Handiest tools for the owner of an Oliver 500

Oliver 500 Wa · Aug 14, 2017

Years ago when I bought my 500, the old codger selling it asked me if I knew what the handiest tools to work on it would be. Since I knew it was an old English machine, I answered "a set of Whitworth wrenches?". Nah, he cackled. You need a set of......

Any guesses as to what he said?

dahlin · Aug 14, 2017

Left handed Vise Grips and a metric crescent wrench.

rrlund · Aug 14, 2017

Body tools to keep dinging the grill back out. lol

Mitch Poindexter · Aug 14, 2017

I have a set of metric Crescent wrenches, used them yesterday on the 1255. They come in real handy when working on the Fiats. As for the handiest tools to work on an English made tractor, I would guess a set of pint glasses. That way when the thing breaks down on you, you can drink a proper pint of Guinness while you wait on help to come along!

super 55 · Aug 14, 2017

ummmm .... a set of spare tractors?

Oliver 500 Wa · Aug 14, 2017

I would guess a set of pint glasses. That way when the thing breaks down on you, you can drink a proper pint of Guinness while you wait on help to come along!

Not what he said, but I REALLY like this answer!

Gary Mitchell · Aug 14, 2017

I gotta guess hammers. (In memory of Albert Gudde) gm

rvirgil_KS · Aug 14, 2017

You need a set of......common sense, ability to reason, and an understanding of how it works.

If a guy has those assets he can do a lot with a few simple or improvised tools.

A guy with a large inventory of the best tools, but no understanding of how a machine works may well be lost to a hopeless guessing game.

Oliver 500 Wa · Aug 15, 2017

......Any guesses as to what he said?

The old guy said "an SAE tap and die set".

When I bought the 500 about 25+ years ago, BSF and BSW bolts and nuts were hard to find. Now one can get them delivered in just a few days from Internet suppliers. To further complicate matters, my 500 is from near the end of the last year of production so it had a mix of SAE threads and BSF/BSW threads from the factory.

Over the years it got some more SAE threads. It's always a bit of a mystery what size tool will be needed to work on it. For example, takes 2 different sizes wrenches to take off the rear wheels. One side is British, the other is SAE.

J. Schwiebert · Aug 15, 2017

When they were a lot newer a dealer was getting his British bolt kit at the Columbus branch when I was there. He said you got have one if you sell one of these~ What is the serial number of your tractor? Thanks. J.

big tee · Aug 15, 2017

A wrecking ball and a crusher.---Tee

rrlund · Aug 15, 2017

The old guy said "an SAE tap and die set".

He was on to something there. I lost a nut to the strap on the gas tank and went right in to a full blown panic. I crawled around on my hands and knees on the floor and found it luckily.

Oliver 500 Wa · Aug 15, 2017

......What is the serial number of your tractor? Thanks. J.

101937

Interesting about some of the comments on reliability. In general have folks found the 500 unreliable? It's my only tractor so have no reference. I've owned it for >25 years and the only failure has been one water pump.

gary66 · Aug 20, 2017

funny stuff...I'd say a computer and Yesterdays Tractor

seriously Id say a bigger tractor

Handiest tools for the owner of an Oliver 500

Oliver 500 Wa

Member

dahlin

Member

rrlund

Well-known Member

Mitch Poindexter

Member

super 55

Well-known Member

Oliver 500 Wa

Member

Gary Mitchell

Well-known Member

rvirgil_KS

Well-known Member

Oliver 500 Wa

Member

J. Schwiebert

Well-known Member

big tee

Well-known Member

rrlund

Well-known Member

Oliver 500 Wa

Member

gary66

Member

Similar threads