550 won't shift hi-lo

Katep

Member
Hi all,

My question is: I believe I have a stuck center shifter rod at best, transmission damage at worst. I think this means I need to open the transmission and see what's up. Are there any special tricks to removing the hydraulic/3pt hitch unit from atop the transmission on a 1960 Oliver 550?

Background:

Oliver 550 has been jumping out of 1st gear for awhile now. On Sunday, I experienced a sudden loss of anything but 2nd and 5th gear. I couldn't get into any gear on the left and it *seemed* I could shift the neutral back and forth but couldn't get into anything other than 2 and 5. No reverse or anything left. It seemed like I could move the shift lever around a LOT but couldn't find any gears other than 2 and 5. It would feel like I got into other gears but the tractor didn't move. I am usually very adept at shifting this tractor, and I was really confounded as to what I was feeling. I managed to drive the tractor in 2 over to a parking location.

After searching the archives, I took the shift lever plate and boot off and observed the three rods were not lined up. I was able to move the right and left rods but I cannot budge the center rod. The center rod seems to be stuck in between the high and low positions but I'm not completely sure. I cannot seem to get the left and right rods aligned so that I could shift back and forth between them through the middle, but I can move the left rod if I insert the shift lever into it directly.

If I'm correct to this point, this means I need to open the transmission and find out why the center rod won't move, correct?

Are there any special tricks to removing the hydraulic unit? From the parts list I see there is a hydraulic pump on the underside and I don't want to destroy that in the process of getting the unit off. We also don't exactly see how the bolts behind the seat on the back of the cover/hydraulic unit can be removed without taking the entire spring assembly apart and removing it. Is that really necessary? To lift the unit, we don't have a come-along but we do have another tractor we can use to hoist the unit.
 
z

I forgot to add, the shift lever boot was torn (I don't recall when that happened, it appears recent but I'm pretty sure it has rained since I used the tractor last. It is not stored under cover. However, the shift rods and everything else that can be seen with the shift lever plate removed look nice and oily and shiny and I can't see any rust.
 
Sounds like you will have to take the hydraulic unit off to see whats going on inside. You should be able to slide the center rail forward and back. Did you check the end of the shifter? Is it worn down enough to let it slip out of place? I have had to weld them up and grind them smooth to make them work properly.Just use a chain and hoist and lift hydraulic unit straight up. If you don't have one, you NEED some kind of repair manual , I have an I&T manual, not the best but helps a lot. Chris
 
You need to drain the hydraulic reservoir before taking the
transmission cover off or you will have a big mess---You don't have
to take any of the seat stuff off--To remove the 2 rear bolts,
remove all the others first & as you loosen then, lift the rear of
the cover so the bolts will clear the three point top link pivot--I
drive a screw driver between the top cover & the transmission
housing & lift the cover as I loosen the 2 bolts---HTH--My emails
open & I'll be glad to help you---Thanks
Kent Gordon
Palestine, TX
903 729 8349
 
If you need any parts or have questions, Kent is your go to guy. I've bought several parts from him and he is always helpful. Chris
 

Hi Kent

We finally got to trying to get the hydraulic unit off the tractor today. Wouldn't budge. We borrowed a cherry-picker type hoist, and had a hard time getting it under and couldn't really operate the jack. But I fear this thing is so old and corroded that the dowel pins are good and stuck. Any hints on how to get the thing loose? I think we'll have to hoist using the other front loader. Where is the best place to try to lift the hydraulic unit from? You mentioned driving a screwdriver in there... how aggressive can I be on that and not cause damage? Do you think that's the part I'm missing in being able to get this thing released and off?

Kate
 
(quoted from post at 16:10:01 03/29/20)
Hi Kent

We finally got to trying to get the hydraulic unit off the tractor today. Wouldn't budge. We borrowed a cherry-picker type hoist, and had a hard time getting it under and couldn't really operate the jack. But I fear this thing is so old and corroded that the dowel pins are good and stuck. Any hints on how to get the thing loose? I think we'll have to hoist using the other front loader. Where is the best place to try to lift the hydraulic unit from? You mentioned driving a screwdriver in there... how aggressive can I be on that and not cause damage? Do you think that's the part I'm missing in being able to get this thing released and off?

Kate
Well a bit late so maybe its done. Had mine off a couple times. I pulled the shifter out and seat off. All the top bolts. It should lift off. There is a guide pin on each end as I recall. Careful where you pry. I recall the metal hydraulic pan is sandwiched between the upper and lower cast iron. Be below the thin metal. Might want to find or make a new gasket. Form-a-gasket might work. I used a hyd cherry picker and used a 2 inch tow strap in a triangle. Under the 2 3pt arms and the front filter housing.
 

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