| Author | Message | ||
     Ken Stromborg |
I just started working on a newly acquired 88 and am looking for basic information like its age. The serial number plate is long gone, but the engine number is 1031412. Is that enough to establish the approximate age, or are there other identification numbers that I can look for? Then, I need advice on repairs to the only major system that is not working, the hydraulics. It looks like I have a No.3 Hydra-Lectric unit from the pictures in the manuals. I am a bit mechanically challenged, but I have a great consultant. We are a bit puzzled because the book descriptions do not seem to match with what we found when we pulled the unit today. When I first got this tractor home, I filled the unit with fluid and it put a load on the engine when I activated the unit; that makes us think that the unit is working even if it is leaking fluid. When we took the unit apart, we discovered that the reason it would not retain fluid was because the center piece of the pump casting is cracked. I searched a bit on the net and found the piece I think I need, but it is priced at about what I figured a whole pump unit might cost. Am I better off searching harder for a used complete pump or should I try to rebuild what I have? It looks like I may need a lot more than just the casting to refurbish this pump once I take it apart. Now the real puzzle is that all of the book descriptions and pictures indicate that this unit is electrically activated, but there are no electrical connections to the solenoids inside the casing. This seems to be a mechanically activated unit. Is this a case where a previous owner modified the system to make it a mechanical unit, or, were there hydraulic systems on these tractors that are not described in the manuals? In case it helps, the serial number on the hydraulic casing is 43291. This is a great website. Keep up the good work. | ||
| Chris Losey (Admin) |
The engine number you have there isn't going to tell us much. Somewhere around the starter should be 2 or 3 groups of numbers. One is the casting date. Also, the serial number could be in one of 2 places on a Fleetline 88. It will be either on the side of the transmission in front of the right brake, or it will be on the lower left part of the dash. The No. 3 hydraulic unit will extend and retract a hydraulic cylinder without the electrical part working. What the electric part did was work with the depth stop on a hydra-lectric cylinder. A hydra-lectric cylinder has a switch on it that opens or closes when the cylinder is either fully extended, or when it hits the stop collar when being retracted. By holding the hydraulic lever to the side, you activated a magnet in the end of the cylinder barrel that would hold the depth stop collar to the barrel, and you could then move the cylinder in or out to re-adjust where the depth stop collar was on the shaft, all from the operators position. Unless you have a hydra-lectric cylinder and want to repair some wiring, it is best just to disconnect the power from the hydraulic unit, and use it like a normal one. Nothing will be harmed, and it will work with any regular cylinder. Sounds like your is working fine. If you activate a lever without something hooked up to the hoses, it will squak, and pull the motor down a little from the relief valve blowing. This is normal and a good sign that the pump is still in good shape. | ||
| oleblu |
Ken, as far as your pump goes, you need to open it up to see if it has been run long enough without fluid to score the end plates of the pump. If they are grooved, I'd look for a pump. If not, just buy a center plate and replace the seals. I was quoted about $900 for a new pump, center plate alone is around $200. HINT-- look for some "pullers" in your area that may have taken their pump out to lighten up their tractor. $50 to $100 will usually buy one with the stipulation of a good plate. GOOD LUCK. oleblu | ||
| Ken Stromborg |
The 3 sets of numbers on the block are 190320 H, 1K100 E, and 10 16 56 (or could be 5S, but that doesn't make much sense). I am just guessing that the last number is the casting date, but that seems way too simple; did they really use actual dates back then instead of complex codes? The information on the workings of the Hydra-Lectric system was very helpful. Seems pretty sophisticated for the time. The 88s I knew when I was a kid had no hydraulics at all, we just dragged things behind them. The serial number is definitely gone. I can see where the plate should be, but there are just two small empty holes in the dash now. We decided to try to rebuild the pump because it seemed to work just fine when I added fluid and tried it last fall. If we find out it is worn when we take it apart, we can always try to locate a complete unit. Thanks for the help. Ken | ||
| Chris Losey (Admin) |
Yes, that last number is the casting date. There was usually a couple of months between the casting date and the final assembly. Does your 88 have the word "OLIVER" stamped into the rear wheel fenders? | ||
| Ken Stromborg |
No, nothing stamped into the fenders. | ||
| Chris Losey (Admin) |
Ok, does it have flat mounting pads on the sides of the front frame with bolt holes tapped into them? | ||
| Ken Stromborg |
Yes, it does have 2 sets of pads on each side. Further information is that this is now a 12 volt electrical system, but it might have been upgraded, I guess. It has a simple 3 position key switch and the starter is activated by a large push button unit on the left side of the dash (it looks like the old fashioned high beam floor switch from a car or truck, but longer). There is a simple toggle switch on the upper left of the dash that I suspect activated the lights (we haven't started them yet) and looks like a late add on, not original equipment. There is also a hole in the dash beneath the body of the ignition switch that looks like it might have been used to anchor a rotary switch base plate like what is shown on the 6 volt models. Anyway, putting together everything I have heard from various of you, and what I found on the web about production dates and models, I am guessing this is a Super 88 that rolled off the line in late 56 or early 57. Does that sound right to you all? The answer is kind of academic at this point, I have enough to satisfy my curiosity. I also found a very helpful local (more or less) dealer and have all the parts for a hydraulic rebuild. I hope to get her out of the shop this weekend before things get too busy. Thanks again for all the help. Ken |
