OC3 HG Oliver tractor skidder project.

Kbeitz · June 21, 2016, 08:35:02 PM

Quote from: Al_Smith on June 21, 2016, 07:02:33 PM
Well 18.5 HP or no it isn't much less than the IXK Hercules flat head it came with .With that belt reduction I doubt you'll ever need any more .

I went with around 3 to 1 reduction. Third gear is still flying... Good to get home in the rain...

Al_Smith · June 22, 2016, 05:04:15 AM

Good plan .I always thought they were geared too high .Third gear they would hardly pull themselves .If you could get it to go it would really toss the mud off the tracks.

r.man · June 23, 2016, 08:18:27 PM

Did you ever see a skidding cone that slides over the draw chain? Supposed to keep the nose of the log from digging in or catching on a small obstruction. Might be a good thing for the little crawler if you aren't going to put any kind of lift on the back.

DelawhereJoe · June 23, 2016, 10:40:06 PM

It looks like that hitch of yours side kinda far off the back of your buggy, you thing it will ever act as a lever to pull the front off the ground if you log gets hung up or is just to much log for it?

Kbeitz · June 24, 2016, 05:17:37 PM

Quote from: DelawhereJoe on June 23, 2016, 10:40:06 PM
It looks like that hitch of yours side kinda far off the back of your buggy, you thing it will ever act as a lever to pull the front off the ground if you log gets hung up or is just to much log for it?

The hitch is so far back that if the front lifts a foot off the ground the hitch starts digging in the dirt.
There is no way the tractor could lift any further. Also the only change I made to the hitch was to
add bolt on class 3 hitch and the pintel hitch and that added around 10" to the length.
So far the added length has caused no problems.

Kbeitz · July 31, 2016, 03:07:36 AM

I got the alternator on...

Tool box mounted...

Working on the hydraulics.

thecfarm · July 31, 2016, 07:51:41 AM

All is looking good.

Kbeitz · July 31, 2016, 10:11:46 AM

Ready for paint...

21incher · July 31, 2016, 10:36:49 AM

Looks good. Seems to be missing a ROPS for use on your hills.

Kbeitz · July 31, 2016, 06:43:54 PM

Quote from: 21incher on July 31, 2016, 10:36:49 AM
Looks good. Seems to be missing a ROPS for use on your hills.

This thing is so small I'm not sure I could find a place to put one...
But I'm thinking about it...

maple flats · August 11, 2016, 03:04:35 PM

Back about 55-60 yrs. ago, my father had an OC3 with a front end loader and a gear drive winch on the back. He also had an 8 ton dozer (make, model?). He once got that dozer stuck in a swamp, so the top of the tracks was about 6-8" below ground level. He was able to block the rear from skidding using a few railroad ties behind the OC3. He then hooked a HD pulley to the dozer, attached it back to the winch housing on the OC3 and the winch was able to pull the dozer free. At first the OC3 and ties slid several feet back but eventually it caught enough roots and mud to hold it and move the dozer. I think dad used to claim the OC3 weighed 3 ton, the dozer weighed 8 ton.

Kbeitz · August 11, 2016, 07:15:09 PM

Like I said we had 5 HG-Olivers on the farm while I was growing up,
They are almost the same tractor as the OC-3. I got plenty of hours
on the HG's... We sold Christmas trees. Once a tractor trailer truck
with a 52 foot trailer loaded with trees slid down a small hill of ice
and got stuck up against the side of our barn. The truck driver said
that he thought the only way he was getting out of that one was tp
unload all the trees... Dad said no way I got something to pull you out.
When Dad came out of the barn with that little HG the truck driver just
laughed. He said what are you going to do with that little thing. every
thing was coated with ice. Dad said just watch and stay back. The driver
said you want me to start up the truck. Dad said nope just stay back.
Dad hooked on the rear of the trailer and pulled it uphill sideways across
the ice like there was no tommorow. Those little tractors can pull.
The HG's without the loader weights 3200lbs.

Al_Smith · August 12, 2016, 05:29:31 AM

If you look at the Nebraska tests you'll find that Oliver crawlers had the highest pull per weight of any crawler ever made up to that time.The HG and OC3's had a little too high of a gear ratio.One modification I've seen was either a small reduction or a model A Ford transmission in place of the short drive shaft between the clutch and transmission .So equipted you could not stall one .

The larger OC -6 had a six speed tranny ,those were stall proof in low gear right from the factory . Those were about 6500 pounds bare tractor .Mine with an 8 foot blade is right at 9600 pounds. 216 cubic inch 6 cylinder gasoline engine,34 drawbar HP.

Kbeitz · August 12, 2016, 06:30:12 PM

When I did my engine swap I went 4 to 1 ratio. I think 3 gear is still to fast.
Maybe next year I will change it to 5 or 6 to one.

Al_Smith · August 12, 2016, 07:08:05 PM

I would say if you can spin the tracks with a heavy load in first gear it's got enough reduction.

Kbeitz · August 12, 2016, 07:30:13 PM

Quote from: Al_Smith on August 12, 2016, 07:08:05 PM
I would say if you can spin the tracks with a heavy load in first gear it's got enough reduction.

But I haven't tried it in deep mud...

Al_Smith · August 13, 2016, 06:56:52 AM

Mud will swamp any of them with standard tracks. I will say this though that 68" gauge HG I had could stay up in mud you would sink knee deep in .10" tracks.

I can't remember ever swamping it but I did toss a track once--in a swamp .That was a dandy occasion---not,ugh.humbug.

coxy · August 13, 2016, 06:09:32 PM

my hat goes off to you you did a vary fine fab job on it 8) 8) where did you get the link belt for the alternator I haven't seen them in years always wanted to get a length of it just in case

Kbeitz · August 13, 2016, 06:26:36 PM

Quote from: coxy on August 13, 2016, 06:09:32 PM
my hat goes off to you you did a vary fine fab job on it 8) 8) where did you get the link belt for the alternator I haven't seen them in years always wanted to get a length of it just in case

I bet I have a 1000 ft of it in A-B and double C grove and one size smaller
than the A. I don't know what it's called
I got it from the textile factories I cleaned out.
I also have round and flat leather belting with the lacing machine.
Sure dose come in handy. I hate the new plastic stuff sold today
that replaced it all.

It's still sold on E-bay. Search for "Link Belt V BELT"
The good stuff has the rivetts holding it together.
Some is sold for $20.00 per foot.