April Featured Tractor Photo

This Oliver Super 55 tractor spent its working life on a farm near Rockwell, Iowa. My grandpa had a loader on it and pulled a 3-bottom plow with this tractor. It has 26′ rims, which makes it difficult to find tires. It has rear wheel weights and a draft control 3-point hitch. My grandpa added a buggy style umbrella.

My dad overhauled the tractor back in 1985, before he gave it to me. I learned how to drive on this tractor on our family farm. Our “kids” Isaiah and Leanna also learned how to drive on it, and now our grandkids are learning how to drive on this same tractor. It has followed us from Iowa to Minnesota, on to Michigan, and now is here with us in Wisconsin.

I began the rebuild on the tractor early September 2021. I took it apart to paint it. Then decided I would be kicking myself if I didn’t pull the motor out and replace most of the seals and gaskets on the motor, the transmission seals, steering gear seals, and 3-point hitch seals. I also replaced the camshaft bearing. I held up the lifters with magnets to be able to remove the cam. I was able to complete the rebuild in about 2 1/2 months. 

My Super 55 has been a great utility tractor. I continue to use it for plowing snow, projects around our acreage, taking our grandkids and other kids out for a ride, and in parades. Whenever I miss the farm I hop on it and go for a ride. This Oliver Super 55 was a very special part of my upbringing and is still my favorite tractor to this day!

Paul Oetken
Watertown, Wisconsin

Our tractor photo contest runs every year between April – July.
For exact dates and to enter visit our tractor photo contest page at SteinerTractor.com/photo-contest.