power booster

[Don-Ont]

What part or parts of the under drive power booster break? Is there someone who rebuilds them stronger for pulling? Can you suggest a good parts source so that I can rebuild it myself?
Thanks. Don.

 

[chucksoliver77]

don, how much power are we talking about? i rebuilt the power booster in 1976 for my 770. the engine was about 90 hp and never had a problem with the power booster. the tractor was used for pulling and on the farm. we took it out last year because the fork broke. chuck

 

[Don-Ont]

I doubt I will ever get above 75 hp. Did you fix yours with replacement parts or upgraded parts.

 

[chucksoliver77]

don, i used replacement parts. chuck

 

[LarryM]

Long about 7 years ago we had a customer ask us to put back together the 770 his brother tore apart before he passed on. There was rolling chasis (barely) and a pile of parts. My dad did most of the work by using a really good parts manual and a couple of junk tractors in the local dealership's back lot. Ironicly he needed a few parts off them as well. Funny isn't it? A guy tears a tractor completely apart and loses some small pieces. Anyway, he looked one day at me and said "Suppose you can figure out the power booster?" So I got the manual and I started playing with the parts he had and a couple hours later I had it figured out. I also had it figured out he was short some more pieces. Go figure. Eventually we found the parts and got it all together and it still works today. I say all that to indicate that my opinion is based on some experience not just "because". I am of the opinion that they were under-built. It seemed like it was pretty light duty for what it was being asked to do. I can see why many of them were removed and replaced with a straight shaft. I guess if you were really careful (or lucky) with it then it might hold up. The customer ended up with more in the tractor than what it is worth but he is happy with it so who am I to judge.

 

[ct puller]

my 880 had 130 hp before it broke

 

[chucksoliver77]

(quoted from post at 20:07:47 01/23/12) my 880 had 130 hp before it broke

i was told by a oliver dealer/puller (PALADINO) near syracuse,ny that the power booster was good for up to 100hp. i guess he was right. in the 70s he pulled a 880 turbo-charged with a holly 4-barrel carb super stocker and that thing really ran good. i think the family still has that tractor, but has been parked for many years. chuck

 

[chucksoliver77]

larry, i think a lot of them were removed because it made the tractor a pain the a$$ to shift. chuck

 

[johns]

I think the PB was a good idea but had a few glitches. The clutch is similar to the snap-over plates used in the pto, and the parts aren't overtly big but I have seen an 880 with a 310 diesel run one for many years without trouble. Herb Morrell(the engineer that designed the 88/Super 88/880) said in his book that the factory decided to cut costs without his knowledge by eliminating the pressure wash/cleaning that was done to the PB housing during assembly. The effect was a lot of shavings and burrs still in the housing that ended up ruining the PB early in its life. The ones that have been rebuilt right haved held up for many years.