Dad's new 77

Dad went to an auction last week to check out what was listed in the local paper as "Oliver tractor". He got there and it was a regular old 77 Row Crop NF. Not running, but clean oil and free. It was the estate sale of an old gentleman that had lived there for a long time. He had bought the 77 new. A neighbor said that it had not had been used in the last 25 years and had just set in the barn since it was last used. Dad brought it home for a very reasonable price. Dad already has a regular 77, but he said the history of this one was very interesting, so he wasn't going to let it go to someone else for peanuts. It came with the original owners manual and some other documents from when the gentleman bought it new, a heat houser that was stolen before dad got back there to get the tractor loaded, and the original front and rear side panels that look as though they had been taken off new and hung on a nail, very nice! The sheet metal on the tractor is very straight with not even a dimple on it anywhere, although at some point the hood was cut for a muffler unfortunately. Has the original gauges which are in great shape and all work, and very nice matching 13.6-38 tires. It has the hydra-lectric set up on it, with only the 2 switches, no levers for back up, and it works great, even with the original harnesses. I believe this thing was his pride for quite a long time, the few grease fittings it does have looked as they had just been greased and looked as though he wasn't afraid to grease it lol. Brakes work very well, steering is nice and tight. The PTO lever and latch has about the most wear of anything on the tractor, I believe it did ALOT of PTO work as he had a full set of haying equipment as well. The tractor does not have the original lights on it but that's no big deal. Out back was the original 2 row cultivators that came with the tractor complete and with original paint and all lettering. Listed on the lot number as "scrap iron", I believe dad said he had to give $25 for them. Dad was pretty bummed his heat houser got stolen in such a short amount of time though, he really thought it would be neat to have had as well. Had a chance to go look at it yesterday and help dad see if we could get it running. Put gas and a battery in it, checked cap, points etc. No spark because someone had left the ignition switch on at some point and time and had overheated the points taking the temper out of the spring so they wouldn't close.New points, rolled half a turn and fired right up, runs beautiful, smooth, no smoke. Can't beat it. Dad was a little mad the way they were auctioning things, jumping all over with 2 auctioneers at once. He missed out on a NH 273 baler, very nice original, appeared well maintained for $400, while he was over bidding on the cultivators for the 77. I'll post a pic of the 77 next time I'm over at the farm.

Ross

Great find!

Here's a few at dad's ranch, mom took the picture for me and sent it to me. Wish she was a better photographer lol. Whenever I try to sell something for my dad, she always sends the most out of focus uncentered pictures. Anyway, dad had a few of his Olivers out yesterday. The one he just bought is the close one on the right of the picture.

Ross

Big question is how much did it cost him for it??I'm surprised the side curtain did not come up missing as well since in this area if a person can see it from the road they will be gone by the next morning

JD carbs are that way around here. Too bad really. I gueas they were kept inside until the auction and as soon as dad got the tractor, they came with him and went in the back seat of his truck. He said he almost had it bought at $600, then one more call and someone else bid it up until dad bought it at $900 or $925, can't remember what he said. Pretty cheap I think.

Ross

With the side curtain ya pretty good. I sold a 1953 Row Crop 77 a few years back for $1200 and it ran good but did not have the side curtains