Restoration of an Oliver 77 by Dave Henderson of Colo, Iowa

When Curtis Henderson purchased his 1955 Oliver Super 77 from Tudor Farm Equipment in Zearing, Iowa he could have never guessed the affect it would have on his young son David. David Henderson of Colo, Iowa is the current owner of his fathers old tractor.

Curtis used the 77 during the late fifties to pull his rotary hoe, roto-baler, John Deere four-row planter, and to pull wagons in the fall. He used it until 1973 when he traded it in on an Oliver 1550. Although David was too young to drive it he missed the old 77, it just wasn’t the same without it. After it was traded in it was sold to a farmer just three miles north of Colo, Iowa. It was worked hard, and possibly even rolled over once. For the next twenty-nine years David drove by the farm. The tractor was always outside and grew older looking each day. David tried hard to convince the farmer he needed it worse but the farmer continued to turn him down. Before he finally convinced him to sell it became a challenge to see who would wear down first. One day in the summer of 2002, David finally won and the 77 was back in the family. David said, “I had to trade a good straight Super 88 to get it back. Friends and neighbors said I was nuts for trading backwards, but I wanted that tractor. I had to get it back it was a very special memory from my childhood” After all the years of longing David drove the 77 for the first time in the summer of 2002.

When Curtis traded in the 77 all the sheet metal was very straight. Now the 77 was in rough condition the grill and side panels needed to be replaced, and the hood had to be straightened. The hood is original, but has some bondo in it; someday David hopes to locate a good straight one to replace it. The tractor had numerous oil leaks, everything needed cleaned, primed and painted. The rear tires were in sad condition. David had a good set of used Firestone tires that he used on the rear.

The engine was another story the way the tractor looked one would expect it to run poorly. When he started it up, it ran just as good as it did the day his father traded it off. He changed the fluids and replaced the oil pan and valve cover gaskets. The front and rear seals were also replaced. While engine was out David replaced the clutch. The cooling system was rusty so it was thoroughly flushed. The transmission cover was removed for examination. Shims were removed from the differential until it was tight next he installed new brakes and a belt pulley case.

David’s favorite memory goes back to a time when he was very young but he remembers it vividly. David, his brother Don, and their father would go to the hayfield to pick up round bales. His father would drive and Don picked up and stacked the bales. Young David and his dog Pepe would ride along and sit on the bales. Since then, David said, he has loved the whine of the 77’s transmission. Another, not so fond memory goes back to October of 1972. Don was pulling a wagonload of beans into town. Don was only 15 or 16 at the time. A driver in a straight truck had too much to drink and rear-ended the wagon. The wagon tongue was pushed up to the back of the seat, the seat pushed forward and Don hit the steering wheel hard spraining his wrist. He was very lucky that his injuries were not worse. The only damage to the tractor was the right hand axle housing. The replacement housing isn’t embossed with the row crop stamp like the original. This makes David’s tractor very identifiable.

In addition to the 77 David also has eight IH Farmall F-20’s, 1 John Deere “B”, and half owner in a 1650 Oliver. For the past eight years he has also restored antique tractors for others. He does this in his spare time and loves it. The only drawback is there is never enough time to get it all done. David’s sons, Adam and Dustin, are only five and seven but both, like dad, are already interested in antique tractors, he hopes the interest stays with them as they grow-up. David is a member of the Central Iowa Two-Cylinder Club and The Mid-Iowa Antique Power Show at Marshalltown, Iowa.

David uses the 77 on tractor rides, parades and shows. In 2006 the 77 was displayed at the Two-Cylinder Club’s booth at the Iowa State Fair. David has driven it on two WHO tractor rides. On the last ride it began blowing anti-freeze, you guessed it a blown head gasket. Since the engine has never been overhauled this was his sign that it was time and while its down anyway add new sleeves, bearings and a valve job. David said that’s where this saga ends “I gotta go overhaul an Oliver”.