1555 valve trouble

BANDITFARMER · Jul 14, 2014

The 1555 I bought last week I bought as a dead tractor and found one of its problems. I pulled the valve cover off and found 2 problems, One is a broken spring keeper on #3 intake valve and a broken valve train tower between #4 and #5 that will have to be fixed. The guys down at the old Oliver dealership said they only seen one of the spring keepers brake in the last 40 years and the tower only a few times. They had a new tower but the keeper they didn't have and said it maybe hard to get but there going to try to get a new one or a used one if they can find it. Its too good of a tractor to part out and I would rather try to get her running again and use it, But if its too far gone who knows. Sheet metal is good and strait - one dent in the hood and one new tire on the back. Lots of new parts in it already so I got to try to save her, Somehow. This is the first time I have seen a broken keeper like this, It a new one on me. Bandit

oliver90owner · Jul 15, 2014

Does that valve stem move up and down as the engine is turned over? If it does .....

There must be lots available from scrap engines.

Do you mean the rocker, or just the tappet adjuster?

BANDITFARMER · Jul 15, 2014

The valve moves fine and it free with no binding, Its just that ware the locks on the valve are on the spring keeper broke off (the center broke out). Tractor junk yards don't like to sell parts like this off a good head, They will if the head is cracked but they don't have to many of them laying around to get parts from. The tower (what I call it) is the part that holds the rocker shaft to the head, This one is broke right on top ware the bolt goes through that holds it to the head. By the looks of it #6 intake has had the same spring keeper changed out and I think when they put it back together they over tightened the tower bolt and broke it.

Its funny that I have chosen to try to save this 1555 from the junk yard as I have gotten 4 calls from tractor yards wanting to buy it to part it out. It seams no one has any 1550s or 1555s in there yards to part out. One offered $2500 sight unseen for it and he said he might give more if he was to look at it.

This is one of those parts that nobody thinks about keeping when they junk an engine out, Most of the time they just get thrown in a scrap barrel and forgotten about. Bandit

oliver90owner · Jul 15, 2014

You missed my point.

I said does the valve move up and down when the engine is cranked over? I am not aware of the clearance between a loose valve, so was just enquiring. I have had first hand knowledge of what happens when a valve head falls into an engine and also when the camshaft stops turning while a diesel engine continues to rotate. Not pretty.

chucksoliver77 · Jul 15, 2014

Are the ones from a 77 the same? I have some of them from a gas head that I could send to you if they will work. Chuck

Anonymous-0 · Jul 15, 2014

That retainer you are looking for was used when they introduced the little 60 tractor. So Chuck's parts will fit. Now with that being said they changed to the new style retainers with the 1800 models if I remember right. My neighbor broke one of those on a 550. Come to find out the springs were not correct and probably caused the break. I would take the head off and check all the springs and touch up the valves and seats. There is a definite torque values on those rocker arm support nuts. Remember they are aluminum.

BANDITFARMER · Jul 15, 2014

Well until tonight I have never seen it turn over. Guy I bought it from said it was locked up and had the oil pan off to inspect it, For 3 years. With the keeper center broke out the valve will only go down as far as the keeper center and locks will let it go down. Did a lot of cleaning inside took the oil pump off to inspect it and found nothing. Took the starter apart to check it out because it would not turn at all, Turned out the starter was dry and in a bind and tractor was not locked up after all. I pulled the plugs and put a piece of rubber hose around the valve to keep it up and not hit the piston and gave it a spin with the starter. Dad watched the oil pressure gauge and said it pumped 10 psi by the gauge.

Well till the keepers come in in the next day or so I will be doing alittle TLC on her to get it ready to run. I have 2 intake and 1 exhaust keeper coming in to have one of each as a spare for the other 1550 I have. Its funny how things turn out. Bandit

BANDITFARMER · Jul 15, 2014

Thanks Chuck but I have 2 intake and 1 exhaust keepers coming tomorrow or next day to use and a spares for the other 1550s I have. Thanks for the offer, Nice to know that out there are people willing to help a guy out. Bandit

Cas · Jul 16, 2014

I am guessing you might live somewhere where it freezes in the winter. Have quite a few parts engines and it seems the only time anyone needs that tower part is in the winter. Only sold three in thirty years. I think condensation forms sitting a while must lock up the valve and something has to give.
That intake valve keeper is a mystery. We always had Oliver's and I started working on them over 50 years ago. Never had one or heard of one breaking. Had a few exhaust valve rotators that got loose and were repaced. On other engines have had a valve drop very rarely, that can ruin your day

rankrank1 · Jul 20, 2014

Well have you started it yet Bandit?

1555 valve trouble

BANDITFARMER

Well-known Member

oliver90owner

Member

BANDITFARMER

Well-known Member

oliver90owner

Member

chucksoliver77

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

BANDITFARMER

Well-known Member

BANDITFARMER

Well-known Member

Cas

Well-known Member

rankrank1

Well-known Member

Similar threads