Oliver 1855 Wheatland

I bought the build card for my new baby; it says my tractor is a Wheatland. I have the adjustable front axle; what constitutes a wheatland? I'm not smart enough to to read the build card, evidently. My tractor serial number is 255741-685. They have the date as January 13, 1975; it was shipped the next day to McCook Nebraska. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

The code number (685) is for a 1855. Drepends on the model of tractor, there are several things that are different between the Row Crop and Wheatland/Ricefield tractors.

With the 1855, the main difference between the Row Crop and the Wheatland/Ricefield 1855 models are: arched non adjustable front axle, usually with bigger tires, different frame (tub) and the non adjustible rear wheels. The 1855 wasn't built as an industrial.


I don't have the parts book on the 1855, but I looked at several advertising brochures for Oliver and Cockshutt 1855 tractors. The brochures printed in 1970 and 1971(2) talk about the row crop and wheatland tractors. The Oliver brochures printed in 1972(2) 1973 and 1974 do not mention the wheatland models at all, but the Cockshutt brochure still listed the Wheatland models in 1974.

I have see wheatland tractors with the row crop rear axles, so if your tractor has a row crop front frame (tub) I would say the build card was marked wrong at the factory.

I hope B A Starr will tell us his thoughts about this. That tractor was sold in his backyard.

On my 55 series wheatlands the rear axles are not fixed they are still adjustable with the ag. hub. The front tubs are wide and the front axles are non adjustable. On all my 50 series wheatlands they also use the ag hub with adj. rear axles. The Ind. were fixed in the 50 & 55 series. the 770 880's wheatlands had non adj. rears.

Just my 2 cents worth, but wasn't one of the differences on the wheatlands that most did not come with a 3pt? That has been my understanding on most brands of "wheatland" IH, Case, etc. that they didn't come with a 3pt. unless specially ordered. Don't know if this is ANY help. I have an Oliver 1850 diesel, it's my "baby" also. Gotta love those Oliver's!

Oliver Fan suggested that the selling dealer McCook Equity Grain is in my backyard.  My backyard is not quite that big as McCook is some 300 miles from me, that's across several states for some.

Look at the top line of digits on your serial number plate.  There are three digits followed by a dash.   If your tractor is a wheatland, the digit behind the dash will be a "4".  On your build card on the upper line there are 8 digits in the specification area, the fourth digit will be "2" for row crop adjustable front axle and "4" for wheatland.  I am certain that you do not have a wheatland tractor.  Wheatland 1855 tractors are shown in the 1970 price book, however only the row crop and Mechanical front wheel drive tractors are shown in the 1973 price book.  There is only one rear hub shown in the parts book and only one rear axle (non adjustable had a tapered outter end on the axle).  In addition the Branch would not order wheatland tractors simply because if a dealer in that part of the branch did not get it sold, where would you go with a wheatland? no other dealer would want it.

There was only 59 1855 tractors built in 1975 between Jan 11 & Jan 15 or only one day after your tractor was built.

The early Oliver Standard/wheatland tractors had 26" or 28" rear tires while competition had 38" rear tires, thus with the bigger foot print the competition tractors performed better in the field.  Beginning with the Super series Oliver used the same rear axle housing and axle on both row crop and wheatland tractors with 38" rear wheels.  With the larger rear wheels it necessitated the arched front axle in place of the straight to keep the tractor level.

When I was looking for a 77 Standard, I asked the dealer in Sidney, NE (a former MM dealer) if he knew of any 77 Standards and he just laughed at me and said that because of the small rear tires they all got traded off years ago, that the MM's with 38" rubber would run circles around them.

Sorry for the long post.

I really appreciate you informing me on this; I paid for the build card, don't know how to read it, and evidently it's wrong anyway.

Thank you SO much.

I'm kicking myself for not buying an 1800 gas checkerboard wheatland a few years ago. Didn't really think about what an oddball it was at the time. But that one had 3pt,an oval emblem instead of the shield on the grille. Quite the showpiece if it had been restored.