1855 rebuild/restore

bison

Well-known Member
This was when i got it, all in pieces.

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The rebuilding in progress



O/U teardown
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O/U rebuild.

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Engine rebuild

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engine in frame

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grease nipple installed to grease the throwout bearing

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Ready to start first time

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running outside,checking for leaks and potential trouble

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Something went wrong down loading pics,
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Feels good to finish a project like that, doesn't it? About the middle of the project you always wonder, "Why the heck did I get myself into this", don't you?
 
Congratuations, this is quite impressive ! It looks new and probably even improved for some aspects (added a few zerk and better components).

Have you somehow evaluated the cost of such restoration in terms of hours and parts?

Have you got into this for fun (as a passionnate collector of vintage tractor) or to have this tractor back at work at an affordable cost, or because you simply like to work with that type of vintage workhorse as opposed to newer ones ?
 
(quoted from post at 07:25:53 06/02/15) Feels good to finish a project like that, doesn't it? About the middle of the project you always wonder, "Why the heck did I get myself into this", don't you?
am glad the damn thing is done I hope.. unless there's issues popping up in the tranny and rear end when i put the thing to work.
There was many a time i wondered why i had even started on it when i found problem after problem as the rebuild progressed but by that time i had to much money in it to quit.:cry:
Frankly spoken,.. i should've left the hunk of junk where it was!
 
I am glad the damn thing is done I hope.. unless there's issues popping up in the tranny and rear end when i put the thing to work. There was many a time i wondered why i had even started on it when i found problem after problem as the rebuild progressed but by that time i had to much money in it to quit.:cry: Frankly spoken,.. i should've left the hunk of junk where it was!
Sounds like it was a challenge and labour of love more than anything. I hope at least the end result is satisfactory to you.

Newer equipment is not made to last like classics. It may be worth more than you think on the long run.
 
(quoted from post at 08:59:57 06/02/15) Congratuations, this is quite impressive ! It looks new and probably even improved for some aspects (added a few zerk and better components).

Have you somehow evaluated the cost of such restoration in terms of hours and parts?

Have you got into this for fun (as a passionnate collector of vintage tractor) or to have this tractor back at work at an affordable cost, [b:8bf3644373]or because you simply like to work with that type of vintage workhorse as opposed to newer ones [/b:8bf3644373]?

I ain't no collector of vintage tractors but i have 2 more of these model 1855 tractors i have on my ranch and I bought this one initially for parts but then i figured it may come in handy as a standby for the other 2 come haying season so i decided to make it a working tractor again and i had something to do over the winter as well.

As for cost of the project, i have an estimated 6-7 grand in it incl the $1000 purchase price, i did not tally up the hrs but it took plenty of them.

I can't justify the price of a newer tractor(s)cause i don't put the hours on them,.. mine are mainly used for haying and a bit of field work.(couple 100 hrs/year each.

I don't think one can buy a decent newly painted and restored 100 hp tractor with zero hours on a complete to factory specs rebuild engine and 3 speed hydr tranny for the money and time i spend on this one.
 
(quoted from post at 10:57:01 06/02/15)
I am glad the damn thing is done I hope.. unless there's issues popping up in the tranny and rear end when i put the thing to work. There was many a time i wondered why i had even started on it when i found problem after problem as the rebuild progressed but by that time i had to much money in it to quit.:cry: Frankly spoken,.. i should've left the hunk of junk where it was!
Sounds like it was a challenge and labour of love more than anything. [b:1dde1f29e6]I hope at least the end result is satisfactory to you.[/b:1dde1f29e6]

Newer equipment is not made to last like classics. [b:1dde1f29e6]It may be worth more than you think on the long run.[/b:1dde1f29e6]
Time will tell.

It is still a 40 year old tractor and it prob won't bring the money i got in it was i to sell it today
 
It is still a 40 year old tractor and it prob won't bring the money i got in it was i to sell it today

Mine is 51 years old and not nearly as nice and powerful as yours, but thanks to a loader and the addition of a PTO driven 3 tons logging winch, it I don't regret any penny I have invested into it. You might be surprised of what your could be offered to you by someone who needs a powerful workhorse for occasional use, accepting occasionnal downtime for small repairs as opposed to a farmer depending on his tractor. I understand renovating such vintage tractor must have been quite an adventure. Parts are hard to find and knowledge for vintage stuff is hard to find. This forum is quite valuable to me.

The fellow who sold the Oliver 550 to me keeps asking about is former baby (a retired mechanic). He bought something bigger and newer for snow removal and ... he told me to let him know if I ever sell it, because he may buy it back, especially with the logging winch. A properly maintained 40 years old, especially in the condition yours is now is certainly worth a lot to the right person, but it will never pay back the time you invested in it. Repairs on an old piece of machinery is not adding much to the value, but a complete restauration like yours is something else. Originally, a tractor like yours was worth 13,000$ (1975). Mine sold for about the same amount it was worth originally (4000$). A new one in the 41HP range with loader would be 6-8 times that amount. There is a market for jewels like yours.

The price it is worth is a matter of what you want to do with it. Mine is perfect because it is rather small and I don't need 4x4 with the logging winch where I live. I can stay on stable ground and simply reach the logs with my cable and pulleys on tight quarters.

I hope you will find someone who can appreciate the amount of work you invested into it if you let go this spare one day. But I think you may regret it... Oliver/cockshutt were made to last... just look around, they keep running !
 
I suggest you post the pictures of your restoration in the forum gallery

https://photos.yesterdaystractors.com/cgi-bin/gallery/gallery_view.cgi?w=community

It is a well deserved honor !
 

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