serial number

[mark]

Hello to all once again

As I stated in an earlier post - I just acquired a Oliver HG42 but do no know what year it is.  Can anybody let me know where to find the serial numbers for both the frame and motor?

Thanks

[Blake Malkamaki]

The tractor serial number should be on the outside of the frame near your right foot, or on later tractors on the bell housing.

[mark]

thanks for the feedback.

[mark]

being a newby - Is the housing you are referring to below the gas tank at the transmission area?  I did find the following number - 112017.  Is this considered the serial number?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advane

[Blake Malkamaki]

It doesn't look like any numbers listed in the serial number list http://cletrac.org/media/Cletrac_Oliver_SN.pdf

Is that a casting number or is it on a tag?

Blake

being a newby - Is the housing you are referring to below the gas tank at the transmission area?  I did find the following number - 112017.  Is this considered the serial number?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advane

[mark]

Blake;
The number as listed is a casting number.  I have looked high and low and can't find any additional numbers.  When you say bell housing - is this the area right below the gas tank area?  Sorry as I am unfamiliar with the terminology being given.  Any illustrations or photos you might have would be great.

Thanks

Mark

[Blake Malkamaki]

Yeah, it's the housing the covers the clutch. See if you can find an engine serial number - usually on a machined flat spot on the side of the block. There may be a date cast into the engine block too. Those numbers can give you approximate date of manufacture.

I'm not an HG/OC-3 specialist, so I wish someone else would chime in here.

Blake

Blake;
The number as listed is a casting number.  I have looked high and low and can't find any additional numbers.  When you say bell housing - is this the area right below the gas tank area?  Sorry as I am unfamiliar with the terminology being given.  Any illustrations or photos you might have would be great.

Thanks

Mark

[hotratz]

I'm not an expert either but I do own a 56 OC-3. The data plate for it is in the location Blake explained on the right side of the bell housing. It isn't unusual for these plates to get knocked off and lost. You should be able to see evidence of the fastener holes where it used to be. I don't know if the HG plates where in the same location.

[mark]

Guys;

Thanks for the feedback.  Did some additional research and found the following numbers:

524567746 - Cast number on the right side of the motor (behind magneto)
112017 - Cast number on the support bracket between the top of the bell housing and the bottom of the gas tank.

As you are aware - I just got this crawler at an auction but would like to know what year it is.  The previous owner stated that it was a 42 - but would like to confirm on my own.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[Jack in NB]

Hello Mark -

Can't help on either of those numbers. The first is probably a Hercules casting number; the 112xxx is an Oliver part number.

Visible differences between the HG 42 and the OC3-42 are the front idlers and the knee action springs.

The tractors were available in -30, -42, and -68 (and possibly others) - the track spacing in inches.

Hotratz' picture is an OC3, probably a 42". Solid disk front idlers, with the track retaining guides outside the track chains.

The other difference not clear in his pix - the knee action springs are exposed and visible.

The HG had front idlers with a number of 3 or 4" holes in the disks, and the track was retained on the idler by a couple of ribs that ran inside the track chains (and usually got seriously bruised or beat up in operation!). The knee action springs were considerably smaller diameter, and enclosed in a round metal can so they weren't visible.

The model changeover from HG to OC3 probably occurred 1949 - 1950  - others here could be more specific on that date.

This may help narrow your age bracket a bit. The HG or OC3 designations would allow you to source most parts with no problem - they were either HG, OC3, or common: although there was some overlap (I understand) during the months of the change-over. For instance, I think the IXB-3 engine with the water pump may have been installed in some late HG's. I seem to recall an earlier thread that discussed that.

[hotratz]

Jack, If your referring to my user avatar picture, that is an OC46 which shares some attributes with an OC3. However that data plate for an OC4/46 is under the left side of the dash panel above the clutch pedal. I was referring to my other crawler which is an OC3. 

[Jack in NB]

I sit corrected!!!