1550 - 3 Point Wont Go Down

skibum0607

New User
First off, I'm new to this forum and new to Oliver tractors so forgive any ignorance on my part as a newbie.

I bought a piece of property a couple years ago that included an Oliver 1550 Diesel with the deal. The tractor starts and runs fine. The power steering works well, as does the PTO. However, I'm unable to get the 3 point to lower.

It seems stuck in the up position and moving the lever doesn't seem to move the 3 point at all. I can manually lift the arm up and down a small bit and when I move it down it feel like a hard stop against something (as if there's some kind of safety stop or locking mechanism). I'm unable to find anything on the tractor that would indicate it's locked in the up position in any way. I'm hoping that I'm just overlooking something simple and it's not something broken.

Any help I can get from the experts on this forum would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
 
First off, the engine has to be running to lower. The lowering valve is hydraulicly operated. Second, are you pushing the control lever all the way?
Push it just a couple of inches at first, then all the way. I'm thinking your length of the draft control link needs adjustment. Early ones had a
one-piece link that was not adjustable. It was replaced by a two piece in the picture.
cvphoto127969.jpg

There's a small forked lever at the top end. Loosen the two bolts on the link and hold the lever all the way back. Slide the slotted end of the link
to its shortest and tighten the bolts. It works against a stiff spring so you'll probably have to hold the lever with large pliers. Then turn the
stop screw on the lever till it touches the bracket.
 
(quoted from post at 14:29:26 06/11/22) First off, the engine has to be running to lower. The lowering valve is hydraulicly operated. Second, are you pushing the control lever all the way?
Push it just a couple of inches at first, then all the way. I'm thinking your length of the draft control link needs adjustment. Early ones had a
one-piece link that was not adjustable. It was replaced by a two piece in the picture.
<img src=https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto127969.jpg>
There's a small forked lever at the top end. Loosen the two bolts on the link and hold the lever all the way back. Slide the slotted end of the link
to its shortest and tighten the bolts. It works against a stiff spring so you'll probably have to hold the lever with large pliers. Then turn the
stop screw on the lever till it touches the bracket.

Thanks for the reply, Mike. Yes, I'm trying to lower it with the engine running, so that shouldn't be an issue. I'm also using the full range of the control level in both directions and the 3 point doesn't even act like it wants to move in either direction. Lastly, I'll try the draft control link adjustment as you suggested but I have a dumb question first.... what does the draft control link actually do?
 
(quote from post at 15:32:10 06/11/22) One other possibility Mike, if somebody turned the bypass bolt out with the 3pt up.

Mr Lund.... Where is the bypass bolt so I can check it? I assume it needs to be all the way in?
 
It's attached to the lower lift arm on the left with an arm running up to the link in question. When the pull increases the support rotates a bit so
the arm moves forward, which lets the top lever do the same and triggers the lift to raise a bit. It will settle back down when the draft load
decreases. You won't need it unless you're doing heavy tillage with the 3-point. There are three holes in the lower arm supports. The one in line
with the shaft is for no draft control.
 
Just don't force that bypass bolt so you distort something. It holds a ball when it's screwed in so the oil can't bypass the 3pt
valve. You have to turn it out and let that ball come away from the seat to use a one way hydraulic cylinder. If you turn it with
your fingers with the tractor running, you'll actually feel the vibration as it closes on the seat.
 
Thanks guys. I'll try your suggestions and report back. This forum and your expertise is a great resource and much appreciated.
 
So I solved the problem of the 3 point not working. Apparently I never tried running it at a high enough RPM to get the hydraulic pressure up high enough. Someone I know suggested I try that before doing anything else, since I couldn't recall if I had ever run it at a higher RPM and sure enough, that solved the problem. It seems to operate fine at mid to high throttle. I'm not sure if it is supposed to operate that way or if that says something about the hydraulic pump but at least it's functional.

If anyone thinks that means there's a problem with the pump please let me know, but for now I'm working.

Thanks for everyone's advice and help. This forum is a great resource.
 
(quoted from post at 19:42:48 06/13/22) The OP manual says to run at least 1000 RPM to operate the hitch. I suppose due to the flow divider sending the first 5 gpm to the steering.

That makes sense, Mike. Thanks for the info. I don't have any manuals for the 1550, but I should probably pick some up. I assume the operating manual and shop manual are separate books? Can anyone give me a good source for where I can get them?
 

The Floyd County Museum in Charles City, IA has everything you need. They're the go-to source for your tractor.
 

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