Looked at the Caterpillar Roadgrader and Tractors Today (...

This morning I went to go look at a 1955 Caterpillar 8T 12 Road grader and a 1951 John Deere B, a 1947 Farmall H and a 1949 Oliver 88 Diesel.
Here is what I found out on each of the tractors.

The 1955 Caterpillar is a very sharp looking machine and it is in pretty good shape. It runs great and has lots of power. I took it for a drive and everything seemed to be good on it. It has power steering and it seemed fine. The tires are not all that bad. The only questionable one it the front left as it looks to be a tire that has been retreaded. The brakes don"t work on it. The owner was saying it might need a master cylinder. The carburetor on the pony motor leaks and the sediment bowl it broken so he just pull started it to get it going. he said that he used to use the pony motor until the cab started leaking and that was about a year ago. It has about 8000 hours on it. The owner has had it for 13 years and used it for terraces and local dirt work jobs. Check out the pictures and let me know what you think.

The next is a 1951 John Deere B. It has a power block but the engine is stuck. This tractor was in a shed when a tornado went through and took it down on top of it. It has been stuck for about 10 years and was last shedded in 2004. Front tires hold air but the back ones are flat but look to have good tread on them. It shifts into the gears and the clutch moves in and out. It is mostly complete, just missing the front nose cone and the right piece that goes on the front.

The 1947 Farmall H is in pretty bad shape. It is stuck and has been for 20 years or so. It does have a 9 speed trans though. There is a lot of rust on it and the tires are shot.

The next tractor is a 1949 Oliver 88 Diesel. It has been converted into a pulling tractor. the hood was damaged when the tornado went through as well. He said that is was a good running machine and it should run again. If I were to buy it I would just convert it back to original.

The price for all of these tractors is scrape price.

He said that the Oliver weighted about 4000lbs
What does the John Deere B and Farmall H weight?
He also said that the 1955 Caterpillar would be about $3500.
Your replies would be greatly appreciated!
I have to decide in the next couple of days if I want them or it will all be hauled in and melted down.
Thanks for reading!
From Denton, Nebraska.
Andrew Kean.

That motor grader looks pretty sharp for it's age.

I'm curious about the extra framework and gear box out on the nose of it. That's something I've never seen before, and I've looked at a lot of motor graders.

Paul

The B would be about 4000 and the H about 3500. I would look for an Austin Western grader. They have more class. That frame could have been to mount a front blade.

The Oliver diesel is newer than 1949 say late 52 to 54.It has disk brakes. The left side of your engine picture is too dark to tell more. The first Oliver diesel are different. Do you have a clear close up of the left side of the engine. To me the first Oliver diesels were built for the 1950 model year as well. You might come out parting out the 9 speed on the IH.

Looks like a subframe and lift for a snow plow.

The hood on the H is less than pristine. Have to give it a 9

Its set-up for a front mounted snow plow.

They all look like pretty good deals to me! If you don't get the Oliver or the Farmall H, let me know, I am interested in them. [email protected]

i would deffinitly buy the oliver and the grader and just resell the grader. the oliver i would take it emidiatly. those are very hevy duty tractors and are good for farmin and pullin. i have a 770 gas put used it on the spreader in the winter without chains and that would always go right through it untill 1 time i got it stuck and broke somthin in the trans. its been sitting by the barn ever since. you would be dumb not to buy the oliver.

That 9 speed would be too bad to scrap. I have been keeping my eye out for one and they seem to be in pretty high demand, so I would think you could come out well ahead on the H if you parted it out and sold the good parts.
Zach

OH NO ! Have you ever got the fever BAD ! I hope you have a huge shop. LOL.

The grader looks awfully good. If the starter motor was worked over that machine could be advertised in a contractor publication, ebay,c-list, etc. Those are the right machine to finish grade grass waterways in an area that builds those kinds of practices. Can't believe someone would say that is scrap material.

I have the old H my Dad farmed with for 45 years, and even though it only hauls kids to the creek or drives in parades, I would love to have that 9 speed.

I had a 52 88D and it looked a lot like that one.I think that 88 you show is newer than a 49,if You get any get the Oliver.

If you got the extra cash, never going to get them cheaper than scrap weight price. That grader is a darn nice looking machine. Better than what the local townships have here. The tractors all have value in parts if nothing else.

The serial number on the Oliver 88 is 12634 so I am guessing that it is a 1955 Oliver 88 Super. 1949 is the year that the owner said that it was. Thanks for noticing everyone.
From Denton, Nebraska.
Andrew Kean

I don't think it is Super 88. It has the wrong front frame.