550 serial numbers

[JPERT]

My 550 serial number plate has some damage. I read the numbers 140 975-519. The damage is to the last digit. A rock or something has gouged the aluminum over the very last number. I tried to carefully straighten the aluminum enough to read the last digit. My best guess is a "9". I requested a build card from Floyd County Museum. The information I got was definitely not my tractor. It showed a diesel and mine is gas. It showed adjustable front axle and mine is fixed. Manual steering and mine has power. My question is "What are the possible last number for a 1964 550 with solid front axle, power steering, gas engine and 588 loader?

 

[J. Schwiebert]

O. K. No doubt the last number is a 9 as the last 3 numbers are the code for the gear train and 519 is very common. On the line above the serial number should be the model number. The numbers in the model number will tell you hwo it was built, gas or diesel, etc.

 

[scootergmc]

The build card shows 140975 as the serial number? The -519 (or last three digits) is the transmission code. If those first six numbers match the build card, chances are good your tractor has been cobbled together over the years. If they do match, and you think Floyd County is in error, give them a call and see what they say. They're pretty helpful.

 

[JPERT]

I am rechecking my numbers. I have recorded in my serial number book 1409758-519 45-07.65. I will have to wait to check the actual machine plate until I can get the tractor out of storage. I obviously made a mistake somewhere. Since 1964 there has been plenty of time for cobbling to have occurred. Thank you both for you time an I will get back asap.

 

[J. Schwiebert]

I am going by memory. 50 years ago I worked for a dealer and on your model number it is not a zero. It should be a one or two.

 

[John Schoenauer]

JPERT, Welcome to the old tractor world. Your tractor is 57 years old and unless you purchased it new and had it in your possession all of that time you do not know what previous owners have done to the tractor. I recently purchased a 550 and got the build card. The card shows the tractor was built with a Diesel engine it now has a gas engine. My tractor has the original block according to the engine serial number, on the build card. I contacted a friend that worked for Oliver to see if there might have been a mistake recording the information as the tractor went down the assembly line. My friend said it is not likely, they check the tractors carefully before the finish. We decided that the original owner had problems starting the diesel tractor at its first destination and the someone converted it to gas.
Hope this was helpful.
John Schoenauer