Finally got the old OC 6 home

Robert Barbour · October 15, 2014, 02:30:42 AM

I found an OC6 that has not run in many years, I am sure the engine is stuck but have not yet had time to look at it. It is a late 1954, serial number 1RM102.
It is gas. It has a dozer blade and a Henry backhoe model BA-8-3, that made it rather interesting. The tracks are poor, but I have lots of OC 4 parts that will fit.
The engine was all seal up and the oil looks like it could have run yesterday. At least with the engine being the same as a 77 parts are easy to find.

Robert Barbour · October 18, 2014, 11:42:55 PM

On the OC 6, the hood is poor and the side panels are missing. Does any one know if they are the same as a 77??

hotratz · October 20, 2014, 03:54:24 PM

I love those OC-6's. Interesting mix of tractor/crawler. Post some pictures when you get a chance.

Robert Barbour · October 21, 2014, 02:53:05 AM

Ok, I will take some pictures and see if I can figure out how to post them.

Robert Barbour · November 11, 2014, 10:44:39 PM

Here are a couple of pictures off the OC6 and Henry Backhoe. It sure is rear heavy with the nose pointed to the sky.

Blake Malkamaki · November 12, 2014, 02:49:00 AM

Poor OC-6

Robert Barbour · November 13, 2014, 08:54:22 PM

It is actually a lucky OC 6, it was headed for the scrap pile. A contactor was cleaning up a property with lots of old stuff mostly cars, trucks and boats and he saw my ad for an OC 9 and gave me a call. The only call I got from that ad that ran 3 months and it was 2 hours after I placed the ad!! Anyway going through some old Oliver info I got from the retired parts manager of the local Oliver Dealer which was Pacific Tractor and Equipment. They were also dealers for Henry in the 50"s. Also Mr. van Driest visited the dealer in Vancouver in October of 1956. They had 4 branches in other BC locations.

Blake Malkamaki · November 13, 2014, 11:06:15 PM

Robert,

That is great! How do you know my Gramps Howard van Driest visited the dealer in October of 1956? I'd really like to know. He was probably there troubleshooting something for them. Very interesting!

Blake

Quote from: Robert Barbour on November 13, 2014, 08:54:22 PM
Anyway going through some old Oliver info I got from the retired parts manager of the local Oliver Dealer which was Pacific Tractor and Equipment. They were also dealers for Henry in the 50"s. Also Mr. van Driest visited the dealer in Vancouver in October of 1956. They had 4 branches in other BC locations.

Robert Barbour · November 13, 2014, 11:57:29 PM

Blake, I have a letter the dealership sent to Oliver asking for the Roosa Master parts numbers corresponding to the Oliver numbers for the parts That Mr van Driest gave them during his recent visit to their office in Vancouver. The letter is dated Oct 31 1956, it referrers to a shipping notice dated October 17.

Blake Malkamaki · November 14, 2014, 01:39:13 AM

Thanks Robert, that is nice! He sure got around. At that time, in the late 50s, he was all over North America, including down through Guatemala, troubleshooting tractors that the dealers couldn't figure out. It was a little before my time.

Robert Barbour · November 26, 2014, 05:14:06 AM

Blake, I bet your Grandpa had a much nicer time travelling that we do today!!
I have been working on the OC 6. Got the engine all apart and what a pleasant surprise!! It had been rebuilt shortly before it was parked. The inlet and exhaust were well sealed and the engine was clean inside. It has had the crank reground to .010 undersize and it looks and measures like new, the bearing are great too. The valves and guides are good too. The bores are clean and no sign of the ridge. The pistons are not the best though all the rings are stuck except the chrome top ring and the pistons are corroded in the ring area from sitting. The other odd thing is the wrist pins are quite loose, so they did not do a good job fitting them on the last rebuild. On the rebuild they installed 3.5" sleeves. All the engine kits I see advertised are 3 5/8 or 3 3/4 so I may have to get a 3 5/8 kit if I can not find 3 1/2 pistons rings pins and bushings.
The other interesting thing was the gas tank. It had a wooden plug in it instead of a cap. The tank was right full of water, however it is in good shape once emptied and flushed out.

Blake Malkamaki · November 27, 2014, 12:54:45 AM

It sounds like you have a nice tractor there Robert. Good thing you pulled the pistons out though.

As far as traveling, I agree with you, I'm sure he had an easier time than today. During World War 2, he traveled all over in regard to the MG-1s - he had unlimited gasoline ration stamps, and sometimes had an MP ride on each fender when he was entering a base or restricted zone. Later on, he traveled troubleshooting tractors. He preferred to fly, probably in the 50s on DC-6 or Constellations for long flights; DC-3s for short hops, and maybe even single engine planes to get into the really remote areas. When he went to Guatemala to put several OC-18s back into service building the Pan-American highway, he flew into a small airport where they picked him up in a car, then a Jeep, then by mule way up into the mountains. His biggest regret was that my grandmother hated to travel and would never go with him. He wanted to take her back to some of the best places he had been.