1850 steering

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member
I'm looking at a Oliver 1850 diesel. Guy said it was an average old tractor, only thing he said that was wrong was that the steering likes to wander when going down the road, don't notice it much in the field, he bought it this way. I haven't drove it or saw it in person due our arctic climate. Any thoughts on the steering? He's asking $5500. Thanks in advance
 
seems a bit much for average old tractor with steering issues can get pricey 1850 olivers sure was a good tractor though not an expert just my opinion maybe rrlund or j.schweibert will chime in much more knowledgeable on those good ole' olivers than i
 
I don't know a lot about them either. The guy I farm with dad
has an 1850, and loves it. I didn't get a chance to pick his
dad's brain on it yet. We just don't see a ton around here, and
if you see one, they are gone pretty quick.
 
About the steering- when I got my 1850 diesel in the early 80's I noticed that on the highway in high gear it would drift slightly to the right. You found yourself steerig slowly to the left to keep a straight line. You never noticed it in the field at slower speeds. The local dealer mechanic said that was typical for the original steering pump on that model. He said if the pump failed the replacement would not do that. My pump hasn't failed yet so I can't verify that statement.
About the model: the 1850 diesel has always had a great reputation and it deserves it. Just remember that tractor is at least 45 years old. Buying a 45 year old tractor, to do some serious hours of field work is a crap shoot. If you get 5 years with nothing major, it's a great deal. A lot depends on how the tractor was taken care of, (or not) over the years. I've got an 1850 and a 1655 that split about 400 hours a year. I luv'em, but every now and then something has to be fixed.
 
the original Saginaw unit is going bad and there is no service parts that I know of, If I remember correctly it is a Char-Lynn unit that is used to replace the original, we had a 1650 and an 1850 with replaced units, I have heaqrd of guys installing units out of 55 series tractors, thats all I know about that, for $5500 the tractor better be very nice with no problems and nice tires
 
Never noticed my 1850 or 1550 wandering,but I know the 2-135 is super sensitive to alignment. If the alignment isn't right on the money with that one it wanders bad.
 
they get to where you have to keep compensating going down the road, we had an 1850 do it,hauling grain you would turn the wheel about once around in a mile
 
Not to go off wandering through the daisies looking for dog crap,but I was talking to a salesman at a dealership one time about combines and such doing that. He was kind of OCD about counting things. He was telling that he drove a combine on the road quite a distance one time and said he counted the steering wheel going completely around 20 some odd times in that trip.
 
If it wanders because it is loose it could be either tie rods, or the T shaped center and shaft. $5-600 and some work to fix. If the steering motor "slips" and you have to slowly steer one way to go straight, the old Saginaw motor is going bad. A replacement kit is around $1100. 1850 is a real good tractor. One with over/under is especially nice.
Josh
 
We were told when the y were new never put a spinner on the steering wheel because it would not return because of the fact there is internal leakage in all of them and now they will be 50 years old this year so that level of leakage has increased. Josh has a good point too . That happens a lot and that bolt tends to stretch . My 2 cents worth. J.
 
Thanks for all the info. I am guessing it is the pump going bad from how he described it. I think we will go look at it this weekend and see what it is. It does have the over under with good rubber. $5500 is what he is asking, not necessarily what he is getting.
 

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