55 series newbie questions

Please be gentle with this Oliver newbie. I've always been a fan of orphan brands, particularly Oliver and MM, and would like to own one some day. Some of my favorite Oliver tractors are the diesel 55 series. I'm trying to decipher some of the differences between the smaller models of the series... the 1555, 1655 and 1755... since I probably wouldn't want anything bigger. Can anyone help educate me?

First off, any advantage between a 50 and a 55 series (besides the extra headlights)?

Besides the obvious HP differences, I've picked up a few clues like the 2 speed over/under trans on the 15 vs the 3 speed on all the others.

It also appears that the 155x and 165x share the same chassis, correct? So same physical dimensions? What else is shared?

Not sure of the actual size difference between a 17 and the smaller 15 and 16s. But to put things in JD language, I presume a 1655 would be close in size and ability to a 3020 and a 1755 is similar to a 4020. Would that be about right? Is the 1755 still considered a "handy" size tractor? I sure don't want anything big and clumsy for a toy tractor.

I've noticed that the operator platform is completely flat on the 17 and the dash is arranged differently (vertically). Are the hydraulic controls/consoles different too?

Did all three come in a utility model? Does a utility have a unique front axle? Or just a wide front reversed?

I've read differing opinions about the various engines. Seems like the 15 and 16 are well-liked and are all-time favorite tractors in general. I've read some not-so-nice things about the 310 engine in the 1755. Can anyone enlighten me. Is any one of these tractors more "bulletproof" than the others?

Any other big differences between these three models? Which would you choose if you could have only one? This would just be a for-fun tractor to preserve and collect, not really work that much. Maybe run a bush hog or a snowblower occasionally at most. Or pull a hayrack ride. Does any one of them command more $$ than the others?

Thanks for your input and education!

The 1550 and 1650 share the same main case but the transmission is different. I think the front frame is different in the engine mounts.

Imo, the 1655 and 1850 were probably the best tractors Oliver built. I don't think you can go wrong with either as a toy, or work. When you factor in the 1655 became the White 2-70, it had a very long production run and parts availability doesn't seem to be too problematic. The 1850 had the Perkins, and well, the engine just plain works.

Let's see here. The 1555 was pretty much just a 1550 with more lights and different decals. Like Mike said,they had a spur gear transmission. The engine lubrication system was a little lower pressure than the 1650-1655. They were only available with the Hydrapower two speed,not the 3 speed Over/Under.

The 1655 was basically a 1650 with the same dress up as the 1555. They had a helical gear transmission and could have been equipped with the 3 speed Over/Under.

Both the 1555 and 1655 had an internal open center hydraulic pump and manual activated brakes.

The 1750 had the 310 engine,but was probably more reliable than they were in the 1855 and 1955 since the 1755 was naturally aspirated. They had an externally mounted closed center hydraulic pump and hydraulically actuated brakes.

If I had to have one of them as a daily user,I'd take the 1755,just because of the hydraulics. If you want a bulletproof plaything though,the 1655s will still be roaming the earth after cockroaches have become extinct.

Good stuff, rrlund! Keep it coming guys.

Mike, Frame is the same on 1550 and 1650 the input shaft coming out of the rear end is longer on the 1550 and 1555. I put a 283 diesel out of 1650 in my 1555 and had to cut about an inch off the input and PTO shaft.

Thought I read somewhere that the mounting holes were different.

Size comparison- At the time, the 1850 was the model that was matched up with the JD 4020. Since the 1755 was the 55 series replacement for the 1850, the physical size comparison isn't too far out of line. Is that a "handy" size? My brother has a 1755 which I've driven at times over the years. We both have 1850s', and I have a 1655. The bigger models have the edge for field work that needs the extra power and weight, which doesn't seem to match your projected use. Personally, I find the 1655 to be a lot handier. But that's something you have to decide for yourself.

The 1550-1555 block is an inch shorter behind the rear engine mounts,but the distance between mounts is the same.

If you have a single speed PTO you should have used a 1600 PTO shaft. Is should fit with no alterations. Did the tractor have a hydra power?

Does anyone know the overall length of a 1655 row crop vs a 1655 utility? Specifically, from the tip of the very leading edge of the tractor (front wheels?) to the end of the three point arms (I realize any added weights may alter the length).

How about a 1755 row crop vs utility?

It appears that the Oliver row crop wide front axle and front wheels project forward from the tractor quite a lot. Just thinking in terms of how much less storage space a utility would require.

So I wonder what equivalent JD tractor the 1555 and 1655 were meant to compete against. I presume maybe a 2520 and 3020 (respectively)?

Can't help you with dimensions,but don't confuse the swept back axle with a utility. I don't think there was a 1755 utility. The utilities had shorter spindles and smaller rear tires. The swept back axle just had a shorter wheelbase than the conventional adjustable row crop front axle.

Ya. The 1550 replaced the 770. The 1600 replaced the 880 and was intended to compete with the 3010. In fact,the 1600 prototype was a four cylinder tractor same as the 3010. The Oliver 1800 and 4010 Deere were six cylinders,so Oliver first intended the 1600 to be a 4,the same as a 3010.

If you think of a utility as a low wheel tractor there was no 1655 or 1755 utility. Utility models were the 1600, the 1550 and the 1555.

(quoted from post at 16:54:09 12/12/18) If you think of a utility as a low wheel tractor there was no 1655 or 1755 utility. Utility models were the 1600, the 1550 and the 1555.

Click to expand...

Aaaah. I'm learning! So can anyone illustrate the difference in the various front ends that were available? Mainly swept-back vs utility? I guess I pretty well know what the row crop and standard front ends look like.

Also, is there any resource online where you can see hi-res scans of brochures from these models? I've collected a lot of JD literature from this era and it's very helpful in learning the different variations that were available. Would love to read up on these models as well.

J. Schwiebert, That was back in 1991 when I was a broke dairy farmer. I had a 1650 industrial diesel loader tractor with a shot Reverse-O-Torc and my 1555 needed a rebuild. I dropped just the engine in and was like perfect engines going to bolt right up. I put a flywheel and the Hydra-Power on and dropped it back in and "rats" it wont work. I used that tractor for 3 more years and sold it in 94. Bought the carcass back in 2010 and it's a 1650 gas engine now. Holes were redrilled in the frame as a new input shaft had been installed as well as new PTO drive shaft. I like this 1650 gas for my puttering around. Starts good and plenty of power for what I do.

What engine did they have in the prototype? Also it looks like there are 2 long gear shift levers?

My 1655 owners' manual lists, on its' dimensions page, something called a "Row Crop Utility". The overall length is 20 inches shorter than the adjustable wide front axle model. I assume that's the swept back front end Randy was referring to? I've never actually seen one around here.

Your best bet to learn all things Oliver would be to subscribe to Oliver Heritage and or Hart Parr Oliver Collector magazine. Both come six times a year. They're staggered so if you subscribe to both you'll get an Oliver magazine every month.

If I had to guess,I'd say that one lever is for the Hydrapower. Not sure about the engine,but I assume it's an Oliver/Waukesha.