1855 Opinion

[steve terplak]

Hi,
I am going to an auction here in upstate NY in a couple of weeks and there is an Oliver 1855 up for sale.
As far as my needs go, it would replace my MF 1080 which I am very happy with but I wish had about 10-15 more HP when pulling a disc harrow and I would love it if I had the power to use a discbine when mowing hay. The green-eyed jealousy monster gets to me when I spend a day slowly pulling a haybine and then my neighbor is flying down the field with his discbine.
The tractor would be used to mow, small square bale, plow a little, pull some discs.
We have never owned an oliver...all MF but I don't really like any of MF tractors in the 100 hp range- never seem very nimble...kind of big and lurchy. We were at the auction to preview a MF 1105 and this oliver 1855 caught our eye.

it is a 73 with a canopy. It is set up for a 540 PTO, has fairly new rubber all around. It starts right up, hydraulics, steering, 3 pt hitch, power steering all seem to work.
It has been converted to 12V. It seems to be mostly original in terms of paint and metal. It is definitely used but seems to be cared for.
The hour meter shows around 6K hours.

From what I have learned on here, the 310 engine can be a headache if it is not cared for and updated.

Would a '73 have an oilcooler from the factory, or would that be aftermarket addition?
Can anyone post a pic of what the oliver oilcooler looks like so I can look for it?

What else should I look for on this machine?

I am not in NEED of a new machine...but I am always looking...
what is a good price to look out for at the auction?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Tramway Guy]

Why would somebody claim it was 'converted to 12V'? It was 12V from the factory...

 

[jordan hackman]

you are right on the the problems with the 310. as long as it has the updates and you take care of the tractor it will be a nice piece. i don't really know what those updates look like but someone who has worked with these tractors would have a little more knowledge on it. it should have around 110 hp or more so it will handle your equipment fairly well. i would believe it should be a great tractor for you yet if you do buy the tractor check it over before you do any big jobs with it.

 

[olliekid]

a stock 1855 is 98.6 hp.

But I would 100% agree with everything else you stated.

The 1855's are popular around here. If you don't abuse them they are a great tractor. We have a 1080 as well and it is a little on the clunky size. It drives about the same as an 1855 but is 20 less horsepower. You might even think the 1855 is more nimble and drives smoother.

 

[formenwhogrow]

Stay away. Find a good 2-105 white. Just my opinion, not trying to start an argument with the die hard waukesha guys. I just don't feel it is worth the risk if you are going to depend on this tractor for work. 310 parts are getting scarcer and are certainly not cheap. We have been burned twice by these engines. Broken crankshafts both times, both tractors were not worked hard and maintained properly. These engines are timebombs.

 

[Don-Wi]

You should be able to look in the dipstick hole to see what rod bolts it has, 12 or 6 point. 12 point is the upgraded bolt so if it has those its a good chance its received the rest of them. Our 1855 had a mix of both style bolts and almost tossed a rod because it didn't get rebuilt properly.

Ours will do 105 on the dyno. Its a little big for running a small baler, but ours does well on the chopper, haybine, plow, etc..

Donovan from Wisconsin

 

[Thompson Mike]

I bought an 1855 two years ago with a loader on it. In was told all the updates were completed on the new motor caUse it scattered the original block however I can't see anything through the dip stick hole. It has 3800 hours total on the tractor and was in great shape. I use it for loader work and mowing and I love it. It runs great all the power I need right now. I have not done any field work yet but can't wait. It does handle very well. Good luck

 

[steve terplak]

Thanks for all the responses...
I'll have to look for signs of the engine update when i get to the auction in the a.m.

so...if it has had an update.

what is a good price?

also
if you were to re-power one of these...what would you re-power it with? cummins?

 

[gfs]

probably meant from 2 six volts to one 12 volt like our 1850 and the 1855

 

[Stu]

I won"t say run away from an 1855, but I will tell you to aproach with caution. I have had an 1855 and I loved it. The motor was fresh whenI bought it. Mine did not have the oil cooler and once the engine got warm the oil pressure would keep getting lower. I converted the base to a spin on filter and installed an oil cooler between the filter and base. It was Oliver"s method of a recall type repair. This resulted in maintaining about 30-35 psi at working temp were it was getting down to 10-15 without the oil cooler.

I spent all of last year restoring a 1955. Wouldn"t you know it, the liner o-rings were leaking. I wound up with close to $4000 in the engine. I installed all of the updated parts, new pistons/sleaves, everything new in the head, and crank/rod reconditioning. This was without any pump,injector, or turbo work. After I was done the tractor ran good and sounded good.

I sold the 1955 this spring/early summer and was able to buy a 2-105 red stripe with air and a 1850D for the same money.

After using the 1850D and 2-105, I can tell you that the 1850D feels as strong as the 1955. The 2-105 is a 1955 with a Perkins and differnt metal. The Perkins is "all that and a bag of chips" compared to the Waukesha. My 2-105 has around 7400 hrs on it and it has never been opened up. Both of my Perkins have more oil pressure than the fresh 310s that I have owned. You can find nice 2-85 or 2-105 for $5-8K.

Would I buy an 1855 or 1955, yes I would. Would I need to get a good deal, you bet. My feeling is that good conition 1855/1955 would be $6-8k in work clothes. Auction prices maybe $4-6k. Most Waukesha problems will never be discovered during the short run times at an auction.

Here is a picture of the oil cooler of the 1955. Look where the braideed hoses conect at the oil filter, this is the oil cooler. The factory had hard lines. The other style oil cooler would be in between the base and a spin on filter with coolant lines.

I hoped I have been factual and not to biased. Good luck with whatever descision you make.

Stu

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have had and used MF 1100, 1130, and 1155, Oliver 1855, White 2-70, 2-85, 2-105, 2-150, 1870 and 2270. For the use you describe I would choose any of the Perkins eng tractors-1100/1105 over the 1855 given equal condition of the tractors. I liked the 3spd o/u shift on the 1855 but 1100 MF power comes on at lower rpm making it a nice tractor for haying,planting, and feeding. The white 1870 is essentially a lwb 1855 with a MM 451 Diesel engine and is a great field work or pto work tractor. Joe

 

[old1850d]

I agree with all these comments , when I buy one of these tractors I buy them with the idea that im going to go thru the motor and buy them accordinly, that beeing said once these are done properly I think you would be hard pressed to find another tractor that ran as smooth and handled as nice as a 1855 or a 1955. I was at a auction 2 weeks ago that had a 1755 on it looked like it never had the pan of the engine and it still brought 4200. Thats just a accident waiting to happen because it will let go so if you dont have a history of major engine work stay jmt

 

[mlansing7836]

I would be interested in the Canopy! Plain and simple you have ot like it, and if you have to go throug the engine, it is still an american made tractor, and new onces are way more then you will stick in this one. I have a 1750 doing a cummins conversion on. Is is woth it? who knows, but I plan on enjoying it! Really want a canopy for it thooo

 

[pup88]

We have an 1855 we converted to the cummins 5.9 we bought the tractor with the motor out with intentions of the repower once it was finished we never looked back amazing fuel economy any all the power we need a great way to keep a good tractor out of the bone yard