Given an Oliver 1600. Now what?

Frankweller

New User
My uncle gave me my dad's 1962 Oliver 1600 narrow front end tractor for Christmas. It has been kept in the shed so it appears to be in decent shape. My uncle recalled, "If I remember right, it was giving me some trouble with the rear end, but the motor was running fine when we put it in the shed about ten years ago. That was the last time we started it."

I'd love to hear your advice on what to do next.

I'm a pastor and we'd like to get the old Ollie running to use in cutting the grassy field behind our church.

Where do I start? Thanks!
 
If you know or can find someone in your area that knows tractors in general or better yet Olivers it'd be worth it to get them to look it over,get it started and check
out any mechanical problems even if you had to pay them something.
 
Did he give you an operators manual for the tractor? I would check all the fluid levels in the tractor to start with. Is the engine free(not tied up)? Do you have e-mail? A 1600 is a good tractor.
 

I don't have any operator' manual or any paperwork. I don't know if the motor is seized but I am thinking it probably is not. How would I check that?
 
(quoted from post at 07:25:46 03/16/17)
I don't have any operator' manual or any paperwork. I don't know if the motor is seized but I am thinking it probably is not. How would I check that?
Make sure it's in neutral and try turning the engine with the fan. You may have to put some pressure on the belt.
 
It would be a good idea to pull the spark plugs and put some light oil in the cylinders before turning. It will turn easier with the plugs out.
 
Older 1600 tractors still had a hole behind the grill that would line up with the nut on the crankshaft pulley. Put a 1-1/8 inch socket on the bolt holding the pulley on and enough extensions that you can turn the socket with a break-over bar. Put a chalk mark on the front pulley for reference and then see if you can turn the engine 2 FULL turns. You have e-mail or send one to me. J.
 
(quoted from post at 12:07:40 03/16/17) My email is [email protected] Thanks for the advice! I hope to get going on it in the next few weeks.
If it's not stuck it may be fairly easy to get running. Good advice from J on turning it at least 2 revolutions to make sure valve train is free too. If it doesn't turn easy don't force it. If it does turn you will need to open all the drain plugs to drain any water off. Water will be at the bottom and seep past the threads if you loosen it some. Let us know what you find out.
 
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