Tractor Advice

olliekid

Member
In a tough situation right now regarding a tractor:

So two years ago I went to go look at a tractor a guy had for sale, and we talked a lot and I didn't end up buying the tractor for sale, but we ended up buying a rake from the guy. The guy also had two more tractors that were really really nice that he said he was not ready to sell. I told him I was really interested in both of them, and gave him my contact information and told him to let me know before he sold them to the local dealer.

Well fast forward to a few weeks ago, and he sold one of the really nice tractors that I wanted to the dealer. The dealer is not known for customer service by any means, and when I inquired about the tractor he was not happy about my inquiring, and said he would call me with a price in the coming days. A week goes by so I give him a call and he said that he might just keep the tractor, or he will want over 10k for it. Tractor is an Oliver 1855 diesel with 2900 original hours.

The 1855 is one of my favorite models, and this is the nicest local 1855 I may ever find. I don't want to overpay, for a 1855 with an untrustworthy 310 in it, but am not sure I will ever find a nicer 1855, especially locally. I would keep it for the next 40-50 years, and am willing to part with my Oliver that I have now to help purchase it. Keep in mind the 1855, along with the 1655, and 1850 is one of my favorite models.

I know the issues the 1855 with the 310 has, and have already accounted for the costs to install the proper updates if needed. This tractor may have the nicest original paint I have seen on an 55 series Oliver tractor...

What should I do? Break the bank for the 1855, or wait and see if I can find another someday in similar condition?
 
Don't you just hate it when they don't call you back when they are ready to sell. You likely would of gave more than the dealer.
I have had this same thing happen several times in the past.
But it can work the other way too. I stopped in and asked about a tractor I saw sitting and the guy sold it to me. I remember at the time he was quizzing me about if it had problems he was worried I'd be back complaining or something ? I told him straight up that when I buy I know it is AS IS. I think that's why I got it.
Found out later someone I knew had stopped there all the time wanting to buy it and never could. I bet that was why he would not sell to him. Then the funny thing was this guy got mad at me ! like I stole it out from under him or something. LOL.
I had driven by that tractor many times and NEVER even knew it was there as I was driving. This time I was riding and spied it right away since I wasn't concentrating on traffic.
 
I sidetracked myself. LOL.

Do as I have done in the past. If you want a good one buy a couple of cheap ones and then rebuild one out of the best parts from all then you know what you have. Let that dealer have it. Eventually he will have a sale and it will sell if you out live him.
 
There is ALWAYS another tractor. What is the issue with the 1855 engine, anyhow? I have to say I like that model of Oliver and have thought about adding one to the fleet some day.
 
Don't fall in love with a piece of iron. Things change, situations change and no matter how beautiful you think it looks now, it may not look that good once you own it. When I buy something that I'm going to keep forever it usually stays around a couple years before I send it down the road.
 
There's nobody more in love with original paint Olivers than I am,but that said,I don't know if there's ever been an 1855 that I was in love with.
I wouldn't sell any of my other Olivers to have one. Except my 70 I suppose.
 
They tried to squeeze over 95 horses out of 310 cubic inches with the help of a turbo. They had a two piece wrist pin bushing in them that would mash out,the rod cap bolts were kinda weak and they needed an oil cooler. Add the one piece bushings,better rod bolts and a cooler before they ventilated the block with a rod and they were a good engine.
 
The 1755 was the same engine but naturally aspirated. The White 2-85 and 2-105 were an 1855 Oliver with a 345 Perkins engine like the 1850s had. 85 was naturally aspirated,the 105 was turboed.
 
Personally, don't take this the wrong way, but I would say you got dealt out of the game. The owner could of been friends with the dealer or whatever reason, but anyways he sold it to him and not you. Sounds like the dealer either wants it for himself now, or is going to take someone to the cleaners on it. I don't know why some people conduct business this way when selling something, but they do sometimes. I would say you got shirked on the opportunity to buy it fairly, and if it was me, I would just let this one go now. Even though it was one you wanted badly. Its hard to do, but sometimes walking away is the best thing to do, and hope others learn a lesson. Owner likely didn't get enough money out of it, and the dealer likely will try to put the screws to someone on it and maybe loose a friend out of the deal. And you can laugh down the road if you don't get involved. LOL
 
Well I want to have a 1655, 1850, and 1855 and my 1655 is in above average shape and my cousins have an original one with 4000 hours that they bought new, so I will end up with it someday.

So I am really trying to find a nice 1850 or 1855 with a 3 speed and original paint. For me it is all about the original paint over the repaint.
 
the 1855 had lots of engine problems when new. The 310 made a good 80hp engine but Oliver didn't want to pay big bucks for the 354 perkins, or develop a bigger engine so they turbo'd the 310 and pushed it a little much at 98hp in the 1855. They later came out with updates and a bigger oil cooler to help fix the problem.

The 310 turbo is my favorite sounding engine by far. And they are very fuel efficient. Trouble is many just do not trust them.
 
I know which models I want to farm with. I may buy other models, but they will be resold.

