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3010 vs 1650

O

orangepower

Member
How does a JD 3010 compare to an Oliver 1650? Both wide front row crops. Both diesel. Both in good shape. Both same price. 3010 is Synchro. 1650 is a three speed Hydraul Shift. Which is better in terms of performance, economy, and reliability? I think the 1650 is a few horses more if they're still stock. Thanks.
 

Best for what? Loader use, heavy tillage and harvest of 500 acres, an odd jobs spare tractor for seasonal use, hobby farm or collector ? Both are old and will require a lot of shop tile per hours used . Always thought ab Oliver 1950 with the 4-53 Detroit would be amusing . 150HP with one of those no problem.

http://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/0/6/60-john-deere-3010.html


http://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/7/0/701-oliver-1650.html
 

I'd choose the Oliver with the 3 speed hyd shift over the 3010 with only 8 speed trans plus I very much dislike the 3010 pto with the tiny speed shift pins that can bend/break. 3010 also has an orphan 4 cyl engine block if another block was ever required.
 
I have always been a Deere person so I would take the 3010.But there is nothing wrong with a 1650 Oliver and it might even be a little better tractor. The three speed on the oliver free wheels in high and low going down hill but the 3010 pto was only an ok set up as well(make sure to keep bolts tight).The six cylinder Oliver engine will be smooth and have more torque than the four cylinder in the 3010. You need to drive both and decide what you like best.I could do alot of work with either one and if we did not have Deere tractors I would more than likely have some Olivers. Tom
 
I had a 3010 diesel. One of the three worst tractors I ever owned. Constant problems. If that tractor had it,it would break. I was finally able to trade it to a jockey for a 1600 gas that needed an overhaul. That was over 16 years ago and I've been doing the happy dance every since. That 1650 has to be one of the last ones made if it had the three speed. It's so far superior to a 3010 there's no comparison.

If you were talking 3020 vs 1600,that might be a different story,but 3010 vs late 1650 is a no brainer.
 
When we bought our combine from a farmer he had a 3010 setting there, this was before the 3020 came out and it forever killed the new generation Deeres for me. He could not get parts for it at that time, possibly 3 years old. Then I drove my Uncles 3020 when it was only a couple of years old and I hated that thing,cannot call it a tractor. I had been a 2 cylinder man but when Deere quit that tractor they lost me forever as a tractor customer. When we wanted newer tractors went to Ford, I like looks of the Olivers But none ever around me. But with what I know of those Deeres and the local Deere dealer I think had every one of the 3010's in to rebuild the engine under warenty you could not give me one if I had to use it. So it definatly would be the Oliver.
 
The 1650 is a bit bigger and newer, more like a Deere 3020. You will find people that like or dislike either. I'm not an Oliver guy, but the 3010 wouldn't be my first choice either. They were OK, but a 3020 would be better.
 
Orange, I have run both. Not a JD or oliver guy, but of the 2-- the Ollie is the one I would buy.
 
3010 was contemporary with the 1600. 1650 was contemporary with the 3020, both were updated versions of the earlier tractors. Drive both and see which you like better: seat; steering; brakes; climbing on & off; maneuverability; etc. At 50 years old condition is everything. If you do your own repairs, I would go with the 1650 because it is simpler to work on.

The Nebraska tractor tests are a good source for specifications and fuel economy tests.
 
As pointed out the 3020 would be more contemporary to the 1650 and close in HP. The 3010 was only around 55 PTO HP. Unless you need every last bit of the HP that the 1650 puts out I would go with the one that was in the best mechanical condition. I think that the trouble with the 3010 PTO hub is somewhat overstated and the effort to fix that along with the cost of necessary parts is no worse than putting a clutch in a tractor which most guys here would agree is no big deal. The 1650 is generally a pretty good tractor but that does not mean it does not have weak points especially if the tractor has racked up quite a few hours. Again, the one in the best mechanical condition wins in my mind.
 
First off the 3 speed shift only free wheels in the "under" position. Second, the 3010 is a smaller tractor than the 1650. The 3010 is a 55 hp. or thereabouts tractor. The later 1650's were certified to produce 70hp. We never sold one that produced less than 76hp. The 1650 with 18x34 tires loaded and a couple of frond end weights is a 10,000 lb. tractor. A neighbor had a 3010 and it was comparable to our S-88. The S-88 seemed to be less troublesome as I remember, also. Unless the 3010 is cherry and the 1650 is a piece of worn out junk, buy the 1650.

