Oliver 1800c hydra-power issues

[alminor]

Hello, I recently bought an 1800C that wasn’t running, but was running when parked several years ago. The man told me he thought there was a grinding noise in the rear end. I got it home and after an injection pump rebuild, got it running. As soon as it started, there was grinding, but it sounded like it was coming from the hydra-power. Not a constant grinding, just at random times but it went away when the clutch was depressed. It sounded more like 2 gears were trying to mesh, just not constantly. Once I was able to drive it, the grinding noise stopped, but I don’t have the high side, or direct drive. I only have the 3 low forward gears. This is my first Oliver, so I don’t know much about the tractors or the hydrapower, but I’m learning. Any and all help would be appreciated!

 

[scootergmc]

What do you mean high side or direct drive? The hydra power only has direct and under. It is mounted directly to the bellhousing. It's also known as a "two speed." It is controlled by the knob just below the dash.

If you look behind the hydra power you will see a chain coupler which transfers power to the input shaft of the transmission. The transmission shift itself is a 6 speed w/ 2 reverse, a double H pattern (upper and lower sections), with basically two neutrals. Some people call the upper and lower sections a high and low range but I don't, because it just tends to confuse things with the hydra-power. Sometimes people new to Olivers have trouble understanding and think the gear shift has something to do with the hydra-power. It doesn't. Your problem could be the shift rails as well.
Your grinding noise could just be the clutch release bearing, or the chain coupler, but I don't know without being there, listening and getting more info. Know that if the engine needs to come out you need to pull the long PTO shaft since it runs all the way from the rear of the tractor to the flywheel hub of the engine.

There are many good videos on youtube to teach you all about your tractor as the mechanical systems were common across multiple models.

 

[rrlund]

What do you mean high side or direct drive? The hydra power only has direct and under. It is mounted directly to the bellhousing. It's also known as a "two speed." It is controlled by the knob just below the dash.

If you look behind the hydra power you will see a chain coupler which transfers power to the input shaft of the transmission. The transmission shift itself is a 6 speed w/ 2 reverse, a double H pattern (upper and lower sections), with basically two neutrals. Some people call the upper and lower sections a high and low range but I don't, because it just tends to confuse things with the hydra-power. Sometimes people new to Olivers have trouble understanding and think the gear shift has something to do with the hydra-power. It doesn't. Your problem could be the shift rails as well.
Your grinding noise could just be the clutch release bearing, or the chain coupler, but I don't know without being there, listening and getting more info. Know that if the engine needs to come out you need to pull the long PTO shaft since it runs all the way from the rear of the tractor to the flywheel hub of the engine.

There are many good videos on youtube to teach you all about your tractor as the mechanical systems were common across multiple models.

Think it might be the top shaft bearings?

 

[scootergmc]

Think it might be the top shaft bearings?

Could be, but until we have a good isolation/location of the noise it sure is hard trying to internet diagnose.

 

[rrlund]

Could be, but until we have a good isolation/location of the noise it sure is hard trying to internet diagnose.

Right. When he first started to describe the noise, I thought sure the splines were worn off the PTO long shaft, but as I read on, I knew that wasn't the case.

 

[alminor]

Sorry guys, I don’t know too much about Oliver’s yet, I just tried to describe it the best I could. The noise is definitely coming from the hydrapower, so it sounds to me like regardless of what my issue is, the hydrapower will have to come out to be repaired? Are there gears inside the hydrapower or is it just clutches? Maybe it wasn’t actually gears I was hearing, possibly splines. FYI, I don’t know if this is related or not, but the PTO shaft turns all the time. I haven’t put a load on it yet, but I can push the PTO lever all the way forward, and it will stop, but as soon as I release the lever, it turns again. Also, I don’t feel a detent in the PTO lever. The resistance in the lever feels the same, forward or back. In other words, I can’t tell where the PTO engages and disengages. Thanks for all of your help!

