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Jim's list of Oliver 880 concerns is pretty thorough, but I would like to add one more, power steering. The power steering pump has a reputation of seizing and when it goes so goes the generator. The pump is mounted on the generator and the generator's rotor twists if the pump seizes. Small scores often develop in the power steering cylinder walls. When this happen oil bypasses the cylinder and the front wheels will oscillate even if the steering wheel is held constant. To determine if there is a problem, put the tractor in 6th gear and drive on a road. If it holds the road well, there is no problem. My dad bought a used 880 in 1970 and we have used it ever since. Its reliability is nowhere as good as his 1953 Oliver 77 or my 1985 John Deere 4250. Most problems are with the power booster (the high-low transmission that Jim described) and power steering problems. Since it appears from your comments that this tractor's power booster has been removed (normal for an 880), that problem is solved. We also had a lot of little frustrating problems like ignition system, clutch, drive shaft bearings, bolts falling out of the drawbar, etc. A lot of these problem I classify as too much power and too little weight.
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