Randy is correct. If the 1650 is a 3 speed, it is one of the last 1650's made before going to the 55 series. You have 18 forward speeds in the 1650 as opposed to 8 in the 3010. You have 3 "on the go' shifts in each of 6 main gears. The 3010 has the 8 speed "jukebox" shifter on the dash and there is no shift on the go feature, and they can be a real booger to shift if the linkages are worn.
 
I should have noted that quite a few 3010's were updated to 3020 engine specs with 3020 piston and sleeve kits so the power might be pretty close to the 1650. The last I knew the early 3010 blocks would not accept the 3020 kit but maybe somebody has found a way around that. Blocks affected would be primarily the first year of 3010 production with the remaining two years readily accepting the 3020 kit.
 
I believe that the farmer who had the 3010 told you that story but the rest of it seems pretty fishy to me. No parts for a 3 year old tractor? I don't believe that regardless of the color. Either he broke something that never should be normally broke such as a transmission case or he and the dealer were engaged in a pis*ing match over the warranty.
 
the Oliver 1650 (and very similar successors the 1655 and White 2-70) are hard to beat for size, power, function, durability and generally at a good price unless it was restored.
 
(quoted from post at 09:06:53 08/14/17) When we bought our combine from a farmer he had a 3010 setting there, this was before the 3020 came out and it forever killed the new generation Deeres for me. He could not get parts for it at that time, possibly 3 years old. Then I drove my Uncles 3020 when it was only a couple of years old and I hated that thing,cannot call it a tractor
Click to expand...

Leroy
If parts for a JD 3010 weren't available for a JD 3010 in the early 60's blame that fact on local JD dealer not JD. I sold parts for a JD dealer from '66-'87 & if a JD parts personnel was not dumber than a box of rocks parts were available for a 3010 back then same as the parts are available today. :roll:
 
While the 3 speed over/under is a nice feature it is subject to wear and abuse. Abuse can include contamination from dirt or water or incorrect oil used. Engine I would give the edge to the Oliver but parts availability sans block and balancer to JD. Hydraulics I would give the edge to the JD especially on loader operations. Transmission look at the JD Synchro-Range as a four speed transmission that incorporates a synchronized Hi-Lo in each of the speeds. If number of speeds is important then the Oliver has a big advantage.
 
We had 2 1650's and our neighbor had a 3010. To me the 1650 was a way better tractor. I hated driving the 3010, but to each there own. Have fun deciding.
 
I am a John Deere guy, by and large. The first tractor I learned to drive was a 3010 gas. It was a peppy tractor, and by the time I had learned to drive it, the engine had been overhauled with non-OEM sleeves and pistons. If I recall, they might have been produced by M & W. I then went on to learn to operate a 3020 and a 4020. We did have a 1955 Oliver on the farm and it was a very problem prone tractor from top to bottom and from front to back. The general conclusion I recall hearing from others was that it was too much horsepower for the engine that was in the tractor, and possibly for the entire drivetrain. With that being noted, I think a 1650 Oliver was a decent tractor and was pretty dependable. I particularly liked that 3 speed Over/Under shifting set up. If that is something that fits nicely into what you plan to do with the tractor, then I think you should go for it. If you are going to use a front end loader on a tractor, the syncro range transmission on the 3010, I think, will be more user friendly versus the transmission in the Oliver. The ease of use from forward to reverse in the lower 2 ranges is quite nice without having a clashing of gears. Horsepower wise, the 3010 will be less than the 1650. I think the next size smaller of a 1550 (not sure, but I know they made a 1555) would be a closer match to the 3010.
 
In terms of hydraulics the setup on the Oliver is inferior to the JD. Not so noticeable on older disks, haybines, etc. that used 3 X 8 cylinders to position equipment but high volume applications such as loader work. The 3010 for loader work or light jobs where you stay in one gear or the Oliver for heavy work such as tillage where speed changes are frequently required.
 
He bought it with a small fire in the front in front of the radiator and could not get the parts needed to repair so he could use it. I saw that tractor and I think it was hydrolic componets.
 