 

[sonnythomas]

Sorry guys, I don’t know too much about Oliver’s yet, I just tried to describe it the best I could. The noise is definitely coming from the hydrapower, so it sounds to me like regardless of what my issue is, the hydrapower will have to come out to be repaired? Are there gears inside the hydrapower or is it just clutches? Maybe it wasn’t actually gears I was hearing, possibly splines. FYI, I don’t know if this is related or not, but the PTO shaft turns all the time. I haven’t put a load on it yet, but I can push the PTO lever all the way forward, and it will stop, but as soon as I release the lever, it turns again. Also, I don’t feel a detent in the PTO lever. The resistance in the lever feels the same, forward or back. In other words, I can’t tell where the PTO engages and disengages. Thanks for all of your help!

The PTO on my 1650 turns all the time. Like you, I have to pull on the lever for it to stop. They say I have warped a clutch or clutch plates. I have to shut off the tractor to install or remove the drive shaft of my brushhogs.

 

[I550]

Hello, I recently bought an 1800C that wasn’t running, but was running when parked several years ago. The man told me he thought there was a grinding noise in the rear end. I got it home and after an injection pump rebuild, got it running. As soon as it started, there was grinding, but it sounded like it was coming from the hydra-power. Not a constant grinding, just at random times but it went away when the clutch was depressed. It sounded more like 2 gears were trying to mesh, just not constantly. Once I was able to drive it, the grinding noise stopped, but I don’t have the high side, or direct drive. I only have the 3 low forward gears. This is my first Oliver, so I don’t know much about the tractors or the hydrapower, but I’m learning. Any and all help would be appreciated!

Did you check gear oil level in rear end? If you take filter off,left side by brakes and start it you can see if any gear oil is getting pumped to transmission bearings, it is low pressure around 10 psi. Why was it parked?

 

[scootergmc]

Sorry guys, I don’t know too much about Oliver’s yet, I just tried to describe it the best I could. The noise is definitely coming from the hydrapower, so it sounds to me like regardless of what my issue is, the hydrapower will have to come out to be repaired? Are there gears inside the hydrapower or is it just clutches? Maybe it wasn’t actually gears I was hearing, possibly splines. FYI, I don’t know if this is related or not, but the PTO shaft turns all the time. I haven’t put a load on it yet, but I can push the PTO lever all the way forward, and it will stop, but as soon as I release the lever, it turns again. Also, I don’t feel a detent in the PTO lever. The resistance in the lever feels the same, forward or back. In other words, I can’t tell where the PTO engages and disengages. Thanks for all of your help!

What's the fluid level in the hydra power?

Your PTO clutch probably needs to be adjusted. Generally the clutches have a little drag so a PTO output shaft spinning while disengaged is not uncommon. But you should have a definite snap in your lever and feel then engagement. Pushing it all the way forward engages the PTO brake so it's a good sign at least if that it works. Your clutches might be warped but go to youtube and watch some PTO adjustment videos.

 

[alminor]

Did you check gear oil level in rear end? If you take filter off,left side by brakes and start it you can see if any gear oil is getting pumped to transmission bearings, it is low pressure around 10 psi. Why was it parked?

The guy I bought it from was an older gentleman and he said there was grinding in the rear end, but the grinding noise was coming from the hydrapower. He told me it was a good running tractor, but he parked it because of the grinding. I have not checked the oil in the rear end yet. I’ll check it next time I work on it. Thanks!

 

[alminor]

What's the fluid level in the hydra power?

Your PTO clutch probably needs to be adjusted. Generally the clutches have a little drag so a PTO output shaft spinning while disengaged is not uncommon. But you should have a definite snap in your lever and feel then engagement. Pushing it all the way forward engages the PTO brake so it's a good sign at least if that it works. Your clutches might be warped but go to youtube and watch some PTO adjustment videos.

Fluid level in hydra power is reading full on the stick and fluid looks good. I’ll check out some videos, thank you!