Oliver 1655
Oliver 1850
Oliver 1855
White American 60 FWA with a loader
White American 80 2wd with a cab
Massey Ferguson 165

Then someday maybe add a bigger White, and a 2255
 
Hah yeah i figure I will tell the dealer to let me know if he ever sells it, and also to give me the contact information if someone buys it.

This tractor is a local one and I would love to keep it around.

I am only 22, the dealer is over 60 so I hope so :)
 
Have you looked at the Oliver Forum? That American 80 with 50 or so actual hours on it has been consigned on an auction. That one would be my dream tractor at this stage.
 
There ya go. Cost this guy $1000 to be friends with the dealer. He gona stick it to someone else for $4000. You don't need to do business with someone like that, and I know I don't.
 
"Eventually he will have a sale and it will sell if you out live him.
"

Well said.
My pal Kenny had a real hankering for a Ford 960 that was on a dealer's lot. Dealer wouldn't take a dime less than $4500 for it.
It sat there for about 5 years till the dealer sold out at auction and Kenny bought it for $1700. He would have paid twice that.
 
The 310 Waukesha diesel is more or less a boat anchor. Naturally aspirated, turbo, "updates" or not, they was/are totally unreliable for even moderate use. With a 310 it's not a matter of if they have a major breakdown, it's when. They're not cheap to fix either. I may also add that i am an Oliver guy, and the 310 turbo is the sweetest sounding engine ever made, but I would still rather listen to somebody else's than own my own. My advice? Let it go, and find an 1850 with a 3 speed.
 
If the dealer puts a price on it, I'd consider it. If he refuses to price it I would just keep looking. It sounds like he is playing games, and I bet if you offer 10, he suddenly wants 11. I like 1855's, but a lot of people don't, so 10k will buy a very nice one. 2900 hours sounds really nice, but how do the drawbar and pedals look? Can you see 12 pt rod bolts down the dipstick hole?
Josh
 
I respect your want to have certain tractors, I guess we all have favorites. But when you think about this 1855 Oliver tractor , built in around 1974?? Who would buy a tractor of that size then , and a quite a fair sized price tag, and over the last 40 years only put on 2900 hrs. That is less than 80 hrs per year. Just saying , sounds kinda fishy to me. Maybe the guy you talked to knew the tractor was not everything you thought it was , and did't want you to be stuck with it. Just thinking, Bruce
 
So what about the other tractor the man had that you wanted? I'd go and see about that one since he's selling now.The dealer is full of it just lay off and he'll probably be calling you once he tries to pedal the 1855.
 
I would let the dealer keep it. You might actually find a better one. I drove an Oliver 2255 once,doing some field work for a neighbor. You couldn't give me an Oliver tractor even if it had a new rebuilt engine and new tires.
 
Haven't decided guy at the local AGCO dealer wants to buy the Hydra Power Unit he's talking $1700 don't know if thats good or bad.I've been looking for an Oliver with a blown engine to put the engine in as the tractor only has little over 2500 hrs.
 
Thanks for the suggestion, not looking for a cab tractor. I'll buy this tractor or hold off for another situation like this one.
 
Yeah I have almost bought a 1850 two different times this year. People beat me to the owner both times.

The 1850 is a good tractor, with much more power, but the 1855 is more fuel efficient, has much better hydraulics, better brakes etc.
 
The other one is an 1850 that his dad bought brand new. It has even less hours than the 1855, but he told me he won't sell it for a long time.

I would love to have it someday but my guess is that he won't sell it to the kid who wants to start farming, he will let it sit and collect dust, and then give it away to the dealer who will make a fortune on it....
 
Since the tractor is local, I know its history, and I guess that is what makes it worth a little more for me. The guy had 2 1855's and an 1850 to make about 50 acres of hay, and occasionally rotate the hay with corn or soybeans. There was a 5 16's plow that the 1850 pulled, but the 1855s were married to the haybine and the round baler. The 1850 did the tillage and raking.

The 1855 I am looking at is in incredible condition. The 3 point looks like it has never been used. The drawbar hole is near perfectly round, the sheet metal is all clean and without rust.
 
I don't know what I am looking for in the dipstick. I tried to take a look but honestly don't know what I am looking for exactly.

As I commented above, the 3 point arms on this tractor look new, and the drawbar hole is near perfectly round. This is a really nice original tractor, I am just nervous to spend that much on a tractor with a bad reputation that may not have the proper updates even.
 
Yeah I have been following it on tractorhouse and am interested to see what it brings. I have spent quite a bit of time on 2 different 80s and also time on a 60. They are really handy tractors. The 60 will be my loader tractor, and the 80 will go on the round baler, and be the cab tractor for when the weather is unfavorable. Would love an 80 with a cab that is green like Chris Losey's!
 
I wouldn't trust an 1855 for heavy tillage, and would monitor out of being paranoid. I guess I would disk with it and cultimulch with it, but would be reluctant to use it on the chisel plow.

An 1850 would be more ideal right now for what I would use it for, but this 1855 seems like a once in a lifetime opportunity....
 
We had a brand new 1974 Oliver 1855. it was a good tractor but ran hot in the summer and spun a rod bearing. We had it for ten years. it has less than 2500 hrs.

