Oliver 550

[Villareal]

Folks,

Looking to buy a 1958 Oliver 550. Man says shift rails need to be cleaned in order to shift from high/low range. How big is the job and is it possible to fix problem with cleaning the shift rails.

Thanks
Brian

 

[super 55]

that sounds like a line to me. Why would the shift rails be dirty? If they are dirty, the transmission is dirty. Sounds like a rail might be out of the slot.

 

[Villareal]

The boot from the gear shift knob is missing which is why dirt got in there and does not allow it to shift from low/high, is what I was told. How involved is the fix if that is the reason?

Thanks,
Brian

 

[super 55]

If the boot is missing, I would suspect it isn't a dirt problem, more than a rust and corrosion problem. Picture this, the transmission housing should be full of 90 weight oil. The shift rails are at the top and should be bathed with oil. Any dirt would become integrated with the entire transmission. To see what condition the transmission is in, and to work on the shifter rails means taking the top off the transmission. It isn't difficult, but you have to remove all the bolts holding it down, and using engine lift or overhead lift to raise the top. It is heavy. If water is sitting in the housing you can count on pitted gears too. $$$$$ Others might chime in with their ideas. Is this tractor running and moving?

 

[Anonymous-0]

The housing is not full of oil. rails are lubricated by splash from normal operation.

 

[super 55]

John,
I guess I should have said an oily environment. I didn't intend to project that the housing was packed to the top with oil, only that the unit is one big oil reservoir and that oil from the tranny is the same oil that lubes the rails. If the rails are rusted, I would think that the gears might be damaged too due to water in the case. Hence, my question as to does this tractor run and move.

 

[Villareal]

Super 55,

The tractor does start and runs, but only in the low setting, will not shift up to the top/high setting. In the low setting the movement through the gears is smooth. As far as the boot, I misspoke, the boot is there, but has several cracks and holes in it. Would this job require that I split the tractor or just remove the top plate over the transmission?

Thanks,
Brian

 

[super 55]

You can remove the gear shift, but be careful there are two springs and ball bearings on the underside so don't let them drop out. You will see the shifter rails. There could be the fact that one of the forks has popped out of the rail, and you can move it with a large screw driver to get it into gear. Not sure if you can get the fork into place without taking off the top.

 

[oscar80]

Sounds similar to what happened to mine. It ended up being a broke shift fork. Kent from Texas has one luckily. Watch out when working with the house dropped the dang thing on my finger and it double in size.

Dave