Oliver’s Hydra Power/Hydraul Shift - What Is It?

[@stephenfonder7409]

We use to have a neighbor that chopped alfalfa for us. He had a White 2-155 he liked to use the under drive too much and would get going down the hills too fast and plug the cutter everytime. If he was gone and we needed to chop with his rig I would never use under drive for fear of plugging up.

[@burningdinosaurs]

Excellent video man! Good explanation. Thanks for the video!

[@MichaelTJD60]

Great explanation. Like Justin said, it's pretty neat how most manufacturers had their own version of a torque-amplifier system. My grandfather had Oliver plows but never an Oliver tractor, I don't think he was a fan of their hydraulics.

[@66Oliver]

MichaelTJD60 I’m surprised he didn’t like the 55 series, which was the last series of tractors. They’ve got closed center hydraulics.

[@MichaelTJD60]

@@66Oliver I'm thinking they were out of his price range. My uncle said they demoed a late-model Oliver at the farm, I think it was a 1650 or 1655. But he ended up buying a used Minneapolis Moline M670 (which was a turd) because of the price.

[@66Oliver]

MichaelTJD60 Yeah. Those 16 series all had open center still. I’m not really a fan of the MMs myself

[@uthermaceanruig5098]

Loved the Oliver plows! 👍

[@Mudmowerdiesel]

Amazing tractor video

[@ThatOliverGuyChris]

Good video!

[@redmech7698]

The one I know of is a 1650 sold by the local dealer when they where still in business. Their retired mechanic is the one that said that was why it was a "special" . No hydra power. Otherwise it had a 3 point, 2 remotes. I didn't notice anything different from other ones I have worked on.

[@66Oliver]

RedMech76 I don’t think they offered 1650 in that variant. The “Special” tractors (1750, and 1850), have Meadow Green paint with an Olive White instead of Clover White, they have stamped steel rear wheel centers, one headlight on the fender (or basically a 1650 fender), they have no extra transmission options, diesel only, and had a decal up on the front hood panels. There might be some options I am missing, but that pretty much what one looks like.

[@highland512]

I am assuming the Hydra Power was an option? I am currently working on a 1650 that does not have hydra, just a straight shaft from the clutch to the chain coupler.

[@redmech7698]

I think the ones with no hydra power were called "special" , they were a lower priced option. They were nice to put a clutch in. You could slide the bell housing back then unbolt the pressure plate and clutch after pulling the pto driveshaft.

[@66Oliver]

RedMech76 The Hydra-Power is indeed a popular option. Tractors with a straight shaft are not a “Special” tractor. The “special” indignation was put on very few 1750s and 1850s (they’re extremely rare), and carried less options than a standard tractor to compete with Deere’s 4000 economy tractor.

[@slickdoglong3669]

​@@redmech7698working on a 1655 it has strait thru shaft just got it has 4wd very ruff ol girl but will restore nicely

[@justinstearns9723]

I grew up on IH myself, and always figured their Torque Amplifier was unique to their tractors. But It’s been interesting to find out that Minneapolis Moline and Oliver also had Powershift underdrive units that function almost identically. Then Massey Ferguson had Multipower, and Allis Chalmers had the Power Director hand clutch. Kinda ironic that everybody always rags on the Torque Amplifier when most companies had something similar. I figure it’s probably the Deere guys though 😂

[@66Oliver]

Justin Stearns I’ve heard the TAs blow frequently. I’m in numerous Oliver groups and have only seen two cases of worn two or three speeds.

[@justinstearns9723]

66Oliver It’s mostly a case of misuse and lack of maintenance that kills TAs. Keep them adjusted correctly and shift them right, they’ll last a long time.

[@66Oliver]

Justin Stearns Right.

[@nellsonstout7001]

The Oliver is NEARLY bulletproof. They have a long life if you treat them right.

[@letsride2057]

The 1954 Farmall Super MTA was the first American tractor to have the ability to reduce ground speed without clutching and changing gears. Called Torque Amplifier, it was a unit bolted between the back of the clutch housing and rear end of a M design tractor. It had it's own clutch to engage or disengage with a lever when needed. When in TA mode the engine could not be used for braking but if needed say going down a hill, taking it out of TA mode restored compression braking.

[@SOU6900]

I want an Oliver tractor, preferably one with the under/direct/overdrive. Only thing is I have no need for a tractor at all. Could probably mow the lawn with one but that would only be just a little bit faster than what it takes now to mow our 2 acre (more like 1.75 with the wood line reclaiming the lot).🤔

[@humefarms210]

we have a 1550 with a hydra-power

[@cesmith4566]

My son wiped out a hay rack because he had the 1750 in under drive and couldn't get it stopped!

[@christinamoneyhan5688]

Glad it was only the hay rack.

[@justinklose858]

ours have a bent valve so it sounds like a two cylinder

[@hughperkins707]

Trying to change hydros in a 1850. Found a good one out of a 1650 but the input shaft is smaller in the 1650 one. Can the input shaft be changed for the bigger shaft, the rest looks identical.

[@66Oliver]

Hugh Perkins I don’t think so.

[@hughperkins707]

66Oliver they look identical and even take the same seal

[@66Oliver]

Hugh Perkins Well, I haven’t done that type of job yet, so your guess is as good as mine, I just gave it a shot.

[@hughperkins707]

Thnx for the reply, I really appreciate it.

[@66Oliver]

Hugh Perkins No problem.

[@briandietrich1373]

Amazing that poor management took out such an innovative company....

[@handsofgodd]

Good video!

[@66Oliver]

Thanks!