On topic

You forget just how much fun it is to drag an old relic home and get it running smooth until you do it again.
Been working on that Oliver 500 today. It had a miss and the guy said it had a valve stuck. I took the tappet cover off this morning and one push rod wasn't even moving when I rolled it around. I took the cover off the side of the block and it wasn't even in the valve lifter on the cam. I put that back in,adjusted it and started it. It was still missing,so I pulled the plugs,one was wet. I scrounged up another old one and it smoothed out for a minute. So I went and got a new set,still missed,so I took the tappet cover off again. Evidently when the valve started working,it seated a little better and the rocker was tight. I readjusted it and she ran smooth as silk.

Trouble then was,it was starving for gas but the float was sticking when I'd shut it off. It had a good looking sediment bowl,but somebody had scabbed up a piece of brake line,then a hose,an inline filter,another piece of hose and a barbed fitting on the carb. I took it all apart,took the sediment bowl assembly out of the tank,that was a mess so I cleaned it all up. I made up a whole new gas line out of copper tubing,all new fittings,cleaned the carb and put it all back together.

I took it out for a drive. That's one sweet running,nice driving little tractor. I didn't even want to come in the house tonight,wanted to keep at it,but some body work on the grille looks like it's next,so I figured I'd better just quit while I was ahead .

nice diagnosis, nice fix. great trade by the way. Jim

I think that's what I'm addicted to, more so than collecting them, getting them mechanically sound again. It seems that they are the one thing I can fix, probably not as good as new but at least running good and presentable. Sounds like your well on your way to having a good tractor.

Congrats! I knew you would get her going quick.

It always makes you feel good when you can fix something that some one else could not. Good job. And a supper job at fixing the fuel line. David

They is always fun when you can get em going fairly quick. Don't want to rain on your parade but someone told me long ago not to use copper on gas lines and I think it was something dangerous. Am I wrong? Maybe someone who knows can chime in. I use brake line when I bend a new gas line. I like the smaller Olivers a lot. Nice way to spend a cold rainy Michigan day!

Not so sure about the copper in a fuel line unless there is an issue with reactivity. Of course, on a diesel, it is a whole different story. Pressures on a diesel would be more than the copper could reliably handle.

All that and I still hauled 5 loads of manure. lol

Congratulations, I am envious. What was said above about not using copper tubing on engines, is that copper will work harden and eventually crack from the vibration and flexing. Steel is a much better "spring" and will live much longer. I am just passing along what I was told many years ago. If anyone finds what I said is incorrect, please correct me. I prefer working with copper and if there is not a reason to avoid using it, I would also use it.

Good job, Randy. Whenever I buy one like that, I always wonder whether they already know the problem and it is too involved/expensive to fix or whether they just didn't have the knowlege to go any further. Sometimes ya just roll the dice and hopefully you win. So far I've had pretty good luck and looks like you have too. Nice find. RB

If you don't care about original looking steel brake lines will last forever when used as fuel lines.

nice job, you'll even sleep better now!!!

Only five loads? Ell they hauled that much in the D C. area with ONE sentence.

No way a guy's gonna get out and haul manure around here... Pretty sure most of the frost came out and it's about knee deep in the plowed fields. Only ankle deep in the sod...

However it does seem like it's gonna dry out sooner than expected this year so we might be playing in the dirt by the end of April.

Donovan from Wisconsin

Been to a several shows where Oliver was feature tractor. Only ever seen one 500 restored & running. That outfit may be more rare than you think especially if painted and now is up & running.

As stated I too have been 'informed' about copper line work hardening and cracking, however you use what you got to get em running. I know I replaced the copper with steel and put copper back on since couldn't get steel to seal. Gonna try redoing double flair once warmer weather finally gets here and try that steel line again.

Questions about yes or no or maybe on fuel lines, is why I always carry a fire extinguisher on all tractors.

Ya,you just don't see those things. Not many made to begin with and super hard to find now.