We traded it for a Deere 4430. After one week grandpa was wishing he spend the money and fixed his Oliver.

Every 1855 and 1955 around here ended up needing a new engine.
 
I was in the buying mood for a JD 4020 with power shift. I went to many auctions, etc. looked them over and watched the prices. I finally saw one at my local dealer. I test drove it, made them an offer and waited about 1 month. it was still there, so I made the offer again and it was mine. All told, I spent a good year looking and thought I got a good machine at a fair price. My advice? Make an offer and wait. Corn prices are down, you have the $$$ and he can't eat a tractor.
 
I am only 22, the dealer is over 60 so I hope so :)

You have a lot to learn my friend...

Unless you're Allan in NE, you are not going to get a fair shake from a dealer. Dealers usually price the used tractors at 2-3 times what they're worth, and will not dicker/haggle/negotiate off that price by much. They're looking for the "big score," a fool with more money than brains.

I would write that tractor off at this point. It's gone, lost to the "dark side." Don't give the dealer another second of your time on it.

That said, this guy sounds like a "tractor jockey" which is even WORSE than a dealer because they prey on old farmers who may be cash-strapped or not all there anymore. If you knew how little that tractor jockey paid for that Oliver, you'd probably punch him in the face.

My Dad got screwed out of his uncle's Super M by a tractor jockey many years ago. Both uncles who ran the farm had passed and he'd let the remaining aunt know that he'd pay more than a fair price for the tractor. She sold that practically new Super M and two meticulously cared for H's to some scuzzy tractor jockey for little more than "magic beans." He came in and convinced her that the tractors were worthless junk and he was being tremendously generous with his offer.
 
You are probably exactly right. His prices on equipment are so high,
and I know he doesn't give people fair prices for their equipment
and machinery.

Sorry about your Super M and the 2 H's.....
 
Very true, but I could see someone around being foolish enough to buy it. Olivers bring good money around here, especially the 50 and 55 series.

Mainly because there are so many hobby farmers around in this area still.
 
Here's how I rationalize and justify to myself spending way too much on several things I've bought/done over the years.

Example: About 5 years ago I spent over 7k restoring a 1953 Farmall stage 1 Super H. No regrets as I still work and play with this tractor. It was the challenge of getting it done that motivated me.

I had the money, if I didn't I would work a little harder getting it. If it's rare and I really wanted one I just bought it.

I've also gotten some really good deals over the years.

I responded to a CL add about a Farmall Super C with fast hitch. Had been sitting in the shed 25+ years and the roof had collapsed on it. I negotiated a $500 sales price with the understanding that I would help tear the shed down in exchange for any and all equipment that goes with it. We ended up finding the complete mounted planters, cultivators, fertilizer side dressers. I spent a couple hundred getting fluids changed, tuned up and running. I still use this tractor in my garden to this day.

Every time I think I might be paying a little too much i remember all the really good deals I've gotten over the years.
 
You can see the rod bolts down the dipstick hole with a flashlight. If they are 12 pt bolts, they have been replaced, and hopefully so have the rod bushings. Is it an oil cooler block? I think the later ones came from the factory with oil cooler block, but many early ones have been replaced. An oil cooler block with updates is a pretty good engine. The oldtimers here also say to fill them 1 qt over the full mark, as they don't hold very much oil.
Josh
 
We had 2 olivers, a 1967 1650 and a 1976 1855. Both diesels. The 1650 we got first, had the hydr-power, no cab. The 1855 had a cab, the over/under hydraulic shift and both tractors had the heavier design front axle. I always thought i wanted a cab tractor but aftet using both, i'll go with a open one, best thing about the one with the cab is it got too hot inside for the bugs to bother you, every few years or so the 1855 would lunch a turbo, and its nearly useless when the turbo is dead, we did the rod bolt upgrade ourselves, was running when we parked it, but 4-5 years of setting anti-freeze was found in the oil when dad found a buyer for it. The 1650 was sold locally to a neighbor who had the sheetmetal done and a paint job, it looks show-quailty now but ive recently heard it may have a loose flywheel or a broke crankshaft. Hope both olivers live to see another day, given the choice id go with the non turbo engine, those things are darn pricey when they go out, and i dont have to watch the rpms as close, the 1650 would go alot further down in rpms and still keep pulling before youd have to hit the hydra-power, the 1855 however would flat fall on its face when you got below a certian rpm. I think the biggest issue we had with the bigger oliver was something in the hydraulics, the 1650 had sevral little issues, we had it overhauled and that helped the throttle response, but its issues were a set of burned up pto clutch plates, low oil pressure and the hydra-power would just go into a "neutral" state after a short distance. We took care of the oil pump and pto but i dont think the hydra-power issue was ever fixed. All of the other tractors we had were smaller, gas engines. Most of them are still here.
 
I'd pass on it and just keep looking. I just got done for the season on Friday with our 1855 and while it's a good tractor that I love to drive, it's had it's moments. We picked it up on silent auction from a dealer for about 4500 if I remember right. Could have been 5000. They couldn't sell it to save their soul.

Around here Oliver's are still plentiful, just not worth much.

I surely wouldn't pay 5 figures for one.

Donovan from Wisconsin
 

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