key won't turn

Katep · Apr 3, 2016

This is the first of many questions I'm sure. Please don't be too hard on me! I'm a total newbie at tractors, and jumped in the deep end with an old Oliver and a case 580B. We bought a house with land in January and want to turn it into a small homestead/farm. We bought the two tractors to grade the land and try to get it working. They have both been sitting since they were delivered while we have been trying to get our old house sold, and now I can get either one to start. They both ran when they arrived.

I thought it was just dead batteries, but today we hooked up jumper cables and still no luck. The Oliver key had a hard time even getting it into the ignition and the key won't even turn. It did run getting it off the tractor a month ago.

Can anyone suggest what i should do?

mtny · Apr 3, 2016

Do they start with the key or do they have a button to engage the starter . Post the model and year , maybe a pic . You will get input .

Bruce from Can. · Apr 3, 2016

Spray some WD40 in the key hole. Maybe then the key will at least turn.

J.Wondergem · Apr 3, 2016

What model Oliver is it? Probably like mtny said, starts with a button after you turn on the key.

Katep · Apr 3, 2016

I took pictures of the serial number plate and tractor but on an iPhone and having trouble getting the photos to upload. The serial number is 86415-519.

Katep · Apr 3, 2016

I tried wd-40 still won't budge. I'm second guessing myself if we somehow got the wrong key, so I attached a picture of that too.

J. Schwiebert · Apr 3, 2016

That is a model 550. It has a safety switch in the starting circuit. The clutch petal must be down to complete the circuit. On the key I don't remember when they changed but the vendor for the ignition switch changed and so did the key. You have a phone number?

Katep · Apr 3, 2016

Here is the key

Katep · Apr 3, 2016

Ok I'll go try to find the clutch pedal... !!

Katep · Apr 3, 2016

Key still won't budge with the clutch depressed. Would that physically prevent the key from turning?

Mike(NEOhio) · Apr 3, 2016

Steelcase is a brand of office furnishings and cubicles. Unless Oliver was buying their locks, you have the wrong key.

Katep · Apr 3, 2016

Well, that is good news and bad news. Explains my problem but that means I have no clue where the key is.

J. Schwiebert · Apr 3, 2016

That is not your common Oliver key! What does the switch look like?

Katep · Apr 3, 2016

WOO HOO I found the right key. Now it won't start. They gave me this bottle of spray starter fluid. Where do I shoot that?

Katep · Apr 3, 2016

As in, now the engine cranks but it isn't starting.

Bruce from Can. · Apr 4, 2016

Myself , I don't like starter fluid ,but if you use it use it sparingly. Just give a
quick squirt into the air intake , while the engine is being cranked over. Don't get
carried away spraying too darn much of that stuff,it is very volatile , and if your
engine starts on it ,it will rev up fast , and burn up all of the starter fluid you
have sprayed. You will have no throttle control till the starter fluid is all spent ,
and it starts to burn Diesel.

J. Schwiebert · Apr 4, 2016

Did you choke it? Does the choke work? Do you have an operators manual that you can read so you know what the procedures are for using the tractors and where all the controls are and what they do?

Katep · Apr 4, 2016

I bought the manual and I'm going to try again today. I wasn't choking it and I'm not actually sure if the choke works but will find out.

D beatty · Apr 4, 2016

That key is for a piece of office equipment. Key says Steel Case and that is an office equipment manufacture .

J.Wondergem · Apr 5, 2016

Make sure the gas is turned on, if it still has the shut off at the sediment bulb.

key won't turn

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads