Practically giddy

rrlund · Nov 15, 2017

Well I was for a little while anyway. It's been raining all day,so I finally had time to fool with the Oliver 500. I never knew diesel fuel so old that it had that stale gas varnish smell to it,but this did. I drained the tank and filters and put clean fuel in it. The electric pump somebody cobbled on to it worked and I got fuel out of the primers on the injector pump alright.

I hooked the jumper cables up to the truck,shot a little ether in the air cleaner and it started! The little bugger smoothed right out. I got on it and moved it back and forth. That part all seems OK. I shut it off and it started right back up. I shut it off again,put the truck away and put the hood back on,then I made the mistake of trying to see if it would start again on its own. It spun right over,but will only run on ether. I opened the bleeders again and can't get much of anything out of them,so I don't know if the fuel pump gave up or if the fuel filters clogged when the flow stopped for a few minutes.

Oh well,I'll get some new filters and try to get it primed up again. The real good news,the tach works,so it looks like serial number 3 has 1394 actual original hours on it.

centash · Nov 15, 2017

Don't it feel good when a dubious purchase turns out better than you hoped for? Looking forward to seeing that one restored! Ben

Steve@Advance · Nov 15, 2017

Looks like you're off to a good "start"!

Elton Fancher · Nov 15, 2017

Is that the same as the David Brown 880?

Russ from MN · Nov 15, 2017

Tractordata says 850.

http://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/6/7/679-oliver-500.html

rrlund · Nov 15, 2017

850 ya. This one was either built in December of 59 or February of 60.

Elton Fancher · Nov 15, 2017

Don't see many. I did know of one not far from here, might have been a 600, but have not saw it out for years.

rrlund · Nov 15, 2017

A 600 is super rare. About 500 made,but apparently not many survivors. I just got an update today on the registry of them. There are 66 500s on it now,4 of the 600s.

Oliver 500 Wa · Nov 15, 2017

Have absolutely no use for a second tractor.....but if I found a decent 600, I'd have to find a use.

Awesome that your "new" 500 ran, at least for a while. Mine has always been a PITA to get the air out of everywhere after changing filters and get it running again. Hopefully something similar is what's up with yours.

Hard to imagine only 1300+ hours. Wonder it the hourmeter has been replaced. I'll look at mine, but IIRC it says "SMITHS" on it.

Oliver 500 Wa · Nov 15, 2017

.....I just got an update today on the registry of them. There are 66 500s on it now,4 of the 600s.

Where do you get the registry updates at?

rrlund · Nov 15, 2017

I don't know,the face is faded on it. It doesn't say Oliver on it,but with such a low serial number I wouldn't expect it to. It doesn't say David Brown either as far as I can see,but I haven't put my glasses on and looked real close. It's different than the new replacement one that I put on my gasser.

As far as the registry update,Nelson sent me a letter in the mail.

Oliver 500 Wa · Nov 15, 2017

I imagine yours has to the oldest S/N on the registry.

rrlund · Nov 15, 2017

I forgot,I have a picture of the tach. Does this one look right? I know not too far in,they changed the PTO speed to 1800 rpms. This one is still marked at 1600.

Another thing is the backing plate on the light switch. It has the British markings I think. It has the same markings as the DB plate I got out of England for my gasser,side,side dipped,etc. What does yours say on there?

Greg1959 · Nov 15, 2017

rrlund- I like those moments, it feels like all is right in the Universe.

Good for you!

MJ in the UK · Nov 16, 2017

Hi Randy, nice one for the collection. On the DB 950 and 850 engines the fuel pump arms do not go direct on to the camshaft as the have a short round rod between the pump arm and the camshaft. It just slides in the pump mounting hole so it could have got lost. DB never made an orchard version of the 850 but thy made a narrow vertion also yours is the early 850 as it has got 6 stud mounting rear wheels. Good luck with your latest tractor. MJ

rrlund · Nov 16, 2017

Ya,I need to get the correct pump for it. I saw on the DB parts site that there's a rod that sells separate. Somebody has put an electric fuel pump on it. I probably should take the old one off before I order one and make sure that rod is in there and isn't the real problem,it might save me some money.

There were two companies right near where I bought this one that built component orchard tractors and orchard equipment. I suspect this one was converted by them soon after it was sold new. I plan to leave them on there,it's a true one of a kind and a pretty darned professional job of converting it.

Oliver 500 Wa · Nov 16, 2017

I forgot,I have a picture of the tach. Does this one look right? I know not too far in,they changed the PTO speed to 1800 rpms. This one is still marked at 1600.

Another thing is the backing plate on the light switch. It has the British markings I think. It has the same markings as the DB plate I got out of England for my gasser,side,side dipped,etc. What does yours say on there?

I suspect your tach has been replaced at some point. The original one (at least in 1963) said David Brown on it.

The lights control is marked the same as yours.

The charge/oil light is original, but I know my temp gauge has been replaced.

rrlund · Nov 16, 2017

I looked at Oliver Jim's in the article in Oliver Heritage. His looks just like mine. Same 1600 rpm PTO and all.

Oliver 500 Wa · Nov 16, 2017

Must be different because yours is older. Changed suppliers too. Yours is AC and mine is Smiths. I don't know any different, but maybe consistency was not a big thing in tractors back then.

Mine is pretty late in the production, #1937 out of 2000 so only 63 built after mine.

Practically giddy

rrlund

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