early in the model year.

 

[rrlund]

You say checkerboard grill. Do you mean egg crate grill? The checkerboard A series meant that they had checkerboard pattern decals on the hood sides instead of the spear with an Oliver decal on it.

 

[arlen aas]

Whatever this is........

 

[oliverkid]

That’s an A series. One of the prettiest tractors they ever built.

 

[rrlund]

That’s an A series. One of the prettiest tractors they ever built.

I can't figure why the serial number is what it is. Like Tramway Guy said, it comes up as an early 63 B, but ya, the tractor looks like an A. Another Oilver "use up parts" tractor.

 

[arlen aas]

Guessing so. As indicated in my original post.....Green Giant was first owner. I worked for Green Giant for 35 years. I'm 71. I was an Ag Shop maintenance supervisor in late 80's. A couple of the more senior mechanics that reported to me were around when the company used Olivers. There were numerous Green Giants in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Oliver at most if not all. The older guys talked about tearing into rear ends etc at Green Giant shops to do changes to tractors for Green Giant. I sense that Green Giant and Oliver had close relationships so it's very possible that Oliver used up earlier parts on to later models with good understandings on both companies. Those old boys are long gone. Wish I had listened to their stories more closely. They too pride in working on the first models and test grounds.

 

[rrlund]

I've heard of those Green Giant 1800 FWAs before. I don't remember who was talking about them, John Schwiebert? Duane Star? Seems like there's one in somebody else's collection.

 

[scootergmc]

That's an 1800B model number and serial tag, correct me if I'm wrong. It's more likely the bodywork was replaced with an A series because that's later into the B series serial numbers. I believe that transmission code is also correct for an 1800 mfwd, but again, I could be wrong.

 

[scootergmc]

Also, if it was an 1800A series mfwd, that would be a really rare tractor if I remember correctly. Maybe less than five or six made?

 

[arlen aas]

I've heard of those Green Giant 1800 FWAs before. I don't remember who was talking about them, John Schwiebert? Duane Star? Seems like there's one in somebody else's collection.

There is a thread I've landed on in this forum of a guy who was at Oliver and saw a 1800 MFWD that was going to be sent to green Giant. I tried reaching the author but no luck. It would be fun to connect. I also have the 5bottom semi mounted plow that was used by this tractor. I plowed with it a few years ago. Fun......

 

[arlen aas]

 

[Kell]

that's a nice old beast, and neat ownership history. great photo with the plow on it!