I still believe that there is more to the story than what you were told. Not long after I finished college I answered an ad for a salesman position at a JD dealership. A sizable part of the interview was about warranties and warranty work. The owner made mention that abuse such as pushing a combine unloading auger into a tree did not constitute a warranty situation. I could only imagine the circumstances that lead the owner to say that. I did not get the job because "I did not look old enough" but always suspected it was because I did not look big enough or mean enough to push back against the rougher customers in his mind.
 
Isn't the [i:654c4848f0]gas tank[/i:654c4848f0] in front of the radiator on a 3010? I could see even a "small fire" there being an issue. I certainly don't like paying what JD expects for their parts, but can't imagine parts availability having been an issue, especially when the 3010 was three years old.
 
Never had a loader on a newer Oliver did you? They have a full frame,front to rear for strength,not just frame rails to bolt something to. In that 1650,R2 and 4th would be directly up and down from each other and R1 and second would be too. That three speed added to that is an absolute dream. You can pull back in to low to pick up a bale or push in to something,shift to your choice of three speeds backing away or going forward to wherever you're headed with the load. Closest thing you'll get to a hydro in that vintage tractor. The closed center pump on the 3010 is larger,sure,but I had a loader on one and have one on the 1600 Oliver. The limitation on the Oliver is just in the size of the hoses,not the capacity of the pump. All things being equal,the Oliver will run the loader just as fast as the Deere.
 
On a 1750 I drove years ago I was not gaga over the power steering versus the JD. Further, before the 55 series there were no power brakes. I am not saying that the 1650 is terrible but to me the New Gen Deere would be a pinch more comfortable for loader duty. To each his own I guess.
 
If a LOT of road work is planned for this tractor then possibly the 3010 would be my choice. But buzzing that 4 cyl engine to 2500 rpm would get old. Oliver's have a slow road gear and they whine a LOT. If any PTO work is planned, then the 1650 for sure. The PTO shifter rod repair on 3010/4010 is a double split of the transmission I have read here. Lots of labor needed to do the repair unless you are equipped to do it yourself. The Synchro-range shifting linkage on lots of 3010/4010 were sloppy and rebuilt already in the late 1960'S. The 3010/4010 had three reverses.


My Uncle bought a brand new 3010-D to replace his 400 gas Farmall. He sent the 3010 back to town Three times to get it to pull with the 400, last time the dealer turned the pump up to 70 hp. Last time I saw the 3010 was 3-4 years ago. Cousin bush hogs with a Farmall 300 now. Not sure if the 3010 was sold, scrapped, pushed in the shed, not sitting in the yard anymore.
 
50 series Olivers were plenty fast in 6th gear. You're thinking of the older 77 and 88 tractors. I don't know of many 10 series tractors where the shift mechanism was sloppy that soon. Having been around a 4010 for decades I just don't see the PTO shifter as the boogey man that everybody makes it out to be. That tractor ran a 2 row forage harvester and wire baler with some help that did not baby things. Make a lock tab out of 3/16 flat stock if a person is that worried about it. I've seen the rear PTO housing busted out of a Magnum before. Most damage to the tractor portion is bent shafting or tubing on the implement not allowing free movement over one another. That or if it has a grease fitting it seldom sees grease.
 
The three speed steps them up even faster by about 30%. I think that particular 1650 might just outrun the 3010 on the road.
 
I know that the one 1750 with an over/under was pretty fast with 18.4 X 38 tires on it. Yeah, the 1650 should get down the road significantly faster than the 3010.
 
Said it was too new they did not make repair parts avaible yet, I guess all the parts they were making new tractors took so they could not put a piece into a parts order.
 
Does the Oliver have the 4 inch diameter square hole for the gears like a white 2 135 with no notches no nothing to give you an idea where the gears might be ?
 
(quoted from post at 14:18:52 08/14/17) Isn't the [i:d2fb555d9a]gas tank[/i:d2fb555d9a] in front of the radiator on a 3010? I could see even a "small fire" there being an issue. I certainly don't like paying what JD expects for their parts, but can't imagine parts availability having been an issue, especially when the 3010 was three years old.
Click to expand...

Fuel tank out front of radiator is about as far from source of fire as one can get. Most New Generation JD's that I seen or heard of catching fire was under the dash.

IMHO ALL brands of tractor/implement parts are too high. I own JD,Kubota,Ford,Vermeer & Krone equipment and very few of the parts are very reasonable. JD filters for a 3010 are exceptions.
AR75603 Filter Element - ADD 8.31 USD
AR50041 Fuel Filter - ADD 12.95 USD
 
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