[AT] Another Oliver practical technical question for the list

[Grant Brians]

All, I talked with another "local" (90 miles away) Oliver expert. He thinks 
the crack most likely is a casting flaw that finally opened up enough to 
leak gear oil. His advice is to run it unless there is some sign of an 
INTERNAL stress source such as a bull gear tooth loss or other drivetrain 
noise or bearing failure. Given that this is a typical quiet Oliver and it 
has been worked really hard again, I'm going to pin and JB weld the crack as 
soon as I have a chance and keep an eye on it. Thanks for the thoughts from 
the list, they helped me agree with my friend that is the best course of 
action. As a quick reference, he worked for the Oliver dealer for years and 
sells parts for them still. There are still significant numbers of Olivers 
running in regular use in the Salinas and Santa Clara Valley in the 
vegetables - we have three 77's.
        Grant Brians
        Hollister, California
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Spencer Yost" <yostsw at atis.net>
To: <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 6:07 PM
Subject: Re: [AT] Another Oliver practical technical question for the list


>I have a 77 diesel and am not sure how a crack like that started.   There
> is a web/baffle in the case near there, but I don't think normal heavy use
> could start it.  - it would take abuse - serious abuse, to do it.   I am
> guessing it flipped over at some point in time in its life and now just
> time and wear made it more noticeable or got it started.   Mine isn't a
> long axle, so I could be wrong.
>
> If you are sure the crack is recent, structural, and serious, get another
> tractor.  There is no repairing it in a way that assures operator safety,
> especially not cheaply.  Personally, I'd mark it with an engraver and 
> watch
> it closely.  Sometimes vibration or a recent pressure washing, or a good
> long use after after a period of dormancy, will open an old leak back up
> making something like that appear recent when it really isn't
>
> Spencer Yost
> Owner, ATIS
> Plow the Net!
> http://www.atis.net
>
> *********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********
>
> On 2/26/2006 at 9:11 PM Grant Brians wrote:
>
>>Friday, the tractor driver pointed out to me a potentially serious issue
>>on
>>one of our Oliver 77's (a Super 77 Diesel that has worked long and hard
>>and
>>is in regular use!) There is a crack that appears to be about 6-7" long in
>
>>the left side of the transmission case just forward of the axle connection
>
>>and below the disc brake housing. The direction of the crack is mostly
>>vertical but tending toward the front of the tractor a bit as it goes
>>upward. The crack is seeping gear oil.
>>    I need to figure out whether this crack is a structural problem and
>>needs to be welded,or if it is an annoyance that should be pinned and JB
>>welded. I assume the crack is from the beating the tractor has taken over
>>the years and especially from the hay work and heavy sleds when doing some
>
>>of the cultivating. The tractor has however done everything from discing
>>to
>>grading to pulling the mower conditioner that should take closer to 60hp
>>than the 45 of the Oliver. Oh, one other item that might have a bearing on
>
>>this issue - the tractor has the 120" axle and was in the distant past
>>when
>>it was the primary cultivating tractor on a 500 acre tomato and dry beans
>>farm used at the wider settings. It is back on 60" now and should stay
>>there. The wide front is in perfect condition.
>>    Can anyone on the list help me with this VERY practical and necessary
>>concern? I really need to be able to rely on this tractor for quite some
>>time still, after all it only has been working for 51 years!
>>        Grant Brians
>>        Hollister, California
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>AT mailing list
>>Remembering Our Friend Cecil Monson 11-4-2005
>>http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>
>
>
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